The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-12
FOYE & MORRISON.

OF reception and the kiss OF dismissal. That
great light of the church, ST. Augustine,
wrote q treatise in which he gives an ao-
count of four kinds-the kiss Of reconcilia-
ton, the kiss Of peace. the ki's Of love, and
the holy kiss. Salute one an other with an
holy kiss.n
The early Christians exchanged the kiss
of peace after celebrating the mysteries Of
the Eucharist. IL was called Signuculum
ordtiontS or the soul of prayer aud was
considered as a solemn act OF religion. In
holy writ we como across as many as eight
generic forms OF OSCILLATION, viz, salutioD,
valediction, reconciliation. subsection. ap-
| probation, alteration, treachery Che Judas
! kiss and affection. IL was customary to
kiss the hand or the feet of the person it
| was desired to honor. or even the
hem Of his garment to express the deepest
humility. Kissing the foot is a com
mon oriental form Of respect. In Charles
Reade's well-known THE Clolster aud The
HEARTH we are made acquainted with
variety Of curious kissing customs
through the medium Of Fra Co
lonna, who lectures Brother jerome
upon the ever fruitful subject Of the pagan
origin of many modern ecclesiastical
customs. Says Fra Colonna, "The kissing
Of images and the pope's toe is eastern
paganism. The Egyptians had 1t OF the
Assyriaus. the Greeks Of the Egyptians
aud we Of the Romans, whose pontitex
maximus had his toe Kissed under the
empire. The Druids kissed their high
priests toe 1000 years B. G. The Mussul-
mans kiss the stone of Caaba-a pagan
practice. The priests OF Banl kissed their
idols. Tully tells us Of a fair image of
Hercules at Agrigentum whose chin was
worn by kissing. The lower part of the
statues we call Peter are Jupiter The toe
ia sore worn, but not all by Christian
mouths. The heather vulgar laid their lips
there first for many year, and ours fol-
lowed them as monkeys their masters.p
When the pope hos his toe kissed, he
wears slipper with a cross upon it: 10 is
the cross that receives the lip homage. Be-
fore the eighth century, we are told by Mat
thew OF Paris, popes gave their hand TO be
saluted but it happened that a certain mis-
guided woman not only kissed holy
fathers hand. but also squeezed IL, which 20
scandalized him that be Immediately cut it
of. After that he was forced
to present his foot instead. prac-
tice which continued for ali time. The
kissing of the sultan's toe at Constantinople
lie a grand ceremony; and only officials of
the most exalted rank, such as the viZler,
the ministers and few select pashas, are
allowed that supreme honor. Others
may but touch the fringe OF his
scarf with their lips. while the low
eat of all must content themselves with
a simple obesance. All though the GER
emony the sultan sits immovable, like a
statue that hears aud sees nothing the while
his subjects defile before him with every
marx of the most serVile respect. In the
middle ages we come across the kiss of in
vestiture. the vassal put his clasped hands
between those Of hls suzerain or llege lord,
promising him loyal and true service; the
lord accepted his homage by giving him a
kiss. At the coronation Of George w. one
OF the RrandesJ ceremonies the ancient
abbey OF Westminster hes ever witnessed
bis majesty, after the benediction, kissed
the archbishops and bishops kneelinR before
him. The enthroning then followed, after
which the lords spiritual and temporal, and
the princes Of the blood royal passed before
the newly crowned monarch In all the
glory OF gorgeous robes aud gllttering
orders, and, taking the oath Of fealty,
touched the crown upon the kings head,
kissed his left cheek, and so retired. The
royal princess we're headed by his majesty's
brother. who. kneelIug. pronounced the
ancient formula OF homage; the same
words, 80 simple yet so sufficient. as those
by which many generations Of noble En-
glishmen have sworn faith to their soVer-
eign: II, Frederick, Duke OF York and
Albany, do become your lege-man OF life
and limb, aud in earthly worship, and firm
and true will bear unto yOu, TO live and
die against all manner Of folks. 80 help
me God"