Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-04-11
CLOSING DAYS OF LENT
Impressive Ceremonies to Be Held in Cath
Ole and Episcopal Churches.
Elaborate Musical Program ON Good
Friday at St. Matthew's and
St. Aloysius.

the passion of the Redeemer are observed
in the Catholic Church with increased SOL
emnity, and the faithful indulge in more
vigorous pentence and mourning. Today
is Maundy or Holy Thursday, and is de-
signed to commemorate the last supper and
the institution of the sacrament Of the
Eucharist Upon this day. also. the oil or
chrism used in baptism, confirmatlon ard
extreme JUNCTION is blessed. In atholic
churches the Tenebrae is sung today as it
was yesterday and will be tomorrow. This
striking office consists of mathis and lauds.
and at its close all the lights are ex-
tinguished, except one, which for time is
hidden under the altar as symbol of the
death and burial of the Lord.
Tomorrow. Good Friday. is the most
Church, being the commemoration Of the
crucitixion. From the earliest times it has
been observed with rigid fasting and mel
Church the services Of the day consists Of
the mass of the Presanctifed, the sacred
host not being consecrated on Good Friday,
but being preserved from the preceding
day. The ceremonial of the alteration of
the cross is striking feature Of the SER
vices.
Good Friday is also celebrated by the
Episcopal Church with special solcmnity.
In England and Ireland the day is a legal
holiday.
Holy Saturday is observed with great
solemnity also The fire and the water of
the baptismal font are blessed on this day,
and from the fire thus blessed is lighted the
Paschal Light, which is regarded
symbol of the Lord risen from the dead.
This light is kept burning during the read
ing of the Gospel at mass throughout the
interval between Easter and Pentecost.
While at all the Catholic churches the
Good Friday services will be of impressive
interest at st. Aloysius and St. Matthews
the services will be more elaborate and
more beautiful than they have ever been in
the past. Catholic churches are always
noted for the excellence of their music at
Eastertide, and interest especially centers
in the efforts of the two churches named
to provide beautiful and appropriate num-
bers for the occasion. While the music of
Easter Sunday is joyous In its character,
that of holy week, and Good Friday espe-
cially, is more solemn and weird in Its
themes. although it loses none of the elab-
orateness which characterizes the Easter
morning music. 1t is extremely touching
in some of the principal themes, and the
sweetness and real melody probably show
to better advantage than in its more joy
Gus prototype.
At ST. Matthews Church the services will
commence at pm, with the office of the
Tenebrae, sung by the select choir After
the rendition Of this. the sermon will be
preached upon the Passion of Christ" and
this is to be followed by Saviero Merca-
dante's wonderfully beautiful oratorio, THE
Seven Last Words of Our Savior on the
Cross" This last is the most solemn serv-
ice in the year, concentrating the three
long hours that Christ suffered on The
cross. and ending when He again cried with
a loud voice and gave up the ghost. 1t will
be rendered by the full choir, with orches-
trail and organ accompaniment The Or
chestration is composed of string instru-
ments only, and the performers were care
fully selected by Prof Herman Rakemann,
the violin virtuoso. Prof John Porter Law
renee will preside at the organ, and The
whole will be under the direction Of L. E.
Cannon.
Vr~l,a
posed Of the following named: Sopranos,
the Misses Cecilia V. Murphy, Mary
Sweeny, Lillian Hunt Zafira Hancock,
Emily Donath. and Madams Goldsboro
Goddard, Sherman Hight and ]. H. Mar
ten. assisted by Kitty Thompson Berry;
altos. Madam Marguerite Nolan Martin, and
the Misses Lavina Milliken. Belle Howard,
aker; tenors Messrs VIM H. Burnett
Charles F. Xanten, Sherman Hight, Robert
Smart, Thomas w. Cridler and James Pat
terson; baritones, Messrs. J. H. Sheets and
1. E. Cannon. assisted by Signor Mariana
Mama; bassos. Messrs. John H. Nolan,
John NJ. McElroy, Charles B. Hepburn,
Charles T. Hull and Charles W. Hancock
assisted by James F. Nolan, jr.
The solo lessons of the office of the Tene-
brae will be sustained by Messrs. Sherman
Hight. Charles F. Xanten. Robert Smart
and John H. Nolan, and the solo parts of
the oraterio by Miss Murphy and Mrs.
Nolan Martin. Kitty Thompson Berry, and
Messrs. VIM. H. Burnett. Signor Mama
and John H. Nolan.
At st. Aloysius' Church of the Jesuit
Fathers the Tenebrae and the Seven
Last Words" will be sung by the choir,
the Tenebrae being rendered at 7:30 in the
evening and the Seven Last Words at
noon, the exposition being by Rev. VIM.
J. lyman, S. J. At o'clock in the morn
ing mass of the Presanctifed will be said.
which will be followed by the alteration of
the cross. The excellent choir which the
church possesses will be augmented by an
orchestra, and judging by the hard work
which has been put in at rehearsals. the
members will justify the reputation which
they have established in the past.
Father Dolan will deliver the sermon on
Friday evening, taking as his subject the
crucifix ion.