The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-23
CHRISTENING THE BABY.
Ceremonies That VIII BE Performed
If the Cznrina Has IA son.

intending just now the preparation Of
a layette. and all the world is interested
in the expected advent Of an heir to the
Russian throne.
Elaborate ceremonies always surround
the birth OF a royal child in Russia,
perhaps more conspicuously than else
where. The christening, according to
the ritual in the Greek church. must
take place as soon as possible after the
birth. The baby's christening robes are
marvels Of the needleworker's art. The
first godfather. who is always a high and
mighty person. gives the child a
gold cross inlald with jewels, and the
godmother provides the little white shirt
which is used before the ceremony is
completed. The occasion requires gifts
from all persons connected with the
court. These gifts are often the toys
most likely to amuse a tiny infant, al
though many are suitable for a grown
child. Other gifts may be lands or Jewels.
At the christening the child is carried
in the arms of its godmother TO the church
or chapel. A crowd of royalty and nobility
glittering in brilliant uniforms and gala
toilets. fill the body of the church and
stand grouped round the font The priests
wear magnificent robes with gold crosses,
and sacred banners are borne before them.
Two deacOns carry a portrait of Christ or
the Virgin Mary.
The godfathers give the priest nine wax
candles which are lighted and fastened
across the font The priest incenses the
godfa theirs and gOdmothers and conse-
crates the water with many ceremonies.
Then a procession is formed round the font
by those taking part in the ceremony, each
one bearing lighted wax taper. The name
of the child is given in writing TO the
priest, who puts the paper on an image
which he holds on the child's breast, mean
while saying a prayer When the priest
asks if the child forsakes the devil and
his works the godparents turn their backs
TO the font to show their horror and aver
sion 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, pronouncing the words Il bap-
| tie thee in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Ghost"
The chrism, or baptism function, which
| is called the seal of the gift of the Holy
| Ghost Immediately follows baptism. In
| performing this ceremony the priest an
| oints the child with holy oil; on the eyes,
! in order that It may see only good; on the
| ears, that these may admit only what is
| pure; on the mouth, that IL may speak as
| becomes Chris tian; on the hand that it
| may 40 no WTOuBs anu on the IeeL tnat lney
/ may tread only in paths Of virtue. At the
| end of this ceremony the shirt which the
| godmother has provided Is put on the child
| by the priest, who says: Thou art as
| clean and as clear from original sin as this
| shirt; thou art baptized, thou art sancti-
| fed, thou art washed in the name of the
| Trinity" The cross, which has been Civ
en- by the godfather the child is under
obligations 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 the Christian burial, even
| though he be the son of a hundred kings.
| A particular saint is also assigned to the
child, whose image he is charged to cher
ish with special devotion.
| Holy oil, or chrism, which is used at
| royal baptisms, coronatiOns and consecra-
ton of churches. is prepared with elabor-
| ate ceremony. There is a copper vase,
| overlad with pearl and called the alabas-
ter, in which is kept the original oil sent
| from Constantinople when Christianity
| 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
| its mother, the empress, is churched,
| and the infant is received visibly into
| Christs church by the giving of its first
| sacrament. When the royal gates are
| opened during mass the deacon appears
| with the chalice. The baby is carried to
the steps, and the priest coming forward,
| puts a drop of wine into its mouth with
| a spoon, saying: 1.-The servant of God
! communicates in the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost"
There is no such ceremony as confirm
| alton in the Russian church, but the child
| continues TO receive the sacrament from
| its baptism. twice year, at Easter and on
| its saints day, until it is seven years old
| when it is brought to the confession on
| Good Friday.
The social functions attendant upon
| birth in the royal family are very elab-
| crate They last several days. All the
riches and magnihcence of the court and
| nobility are displayed. At night the illu-
| limitations transform the capitals. Lamps
| are removed from the street posts, and in
their places shine illuminated stars and
| circles All house fronts, roofs and chin
neys are outlined with lights The trees
are full of festoons of Chinese lanterns,
| and from every limb hang globes of glass
in red, yellow, blue and green, each formed
| and hung so as to resemble fruit The
houses OF the nobility look like fairy pal
! aces. The gardens are ablaze with light
and everywhere appear the burning mono
| grams of the emperor and empress
On the day the child dons its first shoes
| the czarina gives 800 or 400 pairs to be dis
| tributed among the poor children of St
| SttISDut5. 4ueSe are ordinary shoes, OF
| course, not bit like the royal baby's.
which are Of white leather, embroidered
| with gold.
The nurse of a royal Russian child is
always gorgeous in her apparel. She
| wears rich velvet skirt with two broad
| bands of gold round it, blue velvet apron
also trimmed with gold, bodice of black
velvet, fastened with silver buttons and
! round her neck a golden chain. This is
the dress for ordinary days. For state oc-
caslons there are other costumes even
more elaborate.
| 49, objectionable Obliviousness.-The Lit
! Tie Niscount to Baroness de V: '.You
| HouIdh I belleVe how absent-minled l am,
any one can be 50 thoughtlessH