The Portland daily press., 1875-03-27
Good Friday.

GOO0 Ff1Huy.
Yesterday was considered by the Catholic
and Episcopal churches as the most holy day of
the year. 1t celebrates the crucifxtion of HOur
Lord. The Catholic churches were draped yes
terday, and not even the bell was allowed to
ring to call the people to worship. The organ
was also closed the night previous and will not
be opened until Esater morning. The hymns
and cantcles were sung without accompani-
ment. All pictures, crosses and images were
covered with purple, and the interior of the
church presented very solemn appearance.
The altar was stripped bare and the color OF the
vestments of the celebrant was black.
In the sanctuary Of the Catholic Cathedral
stood a triangular stand, holding fifteen lighted
candles, typical of Christ and the apostles.
During the service, and at the end of each
psalm. candle was put out, until only the
topmost remained. At the words Christ was
made obedient for us unto DEATH the candles
were taken away and hidden under the Epistle
corner of the altar. These words being said ,all
knet and continued kneeling to the end, when
a slight noise was made to represent the earth
quake and confusion in nature at the crucifix'
ion. The extinction of the lights explains the
name of Tenebre, which refers to the mysteri-
GUS darkness that covered the universal earth
at the time of the crucifxion. What is known
among Catholics as the elaboration of the
Cross was here introduced. The professional
cross was draped in black and the choir enter
ed clothed in cassocks only, and without sing
ing processianal.
At11 a. m. the Reproaches were chanted,
and this service was followed by the Pro-Ana-
phora. At noon the Three Hours Agony ser
vice was preached. The service consists of
seven Meditatons, on each of these words
of Christ from the cross, each Meditation being
followed by the Kyrie Eleison, with collects,
and a hymn appropriate to the Meditations,
closed by period of silence for contemplation.
In the afternoon the service of the fourteen
stations of the cross was observed.
The day was observed in the Episcopal
churches At st. Luke's Cathedral the super
altar and pulpit were covered with black. The
services at st. Paul's were very interesting
The rector, Rev. DR.. Pise, preached discourse
from Isaiah xiii, 1-5. AT st. Stephens there
were services conducted by the rector, Rev. A.
Dalton.
EVENING SERVICES.
Several services were held in the evening IN
commemoration of the day. At the First Par
ish church the Lords Supper was celebrated,
the pastor, Rev. DR.. Hill, officiating. Rev.
Messrs. Dole and Jones assisted in the SER
vices. The pastor made few very appropriate
remarks in regard to the observance of the day
and the lessons it should teach.
A very interesting service was held at Con-
gress Square church. The following is the
programme:
Organ Voluntary.
Anthem, ''There is Green Hill far away
anthem, s'The Lord is my Shepherd
Scripture Lesson-St. John xvi.
Hymn. 2i6 306.
Scripture Lesson-St. John XIX, 'Cast thy Burden
on the Lord"
Choral Sentence Tor Hymn unannounced).
Choral, sob Father, Hear my Prayer
Brief address by the pastor.
Anthem, abide With Me-"
Benediction. ~---
St. Lukes Cathedral was crowded, and
very impressive service was held. Besides the
usual service Bishop Neeley preached an ex-
cellent discourse appropriate to the day.
The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
was open and a deeply interesting service was
held.
SYSTEMATICALLY band of serenaders who
rendered such beautiful singing on Thursday
night were part of the Glee Club, and were
paying their tribute of respect in song to some
of their esteemed friends as they went march
ing for Temperance" Albion Little, Esq, was
surprised, and the Club received a warm recep-
ton. Mr.. Little made them welcome in neat
speech from his verandah, and then inviting
the party in an hour was spent in song and
pleasant greetings. From there they visited
another friend, Mr.. Whitney, of the firm of
Whitney & Thomas, where another hour was
spent in pleasant greetings, and the bond be-
tween the honorary members and the reformed
| men was made more firm.
THE MUsEUM.-This afternoon and evening
| afford the last opportunities to see Lost in
Londo2," as it must give way Monday night to
Mr.. Arnold's benefit No one should miss see
| ing the fine scene in the coal mine, in the first
| act.
| The demand for seats at Mr.. Arnold's bene-
| fit is large, and people have no hesitation i'm
| selecting chairs in the rear of the hall. A few
chairs yet remain unsold, but as the bill pre-
| sented is the finest offered this season, every
| seat will probably be taken by tonight.
| MAINE GENERAL HOsPITAL.-There are now
| nineteen patients in the Hospital, nearly all OF
| whom have come hither for the treatment OF
| difficult diseases. All of them reside out of the
| CITY, and several have come from the most dis
| tant parts of the state. The skillfui medical
| staff is destined to make the institution popu-
lar throughout the state. The work Of com
pleting the building will be commenced as soon
as the season is sufficiently advanced Tor The
most profitable expenditure of money.
FRATERNITY DEBATING CLUB.-Last even
ing the Fraternity Debating Club discussed thH
onestion: "Resolved That ambition has
caused more evil than intemperarce. William
Best had the affirmative and Joseph kelhdel
the negative Declarations were given by
| Edward Merrill and Fred Davis, and reading;
by Kate Woodill, Ida Brown and i. L. Bean
! AN ARREsr-Last evening officers Very
and Hicks were patrolling their beat on Fore
street, when they saw three men run from
building. The officers gave chase and arrested
one of them, but the others escaped. 1t il
thought that they were trying to break into {
shop.