Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-05-31
PENTEcosT.


Next Sunday, the 9th of June, Is The
Christian festival of Whitsuntide, or
/ Penteeost (so-called because IL falls fifty
DAYS AFTER the feast of the Passover. Il
lis celebrated in the Christian Church in
commemoratiOn of the descent of the
Holy Ghost on the Apostles, ten days
after the ascension of Christ, hen they
were gifted with the power of speaking
all languages preparatory TO going forth
10 preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts
| End, 2, 81. With the mode of celebration
in the Roman and Anglican Churches all
are familiar.
1t is also regarded az one of the three
great festivals of the Jewish year, being
celebrated by the Israelites in commemo-
ration of the revelation of the law on
Mount Sinai.
Onthe fourteenth day of the month Of
Nesan, in the Jewish calendar which gem
orally falls sometime in the month of
march,, occurs the festival of the Passo-
yer, which lasts eight days. The seven
weeks elapsing between the second day
of the Passover and the beginning
Of Pentecost are called the Sephirdh Tor
the couatin0l, 1t derives its name
from the circumstance that every evening
during that period, after the night SER
vice, each individual solemnly pronounces
the following benediction: Blessed art
Thou, oh Lord GOdi who hath sanctiied
us AANu INV OlALAAAOAALDAAsoN 6Ao &SaA
manded us concerning the counting of
the Omer" Numbers xiii, 49,; adding
thereto the number of days which have
ELAPSED since the sacred day of the Pass
over. on which. according to the Rabbin-
icaI authorities, the Omer was offered up
in the temple. This period is now con-
sidered by the Jews N of melancholy
and mourning, for it was during 1t That
forty thousand disciples, or rather
followers of the high-minded Rabbi
Akiba, met their doom under the leader
ship of Bar Koheba, by the swords of the
RUTHLESS Romans.
Another tradition states that this num-
Der of disciples were swept away by a
pestilence. It was also at this period that
in 1895, a portion of the Crusaders COM
mitted the greatest outrages on the IN
fortunate Jews residing in places through
which these enthusiasts and fanatics
passed. The walls Of many ~synagogues
In Central Europe and in the East still
resouud during the Sabbaths of The Sc
phira with melancholy elegies commem-
Grating these calamities. 70 wedding is
solemnized, no festivity takes place, no
new dress is put on. a general
mourning prevails, and the men suffer
their boards to grow. The mourning is
only interrupted for n day, viz, on the
SD day of the Sephira, on which tradi-
ton states the mortality ceased among
the disciples of Akiba, or what is more
probable the survivors were permitted
by the conquerOr to bury their dead
brethren who had fallen during the
slaughter consequent upon the taking of
Bother (sse any history of the Jews' wars
under Hadrian.) The day is therefore
kept as a kind of half festival-all signs
of mourning being suppressed.
The expiration of The Sophia is the
commencement of the festival of Penta-
cost or the Feast of Weeks (hag hashsha-
buoth; in the book of Tobit, the hdgtd
heDtG hebdOmddoH, or feast of seven
weeks. This year (Of lS69-70), the sec
ond day of the Passover fell on April
10th. Counting fifty days therefrOm,
would make the first day of the Pente-
cost come on the 18th of June. 1t is a
season of great rejoicing and hilarity.
The ~agogu are decorated with
wreathes Of flowers and splendid bou-
Duets; the flowers are strewn with the
cGLdngtCS ~drOnldticLs and other Oderifsreus
herbs, and the interior resounds with
hymns in celebration of the occasion.
Theprivats houses are not less gayly dec
OraNB d han the s~ynagogues, and mlrth
ana good cheer reign supreme.
We understand that extraordinary
preparations are being made for its cele-
bration this year by our Jewish fellow
citizens. The same may be said of the
preparations made by the Christians to
celebrate "merrie whitsuntide." Picnics
and open air festivals are planned and
will be held by both, and all hands are
bound to lave a good time generally.
LADIES' and gents hemstitched hand
kerchiefs, cheap at
~ EDTwTn-OMT a ~ 50