Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-04-11

mouth passes the joyous greeting, THE
Lord is Risen,"
Il is indeed strange that, while these
Christians are singing in the graveyard
their Easter hymns or praise. in far-of!
heather China is observed the same
custom of visiting and praying among
the tombs. The Chinese do not know
anything Of the glorious promise of the
resurrection of the dead. yet they he
lieye that those who have passed away
still live in the land of the spirits. Per-
haps, in some vague way, they have
gathered from the sight OF The spril-.-
time the hope that their dead friends,
too. may one day find new life. This
belief must have induced them to
choose this season TO pray especially
fer them TO their gods.
BY the Roman Catholics Easter is
celebrated with the most solemn cere-
monies.
In Russia very peculiar custom pre-
walls at the spring season. Spring does
not there develop gradually, as it does
here, but il bursts forth into bloom in
almost a single night. when the shut
ters are closed and the people are
asleep. Cold. old winter hurries away
at the first sound Of springs light foot
step. and fields. meadows and gardens,
which a week or two before were with
cred. gray and barren. are Quickly COW
cred with a delicate green. Then the
half-starveG cattle. whose lean sides tell
plainly the story OF a hard winter. are
driven out Of the stables 10 Craze on
the fresh young heritage. But before
this is permitted them they are solemn
" sprinlled with holy water, which the
peasants believe will keep them from
harm
Perhaps the most remarkable cere-
monies of modern days are observed by
the Jews. While the Christians are
gladly singing Christ. our Passover is
sacrificed for us" they are preparing
to call to mind in the Feast Of the Pass
over the Geliverance of their fathers
from the Egyptian yoke.
The Jews. young and old. regard the
Passover as the great event of the year
and for weeks before the veutful day ar
rives. every home is made to undergo a
most-ecrupulous process of cleansing. Not
ONLY are the rooms scrubbed. painted ana
papered but every piece Of furniture ana
household utensu is either thoroughly
cleaned or replaced 10y a new article They
also take a great quantity of thin. UNI
Iaavened bread. pierced with many holes.
sufficient to last a whole week The Jews
celebrate their Passover from the ian 10
the DIST of the Hebrew month Nissan or
Ahib the first month of the sacred year.
corresponding to our March or April This
feast is also called the feast of uneavened
bread. because the Israeli,es We're permit
ted to eat only this bread and nothing else
during the eigh, days on the first day oil
the feast the head of the family takes a
lighted taper and peers into every nook
and GRANNY 10 see that not the smallest
niece of leaven is 20 b. found After SER
vice in the synagogue the family gathers
around the dinner table. covered with a
snow-white. spotIesS cloth. At the head
SITS the father. dressed in long White
robe in which he will one day bee buried.
Before him are placed the shank bone or
a lamb. and dishes of various cakes. an
uuleavened. Each guest is also supplied
with a silver wine cup.
one extra chair however. stands empty.
and an extra cup on the table is unused.
These are put there for the Prophet Eli
iab whose appearance on this night as the
herald of the Messiah the Jews are taught
70 exnsct The door is left partly open. and
a child peers GU, into the darkness, looking
for the venerable form OF the Hebrew seer
While they are sitting a the Passover
meal the children are accustomed 10 ask
ine. their elders the meaning of these OBJ
servancss. Then the old story Is again re-
ted hv the father as he leAasi Nlck in