Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-09-02

Within a short time we saw in the
Capital of Russia baptism, wedding
md church service. The babe to be
baptized was three days of age. The
godfather and the god-mother stood in
the cathedral. in the hand OF each u
candle. not to give light. for it was
daytime but in solemn ceremony. Two
priests oGiciated. the one reading from
hook and intoning the words, the
other responding in what suppose to
be Russian amen" The priests were
quito richly robcd, and conspicuous on
their ecclesiastical attire was the cross.
HOW wonderfully strange that the
rough wood of that instrument of tor
ture that was planted centuries ago on
the hill outside Jerusalem, horizontal
pieces against perpendicular piece,
should have become the chief emblem
Of these three great religions of the
wOrld-the Greek, the Roman Catholic
and the Protestant! Nothing like the
cross to impress an audience, or SOL
emnize marriage. or inhame O host
In battle!
BATHED IN OIL.
After quite prolonged making of
prayers and readings from the Scrip
lures. one OF the priests opened n small
Wal OF oil and dipped into it q brush
ana put drop upon the forehead and
the chin and the eyelids and the hands
and the toes of the child l took the
meaning OF this to be that the infant
was to be wholly consecrated. Then
more prayers and more readings and
crossings OF the forehead and breast
by priests and godfather and god
mother ana audience. Then the priest
unrollcd the child from the blanket in
which 1t was wrapped, and the little
one, without any swaddling Clothes
was put clear under vase OF tend
water, and the second time and the
third time completely buried in ba,
tism. Then the infant was lifted and
wrapped again In the blanket, while
the god-mothcr hushed as well as she
= could the affrighted chiids crying
Then, three times, those who had adj
ministercd and those who had been adj
ministered unto walked around the sa-
cred vessel In which the child had been
Immersed. More prayers and more
readings, and then all the participants
In the ceremony kissed the book from
which the ceremony had been read
Then the lights were cXtnguishcd and
the scene ended. No doubt that every
thing done that day had n symbolical
meaning. and whether one liked or dis
liked the ceremony, he must be i'm
pressed with the desire OF all good
parsntage the world over to have chill
dren start life with n blessing.
~ NJ SSlAN w lsl)DlING.
But we turn to another occasion. We
saw q great flutter of excitement and
delight at the door of a cathedral. We
knew right away 1t was n wedding
and not many seconds OF time passed
before we stood near the altar TO see
something we had never witneSscd-a
Russian wedding. The bride was fair
and looked happy, and excited our adj
miration for the manner in which she
endured the marriage service of more
hnr, l,.a1f
not look different from an American
bride. The same bouquet in her hand
the same white veil, the same satin
dress with long train. But every thing
else was as different as possible. Two
priests oniciated. The deep bass voice
~ the one and the soft Vocalization Of
the other were something memorable.
There scemd to be but one word of
promise on the part Of those about to
be united. They took the sacrament
standing. the priest holding the wine
to their lips. There was n going to and
fro from Il room behind the altar which
seemed n holy of holics." a priest,
with his back to the couple. read again
and again from an ornamented book.
a lighted candle in the hand of the
bride and one in the hand of the Bride
groom
TWO CROWNS AND RINGS.
After awhile. from a room in the rear
of the altar, a man advanced with two
crowns ana two rings upon n platter
The crowns seemed of silver adorned
with precious stones, or limitations of
precious stones. These crowns were
then waved by the priest over the
heads of those to be welded, and waved
three times, and the waving followed
the shape OF n cross. Then two attend
ants held the crowns above the heads
OF the candidates for marriage, and at
no time did the crowns touch the heads
The priest put ring upon the hand
OF the bride and ring upon the hand
OF the bridegroom. Then the priest eX-
changed the rings. and the one that had
been put upon the hand of the bride he
put upon the hand of the bridegroom
ana that which he had put upon the
hand OF the bridegroom he put upon
the hand of the bride. Then the priest
took hold of the joined hands of bride
and bridegroom and led them three
times around the altar. the lady at
tendant of the bride. by considerable
skill. keeping the long trail of dress
moving Alright in the procession. Then
the priest advanced to the happy pair
and blew out the lights, and the crowns
were put back upon the platter. The
bride and groom then assembled the
steps near picture of Christ and
kissed 1t. L testify that they were
thoroughly married.
CONGRATULATIONS AND KISSES.
The priests disappeared and the we'd
ded couple turned around to receive
the congratulations of friends, and the
groom was kissed by the men as we'll
as by the women. 1t was only by sup
preston of ourselves that we did not
join the conSratulating group and eX-
press our good wishes that the woke
might set easy on both their necks
while the twain pull the load OF life I'M
the steep hill. Blessed marriageI In
augurated in the Garden of Eden. and