Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1895-12-02
RUSSIA'SROYAIBABY BY
GETTING READY FOR A BIG TIME AT
 THE CHRISTENING.


 The Whole Empire VIII Be En Fete-Th. Elaborate Preparations Account o the Ceremony ny-Great Festivities Attend ing Royal Birth.
 If all goes well, there will be q royal christening at St. Petersburg before long. and q tiny bit of humanity will be the cause of national jubilation from one i end of the vast Russian empire to the other While some of this merrymaking will not be altogether voluntary none of the subjects of the ear cares to at tract the attenpQn of the police by fail ing to mako sdsne sort of show of fes- tivity during Che period of national joy. For months past the young czarina and the ladies of her court have been preparing for the. elaborate ceremonies which always surround the birth of royal baby in Russia. Of all these eere- monies the most magnificent and i'm posing is the christening according to the ritual of the Greek church. The christening always takes place IS soon after the birth of the royal youngster as it's general health will permit.
 At the christening the child is carried in the arms of it's gedmother to the church or chapel Royalty and nobility, glittering i'll brilliant uniforms and gala toilets, fill the body of the church and stand grouped around the font. The priests wear magnificent robes embroid cred with gold crosses, and sacred ban ners are borne before them Two dea- cons carry q portrait of Christ and the Virgin Mary.
 The godfathers give the high priest nine wax candles, which are lighted and fastened across the font The priest incenses the godfathers and Rodmothers and conseerates tho water with many ceremonies. Then a procession is formed round the font by those taking part in the ceremony, each one bearing a light ed wax taper. The name of tho child is given iii writing to the priest, who puts tho paper on all image which he holds on the child breast, meanwhile saying prayer.
 When the priest asks if the child for. sakes the devil and his works the god parents turn their backs to the font to show their horror and aversion to the question and answer Yes. They again face the font, and the priest takes the child, which is quite naked, and holding it by the head SO his thumb and finger stop the ears, dips it three times in the water, pronouneing the words, '.I baptize thee ill the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. :"
 Tho cross, which has been given by the godfather. the child is under ob1iga- tiens to wear all its life. If this cross be not found upon the child at death, the priest says to the godparents, the child may not have Christian burial, even though he be the son of a hundred kings. A particular saint is also assign eel to the child, whose image he is charged oeherish with special devotion. Holy oil, or ehrism, which is nsed at royal bantisms. eefenations and eense= eration of churches, is prepared with elaborate ceremony. There is a copper vase, overlaid with pearl and called ala baster, in which is kept the original oil sent from Constantinople when Chris tianity was introduced into Russia A few drops are taken to prepare the chrism and are replaced with other oil, so the quantity never decreases. Wine, roses, lavender, balsams and spices are mixed with the oil
 Forty days after the birth of the child mother, the empress, Is "ohurched, D
 'afant is received yisibly into
 by the giving of it's first
 the royal gates are
 on e-- deacon appears
 mass, the is carried
 e. The baby .-g
 the priest, coming for.
 pof wine into it's mouth
 ing, "The servant oi
 IS i'll the name of tht
 nd the Holy Ghost "
 remony corresponding
 the Russian church inues to receive tn, sacramone baptism twice year, at Easter and on its saints day until it is I years old, when it is brough to the confession on Good Friday.
 The social functions attendant upon birth in the royal family are very olab crate. They last several days All tn riches and magnificenee of the court an nobility are displayed. At night the il luminations transform the capitals 1 j.