Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-04-12


William Main Schall, preached on the
theme 1.-THE great week. " He said:
hr.s.ep6om annually commentaries |
the eyents in the life OF Jesus Christ |
that make the pages of sacred history |
resplendent with divine glory and along |
side of which the pages OF rrofane his |
tory sink into comparative insignlh. |
canoe Coleridge once wrote: Re |
ligion is the most gentlemaniy thing in
the world" II by religion Re meant
the religion Of Jesus Christ, his declara-
tiop is pre- emipeDtly true. Whilst the
world is compelled 10 admire the dramas
OF Aeschylus and Shakespeare, yet the
greatest drama is the DIANA Of life.
hAll the worlds stage, and the
reople are actors in it" Not only so,
but time will never record greater
tragedy than that Of the crucifixion on
Calvary.
world over as the great war" so
passion week is known as 1.-THE great
week.' At this time great things we're
wrought for humanity BIZ the lowly
Nazarene. The ancient tyranny Of
the devil was dissolved, death vas eS-
tinct, the strong man was bound, his
goods were spoiled, sin was abolished,
ID6 EbIcc was htdtfogNas L Nefo
ouened, Heaven became accessible. men
and angels were Joined together, the
middle wall of partition was broken
down. the barriers were taken away, and
the God of Peace made peace between
things in heaven and things in earth.
During passion week it was custom
airy to make more liberal distributions
of aims to the poor, and the exercise OF
all kinds of charity to unfortunate
mankind. At this season, the emperors
granted q general release to prisoners,
and commanded all suits and processes
Mt law to cease. To servants il was
time of rest and liberty, the same priv.
lege extending tc the week following as
we'll as to the week preceding Easter.
Palm Sunday--the day commemora-
ting the triumphal entry Of Christ into
Jeeusalem-is peculiarly significant in
that it is the last rest day previous to
the terrible tragedy OF the crucitixion.
Waving of palm branches now few
days later and Jesus is betrayed by
Judas, denied by Peter. and forsaken
by the rest. The triumphs of Chris
tianity are incompatible triumphs be-
cause OF the fulflment Of prophecy and
tine sublime though terrible truth ni
the resurrection victory, eren though
WAS pESCtuHu by tut aug ulEu III llt
Garden of Geihsemane and en- the cross
OF Calvary.
The Thursday OF .'the great week, 81
being the day on which Christ was be
trayed, was observed with some pc
culiar customs. In some Of the
churches, communion was administered
on the evening of this day in invita-
ton of Christ's last supper in the uppei
chamber in Jerusalem. This is known
in some communinns as Maunda,
Thursday. 1t comes from the Lair
word meaning to command. SOM
think it is so called from its being tn
day upon which Christ commanded hi
disciples to commemorate the sacra
ment of the Lords Supper: others thipl
it derives its significance from gu
Saviour having washed his disciples
feet and bis command TO follow his ex
ample.
Good Friday is day when supersti
tious people will never enter upon an
important undertaking 1t is suppose
by some 10 be an .'unlucky day."
was the day upon which Jesus wa
nailed to the CROSS, bearing 10 his ow
body our sins, and tasting the cup G
death for every man, by which he mad
it possible for every man to drink {
Lnb WdlBF vi HIS IL Was d IfFTlUI
scene. The conduct of his enemies wa
almost beyond description. 1.-THE
srit in his face, and buffeted him; an
Others smote him with the palms
their hands" When great man di,
people mourn. When Christ diet
nature nourned. 1t became night b.
fore the time. 1.-THE earth did quail
and the rocks rent and the graves we
opened, and many bodies of the sain
which slept arose and came out of Il
graves and went into the holy city.
What terror must have taken posse
sion of the centurion and his cor
panions, for we are told that they fear
greatly and said: Truly this was u
Son oil Godn'
The Sabbath Of 1.-THE great week
was called the .'great Sabbath
was the only day in the year that Il
Greek churches, and many Of L
western. kept as fast. The ia
was continued not only until eve
ing, but protracted till cock. Gro
ing in the morning, which was 50
posed to be the time of Christ's resi-
rection. The previous part of t
night was spent in various religio
this vigi! was kept with great pom
fle set up lofty pillars of wax to bu
as torches all over the city, and Ian
burning in all places, so that the mig
seemed to ontshine the sun at noonda
There was beautiful and significf
custom of hanging up lamps a
torches both in the churches and ,
homes as forerunner of that gr
LYght, the Sun Of Righteousness, arisi
on Easter morn. This night, too, '
famous above all others for the adm
istering of the sacrament OF baptism
Today, or Palm Sunday, is sometir
called Passion Sunday, because Of
this day our Saviour predicted his
preaching agony and crucifixion.
Although rarely seen in the Ca
combs and . early sculpture. syml
OF the orucifixion are constantly TO,
in the churches. Tho five wounds
rsrI esented ty the hands and feet "
hsnrt in the centre. each pierced "
one wound, or by a heart alone "
five wounds. Among other symt
are St Peters sword, the two swc
of the apostles. the ear Of Malchus,
80 pieces of silver, the crown of tho
the seamless garment, boxes of 81
for embalming, the Cross, the nails,
hammer, the lantern, the ladder.
purse. the sponge, the scourge.
the spear.
No wonder, then. that ii is ga
the great week. In it We have ret
OF the three denials by Peter;
three prayers in Gethsemane; the Il
disciples chosen TO witness the ag,
but not witnessing 1t because
slumbered; the three retukes from