The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1874-04-08

the fable of the mystic egg Of the Babylonian.
Hyginus, the Egyptian, has related a story re-
garding it.
One of the dark meanings Of this mystic
egg Of Astarte, had reference in one sense to
the Ark, which contained during the food all
the human race, just as q chick Is enclosed in
an egg, and the application Of the word egg
to the Ark had its source in that the same
word that signifies egg in the Hebrew serves
also in the Chaldean and Phunician languages
for house" "The egg was thus significant
Of house with the elements of the new
world in 1t floating on the waters of the del
uge. The coming of the egg from heaven evil
denely refers to the preparation Of the Ark by
the express appointment of God. But the
egg was represented in the Chaldean mystic
ries as in some way connected with Astarte
Or Easter; though she had no actual exis-
tence till some centuries after the flood, vet
through the doctrine of the TRANSPORTATION of
souls, which was firmly established in Baby
Ion, it was very easy matter for her Worship
pers to believe that in previous incarnation
she had lived in the antideluvian world, and
had passed in safety through the waters of the
flood.
The Romish Church adopted this mystic
egg and consecrated 1t as symbol of Christ 4
resurrection. A form of prayer was appoint.
cd to be used in connection with 1t by Pope
Paul w
On Sunday, the day on which the festival of
Easter is held in Rome, at five o'clock in the
morning, salvoes of artillery boom from the
Castle of St. Angelo. AT seven, multitudes
throng to St. Peters, and not only is this vast
edifice filed to overlooking, but the ssplace y
in front of the edifce is one closcly-packcd
mass of people. From st. Angelo come the
Pontifcal troops, each man having a small,
green branch in his helmet. The Palatine
Guards in grand dress the soldiers in their
gala dress, and their officers brilliantly attir-
ed the Swiss Guards the cardinals and their
attendants preates of q less rank, and high
official personages, form most imposing
sight At ten OF clock the Pope and his cortege
descend the magnificent staircase, and enter
by the grand door into the church. At this
moment the military bands which are placed
in the vestibule burst forth in one clang of
sound. The Pope, with his golden tiara on
his head, aud accompanied by the bishops and
other attendants, including his fan-bcarers
and the Swiss Guards, ascends his throne. At
this point it is difficult to give an idea of the
extreme richness and splendor of the scene.
The arch-bishops, with their rich robes deco
rated with deep golden fringe; the Greek and
Armenian patriarchs, Respondent in their en-
broidercd costumes of Byzantine style the
cardinals, one of whom carries the white mi.
tire the conseryators of Rome in their togas
of cloth-of-gold the captain of the Swiss
Guard in suit of splendid armor damascen-
ed with gold; the glittering cuirasses of the
soldiers; the garde MOBILES in red, with white
boots and the priests constituting the Chap
ter of st. Peter in red robes and ermine caps ;
all this show is deeply impressive to those
who do not know the source from whence
these customs are derived-who donot know
that ages before the Christian era, which gave
a lowly Saviour to the world, similar rights
Chaldea, and Babylon.
At the moment of the procession reaching
its designation, the choir of the Pontifical
chapel chant the motel, +" Tu es Petrus" The
Pope ascends his throne, having on his mitre
of cloth-of-gold which, however, is taken off
at the altar. While on his throne, the cardi-
nails, bishops, and patrarchs approach, and,
kneelng each according to his dignity, in sue
cession embrace the knees and kiss the toe of
the Pope, who then rises and proceeds to robe
himself in the vestments ordained for the oc-
casion--a most supurb costume of white and
gold Descending from the throne, he en-
braces two of the young cardinal.deacons.
This in memorial of the first interview of
Christ with His disciples The Pope, assist
ed by his cardinals, then celebrate the Easter
mass-messe de Paques. Then follows the
The Pope having assumed
his tiara and mantle, and standing on an ele-
waited platform, turns successfully to the four
cardinal points, so as to embrace, as it were.
the whole earth, and utters the form of con.
secration. Afterward he receives the HOLY
Communion. Numerous other ceremonies
take place, amidst the diynest music, above
which the resoundng Of the silver trumpcts is
heard. After quitting St. Peters,
the Pope adores the relics, which are laid ont
in the long gallery of the vestibule in the
Vatican. This worshipping of relics, even Of
paying them veneration, is another ancient
custom derived from the Egyptians, adopted
by the back-sliding Jews, and inveighed
against as sinful by the prophet Jeremiah,
chap. viii.
The grossest Tapestries have been perpet-
uated in Rome and elsewhere in regard to
relics, and countenanced in the fifth century
by several Of the early fathers of the church
among them by Augustine. In ancient times
the Egyptians worshipped the relics Of Osiris
the Nimrod Of the Assyrians. EGYPT was
covered with scpulchrcs Of its god, and MANY
a leg and arm and skull wcro exhibited in the
rival burying-places for the alteration of the
Egyptian faithful. Buddhists attach marvel.
lous power TO relics, the teeth of Buddha be-
ing held in wonderful veneration. The Pope,
some few years since, presented to the Empe-
ror Of Austria tooth of St. Peter as /. mark
of gDeciaf favor nnd rcrard ,,