Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-04-04
CLOSING SCENES OF LENT.
SOLEMN SERVICES IN THE
CHURCHES YESTERDAY.

The Penttensial Season to End To-Day
Chanting the " enebre" at 4 e Cathe-
drai-The Ceremon. Is of Good Friday
-Its Observance In the Protestant
Churches Preparations for Easter.
AS the last week in Lent draws to a
close, the services in the Catholic and
other churches that observe the lenten
season become more solemn ana impress
sive. On Holy Thursday and Good FRIDAY
the ceremonies in the Catholic church are
OF an exceedingly interesting character.
The services at the Cathedral yester-
day morning and last night were
largely attended. Good Friday is
sacred as the cOmmemoration Of the
cruciixion of Christ, and the ceremonial
is solemn AID melancholy throughout.
The priests were robed in black and the
altar denuded Of its ornaments. In
crypt Of the church, on the left OF the
altar, lay a figure representing the body
of the Saviour in the tomb. A statue
representing the Holy Virgin IN weep
ing attitude stood by the figure.
Another figure on the altar represented
the crucifXion. The mass of the pre-
sanctified was chanted and the ven
Grafton of the holy cross performed
crucifix and kissing the figure
of the Saviour. The sepulchre was
also visited and the cOnsecrated host
br0U ght back in procession, offered IN
alteration to the people and consumed by
the Celebrant. At the services last night
the Tenure was chantnd and Bishop
Gross delivered an impressive sermon to
large congregation.
The TeRebfR is the name given to the
ma 4 Inn 10 hi arn al
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday OF
Holy Week. The "GlOria Patrl," at the
end of the Psalms and in the Responsiveness,
the hymns, antiphnns, etc, are omitted IN
sign of sorrow. The lessons of the frs
noctuTn are taken from the lamentations
OF the prophet jeremiah. At the begin
ming OF the olloe thirteen lighted candles
are placed on triangular Candida
brum, and at the end of each psalm one
is put out until only a single lighted cam
die is left at the apex of the triangle.
During the singing Of the Benedlctus the
candles on the high altar are eXtin-
guished, while at the antiphOn following
the single candle left alight is hidden at
one corner of the sanctuary, to he brought
out again at the end of the office This
extinction of light signifies the growing
darkness OF the time when Christ was
taken. The last candle is hidden, not eX-
tinguished, 10 show that death could not
really obtain dominion over Christ. A
clapping made at the end of the Office
symbOlzes the confusion consequent on
Christ's death.
In the Episcopal churches the services,
although attended with less Of the cere-
monial, were equally as impressive. AT
st. Johns Church early service was held
at O'Clock and the regular forenoon ser
wee at II O'Clock. At Christ Church the
rector, Rev. Thomas Boone, delivered
a discourse at the morning ser
vice at II O'clock. At St. Mat
thew's and st. Stephens appropriate
services were held in commemOration OF
the solemn event whichm marks the day. AT
the Lutheran Church, services prepare
tory to the holy communion were held
at IL O'Clock. and an able sermon was
preached Dy the pastor, Rev. W. $. Bow
man. At. Augustine Chapel interesting
services were held last night, and a
sermon was preached by Rev. Thomas
Boone.
To-day is Holy Saturday and services
will be held at the Cathedral at O'Clock
this morning. They Will begin by the
blessing of the ''new fire. struck from a
flint. This interesting service is per-
formed according to the missal in remem-
brance of Christ as the great cornerstone,
and is hailed by kneeling ecclesiastics
with the words "LIght of Christi
The rest of the service will consist of the
blessi OF the Pascal candle, an emblem
Of Christ arisen; the chanting Of all the
prophetic passages of the Old Testament
pointing to Chrsps resurrection; the
benediction OF the baptismal fonts, from
which the clergy return in procession.
singing toe Lttauy of the Saints, and the
joyous mass, WITH its alleluias, iOretaste
OF the resurrection.