The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-03-27
TEE YEARS eRRArFAsr
Good Fridays Observance In the Epis-
copsl and Catholic Churches.

Good Fridays Observances In the Epis-
copsl and Catholic Churches.
To-day is Good Friday, on which the
Episcopal and Roman Catholic churches
commemorate the passion Of Christ, the
saddest and most solemn Of all the days in
Holy week
The services in the Catholic churches are
Of the most interesting character. The offl-
ciating clergy appear in black vest
ments and PROSTATE themselves
before the altar, which has been
stripped on Holy Thursday. No candles are
/ lighted. After a short pause the altar is
covered with white cloths and passages
Of the Old Testament, followed BY the his
tory Of the passion from St John, are
read. Next solemn prayers are said for all
conditions Of men, for all the members of
the hierarchy. for the prosperity Of chris
tan people, for catechumens, heretics,
Jews and pagans.
Before each PRAYER the priests genuhect,
except before that for the Jews, when the
Renufiection is omitted in LEGISLATION Of the
feigned obeisance with which the Jews
mocked Christ. When the prayers are
ended the cross, which, up to this time, has
been covered with black, is exposed to view
and kissed by the clergy and ueople, whence
comes the term alteration Of the cross"
During the alteration the "Improperia"
followed
by the tr sagion in Greek and Latin. Impro-
perium is a barbarous word used by Latin
writers OF a late age. meaning ''reproach,"
and these "reproaches" are addressed in
dramatic form by Christ to the Jewish
people They begin with the touching
words. my people, what have / done to
thee; wherein have l vexed theel Answer
me-" The trisagion is so called because the
word holy occurs three times
in IL. HHoIU God
strong, holy ead immortal, have pity
on u.s." 1t was first introduced at Con-
stantinople, and it is probably because Of
its Greek origin that it Is recited in the
Good Trinity office in Greek as well as
Latin
The church abstains from celebrating
mass on Good Friday. The sacrament is
borne in procession from the altar, where it
was placed on Holy Thursday, while the
choir sing the hymn, "Vexella Regis" The
priest places the host on the altar, where the
candles have been previously lighted.
1t is then elevated and adored,
while the wooden clapper is sounded. The
host is then divided into three pars, one of
which Is put into chalice containing wine
and water. Finally the priest receives the
portions which remain on the platen, and
takes the wine and the third portion of the
host. The church forbids communion to be
given on Good Friday, except in case of
sickness.
The morning service will begin at the
Cathedral at o'clock. and will be carried
out as above. At o'clock this afternoon
the Way of the Cross will be recited in all
the Catholic churches Of the city.
The cotton exchange and board of trade
will be closed to-day in accordance with
their usual custom.
The services at the cathedral yesterday
morning were attended by large congre-
cation Bishop Becker celebrated mass.
assisted by all the priests of the city and
Fathers Hennessy Of Brunswick and Ken
nedy of Milledgsville. The consecrated
host was borne in procession through the
church and afterward placed ON ST.
Joseph's altar, surrounded by profusion of
flowers and lighted candles.
Last night at the TenebrB services
Father John Mccarthy preached an elo-
quent sermon on the Eucharist to a packed
church. These services will be continued
tonight, and a sermon preached on the
cruciixion of Christ
A united service was held by the Episco-
pal churches in Christ church last night.
The holy communion was celebrated. and a
sermon was preached by Rev. o. P. Fitz-
simons Of st. Matthew's church
The services to-day in the Episcopal
churches will be of most solemn character.