The national Republican., 1867-04-22
LOCAL .DEPARTME ENT.

LOC "A Ii ID EPA L vi h N L.
EASTER SERvIcEs IN THE CuuRcuEs AMI
PREvAiLrSo CusroMs OUT or IHEn.-Yestsrda,
dawn,d on our good city with the sky oyercas
with clouds but 'hess soon disappeared, and on,
Of the piessautest spring days invited the popu
lace on the streets. This cordial invitation did
not pass unheeded; for, early 10 the day, th,
streets we're crowded With bright, joyous faces
and new spripg spParel, nearly every perso,
sndeasorins to have . new outfit for the ESstei
holiday,
Al very early hour the members Of th,
numerous churchss, with which our city Of
magnificent dstanc, 10 blessed especially tn 90 oil
the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, uer,
vending their wsy to the morning servioes, and
children were on the streets exhibiting with
gratiacation and JOY depicted on their hspp,
oountensnces, their Easter egg Of many coors.
unable TO subdue their happy feelings until
Easter Monday.
The mode, Of celebrating Easter Sunday dif.
fer In many respects according TO the custom
OF the countries In which Il l. observed som
Of these celebrations are Of an innocent ano
amusing oharacter, whils others, especially |,
ancient times, are Of q repulsivo nature, such n
stoning and beating such 500 8 as may not
agree In religious matters with the cole.
brants. This, In our opinion, was not onl,
cruel, but unjust, and deserving Of severe pun
hhuent.
Hs,tsd. in his history Of Kent, u7so,) state,
that, In the parish Of Bddepden, there Ia Al
endowment Of old, but unkno wn date, for making
a distrihation Of cakes among the poor ever
Easter Sunday In the afternoon. The source Of
the benefsction consists h twenty acres Of land
In i've parcels, commonly called the bread anu
cheese lands Practically, in Hastsd's time, six
hundred cakes wero thus disposed Of. being given
to persons who attended service, while two hun.
dred and seventy loaves Of three and q hal
pounds weight each, with pound and 4 half OF
cheese, were given In addition to such as were
parishioners.
The oskes distributed on this occasion were
imp essed with the figures Of two females sid,
BY side and close together. Among the country
people Il was believed hat those figures repre.
seutsd two maideus named Preston, who had lef
the endowmsntsi and they further alleged that
these ladies we're twins, who were born In bodil,
union-that is, Joined side to side as repre-
sented on the cakes, who lived about thir,
years, whom one died, thus oaus ng the death o
the other It was thought BY the Biddendsn
people that the figures on the cakes were meant
as q memorial Of this natural prodigy, rs we'll
a. OF tho charitable disposition Of the two ladies'
Mr. Hastsd, however, Ascertainsd that these
cakes bad only beep printed In this manner
within the preceding ffty years, and concluded
that the hgures represented two widows, "as thu
general objects Of a charitable benefaction."
Yesterday not few OF our citizens spent the
day for the frat time this season. outside of tb.
eity-some down or up the Potomac and Others
Oh In the woods and hslds-beholdiug, with much
cuiosity, the green fields and blooming troe,
and shrubbery. The great mass Of people, how.
ever, remained In tho city for the purpose Of at.
tending church service.
St. Aloysius, st. Patriok's and St. Peter,
churches were crowded yesterday from earl,
morning until late In the evening and person,
arriving to attend the services Of n particula
hour were, In most instances, compelled to TO
main outside until those who were attending tb.
service immediately preceding should pass out
thus ahording them spaco to enter The oihe
churches OF this on were not So den,el,
cro~ded, but large audiences attended th,
churches Of every denomination In the city
At II a. M, at St. Aloysius. Grand High Mass
was celebrated, and Millard's Mass In a., for tht
frst time 10 this city, was performed Rev
Father Wiget, s, j., acted as oelebrAnt, and Rev
b A. Magu'Ie, president Of Georgetown College
preached an eloquent sermon iu keeping with
the occasion Tho choir, assisted by several
smstsurs was really enchanting to listen t.. At
tP. m, Miliard's Vespers were performed in an
imposing manner.
At II o'clock, at St. Pa.riok's, H,ydn's
Grand Coronation Mass, ''Vsni saRett,n in.
augurated the ceremonies. Professor Charlie.
Richter presided at the organ with distinguished
ability.
Thss. churches wore highly illuminated with
wax tapers, and the sanotuaries were filled with
o sweet odor'
The JsNish Passover, or days Of unloayeasd
bread, which commenced on Friday evening anr
continues fourteen days, Is being strictly oh
served by that scot. This bread Is made Of sim
ply -four aud water
Al nearly all T. . churches in the city, in fact
some part of the service had reference to the
Easter holidays
THE new GRACE CHURCH, oEoRGErowS.
The diviae srvicss In all the various ohurchsE
and oathedrsls In Georgetown yestsrday were ol
. deyout and impressive character but none
moreso than the ceremonies and exercises Al
tsRdant upon tho opening of the Now Grace
Church, in High street, below BridRe
Tho oorhsr stone Of the church was Id June
90 1855, and the erection Of the edidoe has
been carried on rapidly and Easter Sunday wa
the day designAt' for Its formal dedication to
Christ. Messrs Steele, Russell and Brown, thr
latter pastor Of the church, were the oGioiating
elergymen, and everything was conducted with
tho solemnity behtting the occasion.
The church was we'll filled, aud the services
commenced with the opening anthem, "HsarkeD
unto me, sung by the choir, and was rendered
with dne effect
An earnest prayer was then offered up by Mr.
Russell, the congregation standing and kneolinR
according to rite during It's rendition. The
chant for Easter Sunday was sung by the choir,
after which the I'd, b7th, and lllth Psalms were
read By Mr.. Steele, the choir following In chant.
ing . To DeTRl. The reading Of the 12th chap
ter from the Book Of Exodus was followed 5,
singing the "Trisagion," which gave full scope
to the vocal powers Of the ladies and gentlemen
composing the choir.
The 9th chSptsr of Paul's Epistis to the
Romans; tho Easter hymn, by the choir an slo
qusnt prayer from Mr., Brown the 6pt, fourth
and last verses Of the 10th Psalm sung by tn,
choir; and another ferVSnt appeal TO the Al
mighty by Mr.. Russell, The vooRliEing Of th,
e0th hymn, cOmmsneing with those bsAutiiu
nj Ia II -. 4. -. L.
the ceremonies previous to the sermon and th,
partakipg Of the Communion.
Mr.. Russell delivered the sermon, and ho rose
and commenced by saying that Christ has riser