Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-17
~PEyTEC0ST. TR
The Jewish Observation-Disclosures
andfheC Christian MkltsuRtide.


Sunday y q the beginning ofWhitsnrt de
Ia the Christian, ard Of HsgshashshSDu-
9th or the feast OF Weeks''in the jewish
calendar. 1t is also called Rsntec0st be-
cause Il happened fifty days alter the
feast Of U~nleavened Bread.
This festival which takes place IN the
Jewish calendar on the sixth day OF the
third month (SI7sn), had originally, no
other significance than thai OF celebrat-
ing with religious solsmnitiesE the con-
elnsIon of the harvest, which generally
lasted fully seven weeks in Palestine.
During the existence of tho Jewish Ma
tionality in Palestine, two full measures
OF fine -four were to be prepared into sac
rifcial bread, and thus offered up in
the temple. For this reason it was
called the "Feast OF Weeks that is,
Feast of Seven Weeks, which is tdenti-
cal with [" Feast of the Fall Harvest"
In the Mishnah it is called "Azsreth,"
Festival of Conclusion, with reference
to the conclusion of the harvest. In lat
ter times q historical "reminiscences was
brought into connection with the festi-
val. and this, too, one OF the highest and
most vital influence, namely, the mem
DRY OF the revelations Of ths Ten Proc!s-
nations on Mount Sinai, which took
place about that time.
Its only interest in the history Of
Christianity arises from the circum-
stance that it was the day on which the
Holy Ghost descended upon the Apostles
and impaired the gifC Of tongues. The
Rsdeemer had frequently before his pas
sion, promised his disciples sOme extra
ordinary gifts, and at his ascension ex-
pressly commanded them to tarry at
Jerusalem until they should be ZEN
bowed with power from on high" They
did go, and on the Jewish Feast of Pen
tecost, while the disciples were gathered
together in one place, son q sudden
there came q sound from Heaven IS OF q
rushing mighty wind, and 1t filed the
house where they were sitting, and there
appeared unto them cioven tongues, like
as of fire, and it sat upon each Of them,
and they were all filed with the Holy
Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues Il. E.. IN different langusges) as
The Spirit gave them u~tteTanee.n
1t is Remarkable, says q writer in
Chambers Book OF Days, that this day
has no nsme peculiar to it in the early
languages of Europe-sIl its names be
ing like the German P3ngSt, de-
rived from the Greek, WhtsumdGy is
so called from the color Of the garments
worn by tbs candidates for baptism or
confirmation. lWhite.) II is called in
the calendar Dominics in Albis, or Do
minica AlUs. But for = that is had no
peculiar distinctive nSme in these lam
gusges, the literature OF those days
abound In passages which show it to
have been one Of the most joyous seasons
of the year. It wRs the great festival OF
Kings and Chieftains in med @7al ro-
msnces. 1t wss ST this season that We are
told in the Mort G'Arthlg thst King Ar
thur moved into Wales and " let erie q
great feast should be holden at Psnte-
cost after the coronation Of him
at the cite OF Csrlein." In another
place il is called "a feast sfore 81 other
f~sas.s.n In the rom mos CT Bsyis Of
Hampton Whitsunside is thus spoken Of:
" IN somer at Whytsontyde,
When knighteS mcste on borse-barke ride,
A course made they on a dry, etc"
In the present day Wbitsundsy in Egg
land is in many parts still kept as q sea-
son ofgrest rejoicing, and the Whitsnn'
ale and Morris dance are still Kept up.
In this country, IS We stated yesterday,
it is a fsvOrite Gsy ia the Catholic and
Protestant churches for confirmation and
babtism.
St-Peter's Church has been most ele-
gsntly and beautifully arranged for the
ceremony Of confirmation. Flowers and
%evergreens have been most lavishly sp-
piled, aDd the sltar, font, etc, decorated
in 3 manner that will make the interior
OF this grand church edifce lock more
beautiful than ever. There are one bun
bred and ty,candidstes for confirma
ton. The rite will be administered by
the Right Rev. Bishop Feehsn, at l0l
O'Clock.
At Calvary EpiscoRall church the
most elaborate floral preparations have
also been made, several young ladies'
Miss Florence Kirk, Miss Jennie Shsnks,
Mas fudie White and Others-hsving
spent most Of the day there yesterday.
We are told thst there were enormous
quantities Of flowers used, and tbs
pyramid ia the font is one of the
| most beautiful things OF the sort
aver made in Memphis. We could
not learn the number of candidates
for confirmation, but learn there are
quite q number. The music, under the
management OF Mr.. Langsssff, 10 also to
be very fae. Among the selections are
a duo from Don PcSqU1le 3 ~quartette,
"Coms Holy Spirit" etc.