The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-04-04
GOOD FRIDAY OBSERVANCE.
Anniversary OF the Passion quo
Death Of Christ.
THE TRUE ORIGIN OF THE CUSTOM,
How the d y was Comm emo, ed In the
Roman Catholic aud Episcopal
Churches.


Yesterday va. GOOD Friday" the usual
English name fer the day observed
thronghcs1t great part of Chrisiendon
u - anniversary Of the passion aud
fse origin Of the custom o. a yearly
characterization Of the crSieinxion is In
stlrea IN som. chso1rity, i. may be re-
sardei Is certain indeed that among Jew.
ish Christians /. almost i,nperceptibly
grew out of the old habit OF annually ceie-
bratins the Passover on the ls,h of Nisaa
and OF observing the days OF Undiscovered
bread from the 18th 10 The list Of Ire
month. In the Gentle churches. on the
other hand ii seems to be well established
that originally no yearly cycle OF festivals
was known a; all. The weekly observance
OF the dies doniuica. however. became
universal az an early date; and this pgac-
tice OF giving special prominence 10 Easter
Sunday. well as that Of keeping . pre-
vious fast OF cons.dera ble rigor. though
OF INDIE terminate duration. had established
Itself in Egypt and the Western churches
at least by the middle OF the second cen
fury.
From the earliest period Of Its cSserv-
anee the day was marked by a specially
rigorous fast ana. also OIL the wLoIe. ts
tendency 10 greater simplicity n the
public services OF the church. Prior fo
the fourth century there Is NO - 'ce-lct
Of noH-ceIehra..on u TIC eucharist on
Good Fri,iny. but after tha; 3a;e li4e pro
hfbiiion of communion became general
in Spain, Indeed /; becarne customary
TO close the churches altogether ~
sign of mourning. nut this pra zoe was
condemned by the council Of foleio .a
In the Roulish church the Coco Friday
ritual at present observed x Tnarkg.i ls
many special features. most o. wai z van
q "A Ia ia "A = p N
the close of the eighth century. The altar
and ofiiclanng clergy are c.aPed In black.
sundry passages from Hosea Habahnk.
Exodus and The Psalms ar. rad Tie
Of the passion.
The rl,ading of this is followed by nii-
ding prayers for the peace aaa unity AZ
the. church, For the pope. tn cierey- az
ranks and condition of 1l"n. the sick and
afflicted. etc Then follows the a'iorater
In tn Greek church. also. the Gooi
Friday fast is excessively strict A. In ihe
Roman chiir1h, the passion history Is read
In Lutheran churches tlie organ IS silent
on this day; the altar fnr, ant pulpit ars
draped in black. as indeed throus'aont
Ia tn. Church az England the history
Of the passion from tn. gospel accortine
10 -. John IS read.
Services were held yesterday from 3 to
II IN the morning al the Church or ,ha
Accommodation. and at 80 last night 'hc
serv!ces Of The Stations az the Cross we've
held. After the morning services the affairs
were al ienuded and the faithful were
employed all day making stations u the
cfss<s-
There viii be services this morning a.
80 O'clock al the Church u the Atuun-
cfAt2eE. and The services Will consist n
hlsssinl, of the r,N i've. blessing Of The
F'as hal candle blessing OF the baptismal
SORTS and the reading OF portions ~ The
Prophets.
Services were hold yesterday az Christ
Episcopal cha h from u 10 p m. and
arsta last night.
special preparation has been made for
The Easter service AZ Shoarn Methodist
church for tomorrow. The music VIII be
eArep,ionally fine. The choir have been
giving much attention to II and IL viii be
equal to the best. The sermon viii toe
preached hy ~" Rev. j. j. Tgert. o. u,
Ii. D. of Nashville, Tenn. DR.. Tigert Is
n goang man. bat one u the foremost
scholars and preachers in southern Metho-
diain This is his first visit TO the c,iy
and his coming IL looked forward 10 with
great Interest While here he viii he the
guest of Judge l.. = Iiambien, corner OF
Crawford and Franklin.
The sacrament Of the Lords Supper will
he administered tomorrow morning at tho
Second Presbyterian church. There viii
be preparatory services tonight.