The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-04-06

age it enjoys we might not have felt at liberty
to make them theme of comment. But in
asmuch as they indicate general prosperity,
advancement and enterprise. we claim the
right to direct public attention to them, and
to comment as we have commented on the
morals they point
Palm Sunday-HOiy Wcck-From the
TriumphaI Entry Into Jerusalem to
The browning events in the divine mission
upon earth of the meek and lowly Jesus of
Nazareth including His trumphal entry into
Jerusalem, His teachings in the Temple, His
betrayal, His trial, sentence, crucifxion,
| burial and resurrection, are commence
rated by our Christian churches within
the brief period known as Holy Week,
beginning with Palm Sunday and cul-
minating in the rejocngs of Easter Sun
day. This is Palm Sunday, held as the ami
versary of the Saviour's last visit to the city
of David, when, according to the record of st.
Matthew, "a very great multitude spread
their garments i'll the way; others cut down
branches from the trees and strewed them in
the way And the mutitudes that went be-
fore and that followed cried saying, Hosanna
to the Son OF David. Blessed is he that
cometh in the name Of the Lord Hosanna in
the highest st. john in his description of
| the same event, says-sOn the next day
much people that were come to the feast (the
Jewish feast of the Passover), when they heard
that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took
branches of palm trees and went forth to meet
him and cried, Hosanna! Blessed is the King
of Israel, that cometh in the name of the
Lord" Hence this Christian commemora-
ton Of Palm Sunday.
The observances of this day come down to
us from an early period in the history OF the
Church Throughout the greater part Of
Europe the custom was established, in the alb
sence of palm trees, Of taking branches Of
other trees, such as the box, yew and willow,
and, being blessed by the priests after mass,
they were distributed among the people, who
forthwith carried them in joyous procession,
/ in memory Of the Saviours triumphant entry
into the Holy City, after which they were usu-
ally burned, and the ashes laid aside to be
sprinkled on the heads of the congregation on
the ensuing Wednesday, with the priest 5
blessing. In Rome and throughout Southern
Italy, in Southern Spain and in the Spanish
republics of Mexico, Central and South
America, and in Brazil and throughout the
West India Islands, the palm itself is, with
various peculiar devotons, sacredly dis
tinguishcd in this days observances of the
Roman Catholic Church. In Brazil, for ex-
ample, where nearly all the Church festivals
are commemorated as public holidays, more
or less Holy Week is especially attractive
to the stranger from the remarkable
forms and manifestations which are embraced
in the celebration of Palm Sunday of the
treachery (Spy Wednesday, and hanging Of
Judas; of Maundy Thursday, on which day
the pious followers of the Redeemer endeavor
to initiate His humility as illustrated in His
washing OF the feet OF His disciples; of Good
Friday; OF Holy Saturday, and of Easter Sun
day. 1t may be said, too, that in these dra-
matte Church observances of South America
there is something too much of fantastical
display and simple superstition but who
would deny to those simple people their
trusting faith in the usages of their Church
until assured that He could give them some
thing better? twas one OF the greatest ideas
of the great Napoleon that above all other
things to be respected is the religion Of a
people.
In Great Britain, the United States and in
other countries where the people have be-
come divided among many churches, we find
the observances and the festivals even of the
Catholic Church more or less modified from
the general pressure of the material forces OF
our modern civilization; though in New York,
in London and in Rio Janeiro the faith of the
Catholic, in all essentials, is still the same. We
find too, that while in New York, as else
where, the Catholic Church is still iistin-
glished above all others in its music pictures,
flowers decorations vestments and imposing
ceremonials, the Protestant Episcopal Church
is gradually charging its recognition of OBJ
iects and forms and ceremonies which appeal
to the eye, the ear and the imagination us cal
culatei to soften and refine the heart of the
spectator in the cause of religion. And why
not, since the meek and lowly Teacher
from Nazareth passed from His triumphal pro.
cession into the splendid temple of the Jews,
where, after purging it of the money changers,
be uiaistersd to the peQple. "andth hlindand