Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-04-02

its dead, and a solemn requiem mass has
been celebrated for Alexander H., with
TIE Deum for his successor. The room was
small and close in which the services were
held, and it was very much crowded, it
being curious occasion, and State occa-
sion as well, the different Consuls attend
ing in full insignia. There was w. Lane
Booker, the English Consul; Count Bar
rilis of Italy; Antoine Forest, of France
vladimir Welatsky, of Russia; August
Berggren, of Sweden and Norway; F.
A. Bee, Chinese Consul; Mr.. Yanagiya,
the japanese Consul, and Rudolph Hoch-
kofer, of the Austro- Hungarian Empire.
told me they must be somebody from
somewhere. The flowers were beautiful,
and their fragrance reached the nos
tril through the clouds of incense with
which the atmosphere was absolutely laden.
There was so much incense that | could
not rid myself of its waxy and suffocating
odor the rest of the day. A beautiful
crown of white, intermingled with colored
flowers, representing the crown OF the new
Gar, hung from the central chandelier,
and another, composed entirely OF white,
lay upon a tablet as the crown of the dead.
Inc tablet Was SONGfGu Will Willie DlOS-
SONS, with a large q Az in its center of
sweet violets. Upon the walls either side
was q A. II. and :" A. H." in flowers,
surrounded by simlax in festoons. l went
enc morning to the Russian church to wit
ness their usual worship. 1t is a strange
little building in which the services are
held, with many steps leading to 1t. en-
tered and found that though as yet but IL
o'clock the services had already begun an
hour ago. The floor was covered with
mating, while un the center a large velvet
rug led to three steps extending the width
CT the room, surmounted by partition
composed of panels and windows and
stained glass, representing the Virgin
Mary, Christ and different saints. The
men all stood at the right, and the women,
OF whom there but three, at the left
There we're no seats, the congregation
standing throughout the long services,
continually crossing themselves, and now
and then
IN DEEPEST DEVOTION,
Bending the body in very low bow, or
kneelng reverentially. and slowly touch
ing the forehead to the floor. A half dozen
boys, from 6 or to IA years of age per-
haps, stood by themselves. and they stood
quietly and attentively, without the turn
ing of a head, through it all. The atten.
tion by the whole gation-hardly
fifty persons-was most impressive indeed
There was no sermon, there seldom is, but
there was great deal Of singing, very good
singing by male choir, with an occasional
sentence like chant from priest behind
the partition. Presently the central or
sacred door swung open and revealed an
altar, and a priest came forward IN high
gilded hat, cloak of rich gold and black,
with an underdress of ecru embroid.
cred with gold braid. Two chill
dren were baptized and received commun-
ion, coming away with quite piece of
bread in hand. They were taken up to
kiss the stained glass representing the
Virgin with Christ in her arms, and there
were tears in the mothers eyes as they re.
turned from the ceremony. The priest
then held aloft jeWeled cross and seemed
to pronounce a benediction, when the
congregation crowded decoTously toward
| him, kissed the cross ana then took bread
! Ill communion, but no wine, children also
participating. Ola Bishop Nestor, attired
in robe Of gray serge and an odd black
hat with a fall OF cloth in the back, came
into view. He carried rosary at his side
and large ornament like a medallion on
his bosom. HIS appearance was most
kindly, and he presented his hand to be
kissed by those who pressed about him,
evidently giving a blessing at the same
time. He has the ideal face of an old man.
The Greek Church owns no allegiance to
the Pope, but it worships the Virgin and
the SAINTS, by paintings alone, however,
images being prohibited. It does not al
low that the Holy Spirit exists in Christ,
holding it to be OF Coo only, and its priests
may be married, though not after taking
orders. 1t has orders Of nuns, though they
are rare, those Of Mts. Sinai aud Athos
being the best known. To its seventy
million worshipers, however, San Fran
cisco contributes the merest handful.
KATE HEATH.