The New York herald., 1869-03-27
HOLY WEEK.,
Good Friday and tho Sacred Obssrvaace Of
the Day.

Good Friday and tho Sacred Observance o.
the Day.
The commemoration OF the cru cidxi0n OF our al
vine Redeemer was observed In this city yestercal
with most commendable zeal by almost all classes
The public boards OF brokers adjourned esriy In Che
day and many business places were closed long be-
fore the usual hours. There seemed to prevail q
general desire to make the festival general day OF
rest, and remarks favoring that idea were made by
men OF all denominations. The churches were all
well attended and the services. In the Catholic
churcnes especially were assisted 1t with much ap-
parent ferv0r
The services In the Catholic churches were such as
to imDress the behoders deeply, ss they were most
solemniy mOnot0nous The priests and their assist
ants were robed IN black, and instead OF the usual
were clothed In heavy pals. In all tine churches
the services were, or course, alike. They consisted
Clergyman holding q yelled cross cross and standing az
PRAYERS sss waIs slowly Incoysrng one arm
tone, Zee asam '4s1 ss1ss.s,' - esho.d s0's%e me
knee and respond " Flectanaals geauan Qet us bend
the knee. This Is repeated at intervals until the
kneelng on both knees. bows before the cruclnx
three times and then kisses the head and feet Of the
ngure on the cross The assisting priests do the
same In turn, to signify their humble submission to
the VIII OF God In giving up His only Son to die
the cross and the veneraton with which they re-
deemer. The faithful present then approach the
altar rails and reverently kiss the crucifx while the
assisting clergy prepare and adjust the coverings
the altar. This being done procession Is formed
near the repository whence the officiating clergy
repair and bring Oack the Host which had been
placed there on Thursday The mass OF the pre-
sanctned Is then performed and In the evening the
Te7sebrG s given for the last time.
RossNI's sTABAT MATER AT ST. AIMS CHURCH.
This beautiful church was crowded to its fullest
extent last night the occasion OF the performance
OF this cher d8uUTe OF RossinL Mr.. G. w. Morgan,
the accomplished 0rganist OF the church, was the
leader. very well selected chorus OF twenty rem
dered the chOruse5 OF this extraordinary work In
style such as we have rarely heard IN this city. The
regular choir OF the church did full justice to the
solos We cali this work extraordinary, for with ell
It's charming melodies II Is not sacred in any sense
OF the word. IL Is written In the well known scoff
ing style OF Rossini and Is In reality musical bur.
esque OF one OF the most tremendous mysteries that
ever occupied the human mind. There Is palpable
smell OF the footights about 1t which never be
mistaken for the od0r OF religion Still the melodies
are some OF the best that Rossn ever wrote and no
man ever understood the human voice 80 thoroughly
as the sayant OF PesarO The entire performance last
night alike creditable to the brilliant organist
the well trained choir and the music loving PASTOR
Father Preston.
EASTER SATURDAY.
To-day the services will consist of the blessing OF
the water, called Easter water, the fire used In the
ceremonies, the incense and the paschal candle.
The blessing is performed in the vestibule OF the
church. ana the paschal candle, the blessed fire and
incense are carried to the altar. A procession Ii
formed at the door OF the church and proceeds along
the main aisle to the altar where the paschal candle
Is placed At the gospel side and the mass Is CON-
menced. At the Gloria IN Erceisis the organ peals
forth in tones OF gladness and the bells are rung for
the first time since the Gloria on Thursday. The
ceremonies are very long, but imposing and interest
At the conclusion OF the services to day the at
tendants at the churches, assisted by devout voun-
teers, commence at once TO bedeck the affairs and
the churches and make other necessary preparations
for the proper celebration OF the great festival Of
Easter.