The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-29
THIS Is PALM SUNDAY.
COMMEyCBMKxT OF HOLY WEEh'
SEASON OFGREAT SOLEMNITf.
Its Significance and How 1t IL Observed
The Date of Easter and the Manner OF
Fixing 1.-THE Observance.

multitude cast branches OF trees peAOio
Him. These branches are represented ny
sprays OF palm, or, in countries where the
palm does not grow, by those OF other
trees. as OF the yew willow. box, and FIR.
These branches are blessed by priest,
and distributed TO the congregation, VINO
wear them for the rest OF the day.
The custom prevails, at least locally OF
gathering and preserving the palms
which are afterwards burned, the ashes
serving for use upon Ash Wednesday the
ashes Of consecrated wood, and OF the old
sltar-llnen being also employed
IL was another ancient custom tnat
palmers. returning from the Holy Land
should bring with them leaves OF the
palm for service on Palm Sunday
HOLY WEEK.
Holy week commences to-day. 1t IL the
last week OF Lent Immediately preceding
Easter Sunday The term holy Is ap-
piled to II because II IS commemorative
of Chrlsts death for the redemption OF
mankind. II was called I'm the early
Christian ages the great week. both De-
cause OF the mighty event IL commence
rates and because it IS observed with the
greatest solemnity and strictness.
Tho greater number OF Protestaht
Churches do not solemnize this week. Inc
land, and the Protestant Episcopal
Church have special services each day.
In the Greek and other Eastern Chui cnes
the obseryances and ceremonial are SUB
stanfially the same as IN the Latin. On
Wednesday. Thursday. and Friday the
office OF 'greuebrac" darkness, from the
darkening of the churches) Is chanted'
During this Office n large candies uck -
placed near tho altar, bearing Fifteen
tapers. disposed in tho form OF triangle,
and representing the light OF CHRIST. anu
OF tho prophets, who had announced Hls
coming. As the psalms are sung, the Ia
pers are extinguished. until only the Top
most remains This. as II represents
Christ. is taken down, and carried be-
hind the altar during the "MisereTe.
after which 10 IS put back in It's place 10
signify the temporary extinction OF the
llght Of Christ between His death ana
resurrection
Thursday. being the anniversary or the
institution OF the eucharist ana OF lne
priesthood OF the new law, IL distinguish
ed by two ceremonies OF great sisnlh,
canoe which take place I'm cathedral
churches-the conservation by the Dishop,
assisted by Y priests. In full sacerdotaI
costume. OF the oils used In the admins
tration OF the sacraments. etc, and the
washing OF feet At the end Of mass. and
! after the procession, the celebrant washes
the feet OF II poor persons, whiie the
choir sings the words OF ST. John, Man
datum novum do vobis." "a new com
mandment ] give unto you" etc
In Rome the Pope washes the rect OF
thirteen poor priests, in memory OF the
| hodv of the apostles raised TO that num-
Der by the extraordinary calling OF 81.
Paul. During the GLORIA in Excels' or
the mass OF Thursday, ali the bells are
rung and thence forward remain silent
until the Gloria IN Excels" in the mass
| OF Holy Saturday. A large host, conse-
Grated during this mass is carried IN
procession at the end OF It 10 side altar
/ fcalled the sepulchre}. richly decorated
| on which e remains, and where IL IS
visited by the faithful during the whole OF
the ensuing day.
GOOD FRIDAY.
On the following day. Good Friday. the
! altar is denuded TO signify the desolatlon
OF the Church; the prophecies are sung
| which pertain TO the story OF Christ
suffering; the whole body Of the faithful
perform what is called the alteration OF
! the cross: the passion. according 10 ~
John. is chanted, and all proceed In 81
fence 10 the sepuichre, whence the con-
secrated host is brought back In process
| sion. offered IN alteration 10 the people
and consumed by the celebrant. ms Is
called the mass OF the pre-sanctined' OF
pre-consecrated elements, no CONSERVATION
taking place on that day.
On Saturday the services begin by the
blessing OF the new fire." obtained from
flint and steel, because our true vita
light and warmth come from Christ, our
| Rock. the blessing Of the paschal candle
an emblem OF Christ arisen; the chanting
Of all the prophetic passages or tho Ole
| Testament pointing 70 Christs resurrec-
ton. then the benedictiOn Of the bapus'
nal fonts. from which the clergy return
In procession. singing the ltany or th'
safnts. and the joyous mass, with It's Az
leluias, a foretaste Of the resurrection
EASTER SUNDAY.
The Sunday following that fourteentt
dav OF the calendar moon, which faAs
upon or next after March 2lst Is taste
Sunday. This IS true OF both old-styi'
and new. Next Sunday will. accordingly
he the principal festival Of the Christian
year concentrating, as IL does IN,
greatest event in the history OF the NoIan
| tho resurrection OF our blessed Lord. m
returns az this anniversary were orig
nzllv regulated. and. in imitation OF ms
early usage, have always continued IT.
ho by the calendar OF Judea. 10 "hlc'
the months were coterminous with tn'
revolutions Of the moon. A mean lui,a
] ucn.v saws Dr. Perry, being, roughly
tvventy-nine and hEf days long. twelve
lunar months. or a lunar year, rail- snoi
of A solar ear by about eleven days. III
beginning Of the Jewish year therefor
eoas backward on the natural year eieFe'
dsvs annually, requiring an inter-caidi
| month TO be introduced In the thIIu year
and again I'm the sixth, ninth eieNehlIl
fourteenth, and so on. Any ahiiNeIS"i
REGULATED bv such a calendar as TINS J.
consequently movable In reference ~
calendar regulated by the sum
1.-The resurrection took place just a.
the Jewish feast Of the Passover, VIM -
uas held on the fourteenth day OF Nisan
- frst month OF the year-that is e
saw. the fourteenth day OF Tue ihooh -
not far from the time OF fun moon. IN
! C,brfstians OF Jerusalem, and after theh
tbose OF the Asiatic churches generally
were accustomed 10 hold the ie~sl OF Eds
| ter on this same day, or simultaneous
with the Jewish Passover ms US
.vas tnacceptable to the Gentle churche
I'm italy. and the West generally, whic
preferred TO celebrate Easter on the sun
dav following the fourteenth day OF IN
moon; and the difference OF piacuce
this particular led 10 grave u,SSei'S ''',
between the East and West, which wef
ar length pacified by the agreement react
"a in the Council OF Nicaea "a. ID. go
10 make the Western usage unlversai.
.In order 10 find tho tyne OF Easter &c
any given year, IL would seem 'h'.' "
should calculate the exact uIne OK III
new moon in that year Tor harch, an
fry whether the fourteenth Gay OF una
moon Cthe day of the new moon itself b
ing counted the frsp would ran nc
earlier taan the DIST, in which case IN
sunday following this fourteenth ia
-. ~. ,,-aou,pcf 70 be- Easter. Bu