The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1878-11-30
SALVATION OF JUMPING.

From the Chicago Inter- Ocean.
Religious enthusiasm finds expression in this
country in many curious habits and customs, and
in phenomenal and eccentric emotional outbursts.
But except in few cases as with the Shakers, the
mannerisms peculiar to periods of great excite
ment, or to extravagant displays of religious fer
vor, change with the change in the play of the
emotions, and as a rule, are short-hved. At all
events the eccentricities incident to outbursts of
fanaticism or extravagant enthusiasm do not rise
to the dignity of church forms, or become fixed
in the hearts and preudlces OF people as sacred or
religious observances.
There was time when the Millerites exercised
great influence, but their extravagant antics and
their peculiar enthusiasm left no impress upon the
generation that succeeded, and only in exceptional
cases are either their customs their beliefs held
in much reverence. Certainly there are no fes-
tival days dedicated to any of their ceremonies
and observances. Not many years ago religious
revival was incomplete unless greatnumbers work
ed themselves into a frenzy of excitement and in
dulged in certain abnormal physical demonstra-
tions But the day when it was meritorious for a
religious enthusiast become stiff and unconscious
has passed, and the wonderful phenomena Incl
dent to such meetings in the old days are mention
ed now only to provoke a smile and to set the
scientist speculating as to causes.
In this country people seek in religion the truth,
and do not cling tenaciousy to either tradition or
traditional observance. Tenacious as to dogma
and principle, they progressive in spirit, and
keen analysts in a simple way as regards the sa-
credness of expedients or customs. They are in
clned to test mere motional experiments as they
do inventions, paying little attention to pre-
tentiOns, mystical associations, or impressive
claims.
In certain parts of Europe the case is different.
Prejudices, observances, superstitiOns, are rock
rooted as the mountains, and customs and cere-
monies centuries old continue to influence the peo-
pie of this generation as they did the generations
ofthe past. Among the queerest of all the phenOm-
email religious displays of Europe is the annual
Jumping Procession of Luxembourg. Once year
the pious people of the country about the old town
of Echternach gather by thousands, and on
Whit Tuesday form a procession and proceed to
dance or jump the distance to the church, three
hours journey. The participants believe that BY
tremendous jumping and acrobatle dancing they
can wipe out the transgressiOns of the year and
secure salvation. They not only believe that each
individual jumper may secure his own salvation,
but may jump some other sinner into safety. The
origin of the ceremony is in doubt, but the custom
has prevailed for five or six hundred years, and
has been as much subject of interest among
students as the weird Passion Play of another 10
calty. Mr.. John Murphy, who witnessed the last
procession or display, describes the seems in Ap-
pleton'S journal.
There were thousands of men, women, and chill
dren in the procession, and they advanced in a
way to remind the spectator of the rise and fall
of bilows in a chOpping sea. They were formed
four abreast, with hands entwined, jumping high
in the air. and shouting in loud, but measured and
not unmelodious tones. Every face was intensely
ear nest as to expression, and almost ludicrously
grave and solemn. The people from each parish
were headed by corps of musicians, and the jump
10 10
Many jumped as high as they could from the start
and soon fell exhausted with haggard faces and
bloodshot eyes. Others commenced with moder-
ate STEP which increased in intensity as the jump
ers neared the church. Men, as rule, were more
excitable than women and though jumping higher
they fell from the ranks sooner.
The belief is that every jump counts in clearing
up sinful record, but only those who accomplish
the entire journey have all their sins forgiven
Out of Il, 900 who started, only few had strength
| to climb the church steps, and jump around the
altar and crucifx. Even these fell exhausted on
the grass outside, and remained for some time ap-
| parently unconscious but with joyous expression
| on their faces.
There must be no stopping in the jumping from
first to last. Once out of the procession, jumper
cannot his place on his own account, but he
may Jump independently for the benefit of a friend
or enemy. So many of the high jumpers who fall
out OF the procession the nrst or secohu nour NVi
unteer to Jump away the sins of others for con-
sideraton, agreeing to wipe out the transgresson;
of a month at rates ranging form half franc to a
franc, according to the ability of the jumper.
1t is idle to speculate on such subject. 1t mus
be looked on as curious fact illustrating the te
nacity with which the simple and conservative peo
pie of the valley of the Sauer cling to religious
tradition and the fervor with which they follow a
| line of conduct marked out centuries ago.
Ten Thousand people dancing, jumping, singing
and screaming along State streetin Chicago would
be pronounced lunatics; on the highways of Lux
emburg they are pious devOtees, engaged in pill
grimage for improving their spiritual welfare.