Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1891-10-08
OPEN CHURCH poo,s
4 Beautieal Msxciaa Custom w.,
MlGht Initial.

hesetitel Msxeiaa Custom VIII.
Might Initiate. VI
One class OF Mexican h,,u,.
there is whereof. save only A. .lnss
The doors never are clossa. alsht
churches. From dawn until a.. 9ns
comes again the doors stand ora aes
whoever will may enter to sear -
in prayer. Though less thnn = 'ace
period preceding the PASSAGE ~ ~ .ls
laws OF reform-which swept AVA y, Nc
single blow the priestly ru,.
undermined the civil power 'ass
church is an active part Of Ma-,'ae
daily life. Going to church ia ~.
office fixed for a SIN all part OF . \. ~. =
day in the week and celebrate g,
in garments Of price; every dar WY
all day long there is q Constant saa
and. ebb Of humanity throuoh NV
friendly open doors to and frc s .as
friendly shelter from the sorro,y -
the world. 1T.a
In the very early morning wor.,.
people-cargadores and aoMado.ae!
and such like humble folk--surrssssss'
few minutes Of their working ,;.s
that they may begin their dav v;.s .u'
prayer; little later come tho hon..
servants on their way home from n.y.
ket bringing their market ba,L a.
with them and usually having in 49,
wake little dog. whose decor". s
gravity suggests the possibility , ~,
in these early devotions he also hss :.
share; at eight o'clock the mas. !.
celebrated, when the women 81 -.
upper classes-the men are consncn
GUS by their absence -thronO a.
churches; and thereafter being cha
in black and wearing lace mantills.
az d greatly to the plcturesqueness !,
the streets as they go homewum
Then come the vendors OF milk AND
vegetables and poultry and wood AM
charcoal and other household supuli..
country people who wish to mai.
their sacrifice OF prayer before farms
forth from the city; and who. il tb.r
have had luck in their small cheating.
may be disposed also to thanksgiyinO
Even on Sunday the only day thu,
he would be sure Of finding the door
open-a charcoal seller would not h.
encouraged to hitch his donkey 10
lamp-post in front of fashiouabl.
church in New York, and thereaf,s,
to enter the church and say hh
prayers. Quite the contrary.
When the country people have zone
their way homeward there are com.
paratively few people in the churches
until the late afternoon; and even then
says Harper's Weekly, unless vespen
are sung, the number passing back
and forth through the doors is not
4; nearly so great as in the morning hours
But never are tho churches deserted
utterly; always within them. until
darkness comes and their doors ara
closed. are men and women kneelinr
silently before the affairs or making
with prayers half audible. the round
Of the Stations of the Cross.
This mingling Of the offices Of rs.
ligion with the affairs Of every day lie
emphasizes the slxteenth-century feel
ing which in Mexico Is so pointedly
, sugg ested by the strong houses and the
barred doors. It is q feeling that
gives to the country a potent and ,
peculiar charm. under the spell o.
which come gladly those who seek
refuge there from the later civilization
that is glared upon by electricity, and
that is driven BY steam. And thu
charm works most powerfully upon
the fortunate few who dwell in this re
gion OF rest long enough really Il
understand the whole of its excellen
meaning. and to know how true and
how cordial Is Mexican hOspitalit!
when once the barred doors are opene
wide. They do not open easily. thes'
doors; but. having been opened. the!
never are closed again against friend