Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1886-08-07
IN A MEXICAN CHURCH.
A Thrilling and Realistic Scene az
the Altar.

the Altar.
The piping of tho blind Indian and
the drumming of the Little boy did not
cease as we entered the church. But
the procession moved more slowly. and
the Roman soldiery and masked Jews
assumed more stacy posture. Sud-
denly, midway up the aisle, the cross
bearing image gave a lurch, fell on its
knees, struggled to its feet again,
dropped down still lower than before.
the head bobbing up and down in a
most notwithstanding manner mean
while. 1t was easy enough now to iden-
tify the pantomme. Ii was a represen-
tation Of our Lord fainting and falling
beneath the heavy burden of the cross.
True, there was no Cyrenian at hand to
take the heavy beam upon his own
shoulders. The platform was too mar
row and light for this. but as sub
stitute, perhaps. a little boy of 10 was
placed behind the figure, and supported
the end of the cross which rested on
the shoulders of the image.
And now ensued scene at the altar
when the procession arrived which beg
gars description. and sends strange
thrill through our hearts, so realistic,
though all unconsciously to the actors,
did it become. The cross, twenty feet
long and made of heavy beams. Sutfi-
GENTLY strong for an actual crucliixiOn,
was lowered to the floor in front of
the altar. The band of pseudO-soldiers
and masked Jews gathered about, at
tempting TO raise it aloft and lower it
into hole prepared for its reception.
But the cross was very heavy, the space
confined, and the hole too small to re-
ceive it. A burly man now appeared
with an AK to trim off the end to a
suitable size. Imagine the scene.
The ancient sanctuary adorned with all
the paraphernalia of divine worship.
the kneeling congregation solemn and
devout, the padre standing by in the
rich men: "Well, then, let the prime
minister reflect apparel of his order,
and a struggling crowd. composed of
soldiers, Jews, and Whitehead Indians,
who had volunteered to assist in this
emergency. this throngns mass of
humanity, swaying and struggling 10
lift alOft the heavy cross, while the
resounding blows of the AK reverber-
ated through the aisles and massive
stone corridors! Could the scene have
been more real, and at the same time
more weird, "when they were come to
the place which is called Calvary. there
they crucitied Him. and the malefactors,
one on the right hand and the other on
the left" Was the mob who there
struggled to lift on high the sacred per-
son Of our Lord composed of stranger
material, or more strangely clad, OF
more dead in earnest than this crowd
of struggling Indians? Not even the
two malefactOrs were omitted from the
tragic scene. for two wooden figures,
representing the two thieves. were sus-
pended on either side. And last, but
not least, a weeping image of the
Virgin was stationed close to Jesus
feet. l shall not infict on the reader
the lengthy and solemn service that fol-
lowed, nor the sermon with which.
aided by the ocular demonstration be-
fore their eyes, the padre impressed on
the hearts of his hearers the signifi-
canoe of the awful scene. In the even.
ing there was another service and pro-
cession 20 commemorate the burial OF
Jesus in the tomb of Joseph Of
Aramathea; but having heard three
sermons and spent six hours in church
already. tired nature asserted impera-
lively her claim to good supper and a
good sleep. So glimpse of the wav-
ing taper and murmur of the dstan,
chant, were all that we saw of the
funeral pomp said to attend this iina
service of Good Friday.-Cor. Cieue
land Leader.