Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-03-26
MAUNDY THURSDAY AND
ITS CURIOUS CUSTOMS

with formal acts of humility on the
part of both layand ecclestiastical au-
thorities in nearly all countries, acts
performed in remembrance of the hui
mility of Christ at the Last Supper,
aud though these customs vary among
different nations the foot washing
of poor persons is invariably found
among them, i'm early times even
but kissing the toes of the peasants
as well. In many parts of Europe
these customs are performed only
thcore tically today, gifts of money
or other things taking the place of
the actual deed.
In England this day is called bath
Maundy and Shere Thursday. The
first means a gift-giving and the sec
ond is reference to the former Gus
tom of shaving the priests heads on
this day. Even at the present time
Thursday in Holy week is marked by
a general distribution of clothing and
provisions among the poor on the
part of the wealthy and in many of
the large cities dinners, somewhat
on the order of our Christmas charity
dinners. are given the poor. Up to
the time of the reign of William and
Mary these dinners were always pre-
ceded by the high civic officials wash
ing the feet of the diners; even at the
more private affairs the high mobiles
and ladies of the land invariably per-
formed this ceremony for the poor
they gathered about them. so that
the individual who did not have clean
feet for Easter would have been
rather hard to find and the odorous
quality of the average peasants bed
room was relieved of some burden
Maundy Thursday night.
1t was the custom for the king to
wash and kiss the feet of as many
poor persons as he had attained years
of life, and we had an extensive ac-
count of the ceremony performed by
Queen Elizabeth at Greenwich during
her 39th year. The thirty-nine old
men and women gathered here ON
this OCCASION were the poorest to be
found. and Elizabeth performed her
deed of humility with great state,
being assisted by the ladies of the
court. though she did not touch the
feet herself until after they had been
twice washed, first by a yoeman and
then "A sabalmoner. after which the
queen sprinkled Il little water on the
feet. dried them with linen towel,
poured a little oil on them and mark
ed a cross with il with her fingers.
She then kissed the great toe of each
foot three times and presented the
towel she had used to the recipient
DoubtIess.the old men. and women, If
they were duly patriotic, kept the
feet thus honored free from the pro7
flaming touches of soap and water for
the next twelve months. King James
IL. was the last monarch of England
to actually perform this ceremony
in person. the others up to the acces-
sion of Queen Victoria sending the
archbishop to York To wash and kiss
the feet in their stead. Gifts of
clothing. provisions and sum of
money equal to about $50 was always
given those whose feet had been
washed by the sovereign or his depu-
Nv, but Queen Victoria refused to
countenance the cleansing of the feet
bv the pfelate of York or the gifts
of clothing and provisions, substitute
ing in their stead a donation of money
about double the value of the former
money gift, and in this form the Gus
tom has been continued until the
present day, and will doubtless be
observed by King Edward.
On the continent of Europe the
foot-washing custom has fallen en-
.tirely into allegiance on the part of
the civil authorities, save in Austria,
where the old emperor practices To
this day the ceremony of cleansing
the feet of twelve old men at Vienna.
Gifts are given, however. in nearly all
the countries to the poor, and many
bishops and priests of the Catholic
church continue to wash the feet of
a select number of the poor in their
diocese or parish, just as their pre-
decessors did in medieval times. In
Rome il has always been the custom
for the pope to wash the feet of thir-
teen bishops, and doubtless would be
performed by Pope Leo now were nc
able. though he probably Deputies
cardinal of high degree to perform in
his stead. The ceremony is always
performed in the northern transept
of ST. Peters Immediately after the
pope has given a pubic benediction to
the people from the balcony over the
central door of the cathedral. The
pope is simply attired in plain white,
with white skull cap and "A heavy
red cope. In the northern transept
is placed the pope's chair of state,
and ranged along the west wall. with
n tapestry backing. depicting the last
supper. are thirteen seats. each with
a footstoop in front. As a further
act of humility, the pope walks. TO
the transept. and just as he appears
i'm the doorway thirteen bishops,
each attired i'm white and with tall
white hat on the head. enter from
another door. and take their seats in
the place appointed against the west
wall As many spectators as can be
accommodated are admitted by invi-