The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-04-07
This Is PALM SUNDAY.
THE GREAT FESTIVAL TO BE OBJ
SERVED NEXT WEEK.
How the Date for Easter Was TIxed-some-
thing About the Music In the Churches,
and tho Pretty Souvenirs.

This is Palm Sunday--the commence
mont Of Holy weck-a season in the Cath
olio and Episcopal Churches OF great i'm
pressivencss and solemnity. No week in
tho Church Calendar IA observed with
more penitence by the faithful, and there
hre many services held in the churches.
Next Friday is the hottest Of days-Good
f'riday-and the following Sunday Is Eas-
ter. The latter day IS one OF rejoicing,
and the praise rendered IN holy temples
proclaims the Joy OF the resurrection
The music IN the Catholic and Epis-
copal churches next Sunday viii be care
fully selected and beautifully rendered.
The chOirs have been doing practice work
Cor some time past, and some OF tho best
compositions OF Church music VIII pe
rendercd
At st. Peters Cathedral the usual choir
will be augmented, and the singing VIII
I've admirably done. At ST. Pauls. Monu-
mental Holy Trinity. ST. James All
Saints and other Episcopal churches the
music VIII be especially fine, and In many
OF the other churches OF the city the
music VIII be OF n joyous Kind, fully in
keeping with the Significance pf the
day. A number OF exceedingly attractive
programmes have been arranged ty the
various cboirs. and II Is believed that tho
music In the churches next Sunday will
b., perhaps. better than ever before.
EASTER SUNDAY.
Both the Eastern and Western churches
from the beginning distir guished a two
fold svent in the Easter oommomoration.
the Staying Of "the Lamb of God" and
his resurrection. The distinction between
the day on which Christ died and that on
which He rose again had not a little TO
do with tho Easter controversy, which
grew quite serious in tho early Church,
originating IN difference of custom with
regard ia the day OF the week and the
day Of the month ON which Easter should
be celebrated.
The question. one of custom and local
discipline I'm the beginning. had given 80
much trouble. that about 15S POycarp.
disciple Of 81. John, the evangelist and
Bishop OF Smyrna, went 10 Rome TO con-
suit with Pope Anicctus on the means Of
healing the difference. In the council held
in Rome on this occasion, the Western,
or present manner of celebrating Easter
was affirmed. Easter Day is always the
first Sunday after the fun neon which
happens upon or next after March DIST.
and II the fun moon happen on a Sunday
Bastcr Day is the Sunday after. by this
arrangement Easter may come as early
as March 22d. or as late as April 18th.
HOW II WAS OBSERVED.
This sacred festival has been termed
the Queen OF Festivals, and Is celebrated
in every part OF the Christian world with
great solemnity and devotion. Formerly
the churches were ornamcnted with large
wax candles, and the Christians saluted
each other with a kiss and the words.
"Christ is Risen to which the response
was made, HE is risen, indeed"
The day before Easter Sunday or Holy
Saturday. has been set apart as "A cay for
specially solemnizing baptism Courts of
justice were closed, aims were distrib-
uted. slaves were freed and the people
gave themselves up TO enjoyment and
feasting.
In nearly all Christian countries the re-
currence Of Easter mas been celebrated
with various ceremonies and popular
sports and ohseryances Among the best
known is the practice Of making presents
Of colored eggs. called pasch or
pace eggs, which are often deliberately or
namented. Colorcd eggs were formerly
used by children at Easter I'm sort OF
game which consists in testing the
strength Of the egg-shelis This practice
is still continued in most Christian cOun-
tries. The game OF ball was formerly a
favoIltc Easier sport. in which munici-
pal corporations formerly engaged with
due parade and dignity. In the northern
counties Of England the men parade the
streets on Easter Sunday. ana claim the
privilege Of lifting every woman three
times from the ground. receiving as pay
ment a kiss or a silver sixpencc The
same is done by the women TO the men
on the next day.
EASTER SOUVENIRS.
I'm the stationery shops can be seen
many beautiful Easter souvenirs. nclud-
Ing some attractive novelties. and several
OF the merchants have introduced any
number of pretty cOnceits. such as glove
or handkerchiefs cases ade Of cloth,
satin and ribbons, designs OF chamois
skin. hand-painted opera-glass bags PEN
Wipcrs blottcrs, papcr-cuttcrs and many
pretty Easter souvenirs. The Easter card
and pretty little booklet. handsomely IL
lustrated. can be seen in many places.
while any numb r. Of choice gems. in the
way OF volumes OF poetry. are in demand.
Taken as a whole, the collection of Eas-
ter remembrances are about as pretty
as any seen I'm Richmond for several
years past. and this week the sales
promise 10 net a snug sum for the novel
~ dealers.