The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-04-06
"MAUNDAy THURSDAY. To-day

ed, Holy Thursday, a day marked from
the early age Of the Church by acts of
humility. On this day Christ washed
the feet of his disciples, and gave them
a command to love one another; hence
it is called Dies Mandati-Mandate or
Maunday Thursday. Formerly the
Church doors used to stand open for the
whole day, signifying that all who
would might come in. Ecclesiastics,
small and great, laymen of eminence,
net excepting sovereign princes have
considered it fitting, in the spirit of
their religion, to lay by personal dignity
on this occasion, and condescend to the
most mental acts-even to that Of wash
ing the feet Of paupers.
Another popular old name Of the day
in England is .Shere Thursday, from the
custom OF shearing the hair, which the
priesthood used to observe. The King
of England was formerly accustomed
on Maunday Thursday to have brought
before him as mahy poormen as he was
years old, whose feet he washed with
his own hands, after which his Males
tvs mounds, consisting Of meats, clothes
and money, were distributed among
them. Queen Elizabeth, when she was
, thirty,nine years old, performed this
ceremony at her palace Of Green
wich, in the midst OF great pomp.
Thirty nine ladies and gentlemen
were in attendance on this occasion
King William left the washing to his
almoner, not relishing the ceremony as
well -as some other crowned heads.
This was the arrangement tor many
years afterwards. Good Friday is ded.
icated to the memory OF the crucifixion
of Christ, and his burial In the ma
iority of the Catholic churches, at one
time in all, at least in Europe, a
sepulchre was built, in imitation Of
the one described by ST. Mathew -
And when Joseph had taken the body,
he wrapped it in clean linen cloth and
laid it in his own new tomb, which he
had hewn out of the rock, and he rolled
great stone to the door Of the sepul-
chre and deposited it." In this tomb
or sepulchre, the Catholics did 90, and
with prayer and in pious devotion
Eonored the anniversary OF the cruel
fxion and death Of Christ This is
the most mourniul day in the year in
the Catholic church, a. no mass is said
or bells rung. After this ceremony fol-
lows that in memory ofthe resurrection,
generally attended by procession
around the church, at which the host is
carried for the alteration Of the faith
full In Europe where in Catholic
countries formerly, church and state
were so intimately connected-.holy were
was celebrated with great pomp and cere-
mony, even outside Of the church. In
many instances mounds or hills were
erected and called Mount Calvary, on
which were built chapcls, and three
crosses, whercon Christ and the two
thieves were crucitied; were erected and
the ";velve stations" designating the
twelve sorrows Of the Savior before
his crucifixion, historically initiated.
In Austria the Emperor, and in Rome
the Pope, still preserve the ancient prac-
tice on Maunday Thursday OF wash
ing the feet of twelve old men in i,Iita.
ton OF Christ washing the feet OF the
twelve apostles after the conclusion of
the supper In Protestant countries
the custom is altogether abandoned or
confined exclusively to the interior OF
the church. In this country the cere-
monies are not to be compared TO what
they are now or have been in days gone
by in European States. This is from
no lack of fervor on the part Of the de-
voices, but as everything on this side
partake, Of the more modern, it is prob
able that church displays have been
influenced to more or less extent by