The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
THE EASTER SEASON.
Ancient Rites and Ceremonies of Good
Friday and Other Holy Days.
Chicago Times-Herald.

Ancient Rites and Ceremonies of Good
Friday and other Holy Days.
Chicago Times-Herald
The last days Of Lent and the Easter fes-
uyal nave been marked by curious o5serv-
anceS IN various nations through the epOcns
or Christian history In early centuries the
controversy over the date OF the festival
became so violent as almost to tear the
church IN two. the Jewish Christians con-
tending that the fast should end, as in the
Jewisn passover, on the fourteenth day OF
the March moon, irrespective OF days Of
the week. and the gentiles asserting that
the festival OF the resurrection was due on
the first day OF the week, irrespective of
calendar dates AT first the choice of dates
was left to individual local feeling, but
in the middle OF the second century the
Roman Church adopted the gentle practice
and began to impose it. as TAR possible,
upon believers. Not without protest, how
ever: for example. Polycarp. the venerable
argue for the Quartodeciman usage, as it
was called, and the Asiatic churches were
permitted TO continue II until, in the year
g, the Emperor Constantine summoned the
Nicaean- council largely for the purpose of
settling this controversy Thereafter the
fourteenth-day usage gradually disappeared
and Easter became uniform t1roughout me
Christian world until Pope Gregory re-
formed the calendar in 15S2. For two CEN
accept the reform, and the Greek Church
still follows the old style thus deranglng
the dates OF the astronomical and religious
The rigorous fasts and hmilations OF
holy week gave rise to strange customs il
znediaeval times. traces of which still
vve. The Queen OF England still gives
aims OF "Maundy money on Holy Thurs
day. but she no longer washes the feet of
the aged poor, as did the kings and queens
her predecessors, even as late as the reign
of James IL An account of this ceremony
has come down to us. as performed in the
palace OF Greenwich by Queen Elizabeth
when in her thirty-ninth year. Thirty-nlne
poor persons being assemoled, equal in
were first washed by ye0men OF the laun-
dry, then BY the subalmoner and finally by
the queen herself, who, devouteily kneeling
marked each foot with the sign of the cross
and kissed IL.
In Rome the ceremonies of holy week con-
tinued In all their medieval completeness
until Italy challenged the ecclesiastical
dominion and took possession Of the ancient
capital. Many. OF the old customs are still
followed. but the Pope no longer appears in
public in those stately ceremoniais which
used TO be observed with all possible royal
pomp and splendor. From the singing of
day until the same hour on Saturday no
bells are heard in. the eternal city. all sig
nals-even the call to dinner-beihg sounded
for two days on wooden ciappers After
mass on Thursday his Holiness used TO pro-
ceed 10 the NORTH traIsspt anu WASH the rect
OF twelve bishops. typifying Cnrist's service
TO the twelve apostles. and of a thirteenth
who represented the angel that appeared to
Gregory the Great when, according to the
legend. be was ministerfng to the poor. Aft
erward these bishops were served at table
By the Pope.
= go in state 10 his chapel. creep on his
Rees 10 a crucifx which was laid on a
cushion and there bless certain rings which
were received by the people as an infallible
cure for cramp. The Queen and her ladies
then followed him to the cross on their
knees The virtue OF the cramp rings was
universally accepted in the therapeutics OF
the time. Lord Berners. the translator of
Frolssart while ambassador in Spain. wrote
10 Cardinal Wolsey entreating him 10 pre-
serve some for him, adding that he hoped.
by Gods grace. TO bestow tlem well. Bread
I.~.Ire
inal virtues for the ensuing year. In En-
gland an echo of this feeling is still heard
cross ci, HI buns. ON Coed FriSay morning. i'O'
On Holy Saturday the bells OF Rome break
into chimes again after their two days ST.
of certain passage in the mass New
fire. struck from the flint. Is lit on the al
tars. and the paschal candle and incense are
ignited Before the Italian occupation Eas-
ter morning was welcomed with salute of
cannon from the castle OF St. Angelo. The
borne into ST. Peters to celebrate pOntiical
high mass, After this gorgeous ceremonial
crowded cathedral TO the sound of beautiful
music. out 10 the balcony over the central
doorway There. surrounded by robed car
dinals and bishops. he pronounced the papal
benediction ever the vast crowd assembled
or St Peters was Illuminated.
Easter customs vary in different nations
The giving of dyed eggs is of the most
uniyersal-a practice which the children OF all
JANUS pcipcttdNt viii JOY. us OIlSlu Is 100
remote TO be traced. and II fingers even in
Scotland. where the celebration of Easter
was abolished centuries ago. Tansy cakes
and buildings are eaten at Eastertide In many
parts OF England. where formerly ecclesias-
tics and laymen used 10 pay ar ball for them
in the churches In certain rural districts
the claim the privilege of lifting the
women on Easter Monday, and on Tuesday
the women turn the tables and lift the men.
Among the Russian peasants, in whom super
stftion has been encouraged by centuries OF
ignorance, one may find curious archaic OBJ
servances at this season. persisted in with
the fervor due to religious rites.
The religious significance OF Easter requires
no comment. But the festival Of the resur-
rection appeals TO Us also celebration of
ire reawakening Of nature after the winter
silence Life and growth begin again. the
greens and blues shine out. youth becomes
credible once more. Easter is the great
spring festival OF christendon. and even the
sterner sects. which abhor fasts and festi-
walls as a pagan survival are yielding TO the
d0wery charm. the beauty and poetry of this
the true greeting 10 the year