Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-09
HOLY WEEK,
And a Few Points About the Ger
emOnies Thereof.

hcEcOl
Tomorrow, Palm Sunday, is the
first day in Holy Week, and the last
Sunday in Lent. 1t is intended to
commemorate the triumphant entry
Of Christ into Jerusalem, five days
before his c~ruciixiOn, as palms and
green boughs were cast upon the
streets over which he must pass, so in
like manner the palm or its substitute
takes a conspicuous place in the cere-
monies of this day. The palm is to be
distributed in the Greek, Catholic and
other churches where the beautiful
custom continues to have a claim on
the hearts of men. The palms are
saved by the devout and burned, the
ashes preserved and used in the SOL
emn ceremonies Of Ash Wednesday
the succeeding year. tits not regard
ed as strictly necessary fer palms to be
used, for olive branches are deemed
quite suitable, and in countries where
neither are to be found, the yew, the
willow, the cedar and box are en-
ployed. 1t is usual to have some
thing extra in the way ofmusic, and in
some churches pre-! LESSONS are formed,
aud the round Of the church is made,
each participant carrying a branch of
the palm or cedar, while the holy man
in the lead sprinkles incense or holy
water upon the heads of the audience.
The custom oeobserving Palm Sun
day has been in existence since the
earliest days of Christianity, and few
need to be informed as to its origin.
The minds eye Of all who feel any
interest in Christianity, running back
over a chasm of more than eighteen
centuries, sees the beautiful Mount of
Olives, with the road winding down
its side; the smiling valley Of
Kedron, with its little brook ripping
along the bottom, the battlements and
tower, soon to be leveled that mot
one stone shall remain upon another"
but now towering aloft in gloomy
grandeur; the iron bound gates guard
ed by mailed Romans; the thronging
thousands, the broken palms thrown
in the way Of the Saviour as
he rode upon an ass, the scowling
priests mocking the disciples as they
1 passed along behind the modest figure
of the leader of their triumphal pro-
c%ession. No better origin than this
can be asked for a custom, and surely
none better can be given. 1t was
Christ's last entry into Jerusalem, and
the people on that occasion went forth
to meet him, crying "Hosannah
Blessed is the king Of Israel hat com
eth in the name of the Lordl'
The week just ending is called
passion Week. Last Sunday the
statues and pictures surrounding the
affairs in various churches were found
yelled and hidden from view. NJ
special soIemnity followed beyond the
close observance Of the regular Lental
rites. Next week, however, the obi
cations are more rigid, and many of
the ceremonies viii be imposing.
On Wednesday, sometimes called
spy Wednesday" a ceremony termed
the "Tenebre," or Darkness, will be
celebrated. All instrumental music
ceases, and during the interval closing
with the week none will be heard.
Ringing of bells is likewise prohibited
and the statues continue yelled until
Saturday. On Thursday high mass is
held, and a general communion par
taken Of in commemoration Of the
Last Supper. No mass is celebrated
on Good Friday" the only day of
the year on which it is strictly pro-
hibited this in memory Of the execu-
ton Of Christ, and the sacrament is
also removed from the altar on that
occasion. Saturday morning the first
notes of the Gloria Excelsis" will be
heard, the bells ring in concert, and
every vestige of mourning disappears,
to make way for a general air of re-
joicing over the resurrection and the
} triumph of Christ. Easter Sunday is
|, to be observed in the usual manner
here, and preparations are already I'M
derway to render the musical services
interesting, while the houses Of wor-
ship and the visitors thereto will be.
decked in their brightest garb.