Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-10
ONE OF SACRED DAYS
FORM OF CEREMONY AMONG
THE ROMAN CATHOLICS.
Commemoration by Protestant Episco
pal observation-disclosures Of
the Day of Crucif1on.

kept as q day of mourning ana SpeciaA
prayer from the earliest period of the
Christian religion. 1t is one of the two
paschal days celebrated by the Christian
church. and in memory of the crucff1xlon
was called by the Greeks the ''Pasch of
the Cross" 1t was observed at the earli-
est periods as a day Of rigid fast and SOL
emn and melancholy ceremonial.
The religious history of the world shows
many instances of the deep religious feel
ing that surrounded the commemoration Of
the day even as far back as the days of
Constantine 1t is related that this great
ruler forbade the holding of law courts,
markets or any other public proceedings on
this day, and practically ordered all the
people of the Roman empire TO the
churches.
The days following the establishment of
the Christian religion firmly in the Roman
empire witnessed a revolution of religious
feeling that was remarkable in many ways,
but in no manner was 1t SHOWN more con-
clusvely than in the fervor and deVotlon
displayed by those early Christians on the
annual recurrence of the day Of crucihxion.
In every section of the world where the
Christian religion is dominant the services
on Good Friday are marked by more than
usual ceremony and solemnity.
Priests ROBBED in Black.
In the Catholic churches the priests cele-
brate the services for the day robed IN
black and all the altar ornaments are re-
moved. There are two special services III
the Catholic churches that are used in this
country. The two services are sometimes
both celebrated, but more often one or the
other Is selected. The most ceremonious OF
these is that known as the alteration or the
cross. A large crucifx Is set up on the
altar, in memory of the event which the
crucifix represents, and the entire congre-
CATION, commencing with the celebrant
priest and his assistants, approach upon
their knees and reverently kiss the figure OF
the crucified Lord.
The other service is known as the office
OF the ''Tenebrae," which is celebrated
Good Friday and the two days preceding
it. In this service all the lights in the
church are extinguished except one, which
for three days is hidden under the altar,
Symbolizng the death and burial of Christ.
Both of these services are invariably &C
comp anied with special music. and some of
the masses that have been written for the
Good Friday service are among the grand
est compositions in the world.
In England and Ireland Good Friday Is
legal holiday, and all business is Sus-
pended. The same is observed in the Latin
countries, with such notifications as the
customs Of the people permit In this
country Good Friday is observed generally,
but not as a legal holiday. However. in
some sections of the country the business
people observe the day by closing the
banks, schools and other public institu-
tions far. as practicable. The observ-
ance of the day is becoming more and more
general. and it has reached such stage
that some of the largest business 1nsti-
tutions in the east closed their doors to-
day. The New York stock exchange and
the Washington stock exchange both ad
journed yesterday afternoon until Monday,
no business being transacted in either
place until Monday morning.
Elaborate Program.
The most elaborate service today was
that celebrated at st. Aloysuis Church
this afternoon from to o'clock, the gen
eral hour for the services in majority of
the Catholic and Episcopal churches. Mer-
cadantes "Seven Last Words" were sung
by an especially selected choir. assisted by
q full orchestra. The altar was bare dur
ing the service and sermon of special
impressiveness was preached by the priest
in charge.
A service of more than usual beauty and
sclemnity will be held this evening at the
Church Of the Sacred Heart. Mt. Pleasant
where regular Tenebrae service will be
celebrated. Rev. Father James F. Nc
Gee will be the priest in charge.
The Psalms of the Tenebrae will be sung,
and at the conclusion of the service selec-
tons from Rossinis Stabat Mater will be
rendered. including the tenor solo. 'Cujus
AMMAN" and the soprano and contraIto
duet "Quis est Homo" The contralto 500,
Fac ut portein.' the barytone solo, PRO
Peccatis,' the soprano solo. with grand
chorus, "Infamatus,' and the soprano
solo from Mercadante's Seven Last
Words will also be rendered.
Episcopal Churches.
Services were held at the pro-cathedral,
the Church of the Ascension this afternoon
from u to o'clock, and another service
will be held commencing at 4:3O. The
services were celebrated with the full YES
tod hai rod
for each service.
At the Church of the Incarnation regu-
lar services will be held in the afternoon
and evening. Music of a special character
has been prepared for this service, and
will be sung by the full vested choir.
Services of the most solemn character
We're held this afternoon at St. James
Episcopal Church This church is the ex-
IRENE ritualistic congregation of the Dis
trict and the services held here were strict
ly in accordance with the high church
ritual Rev. DR.. Clark had charge of the
services.
At the Church of Epiphany the three
hours devotion. from IL to o'clock. were
observed this afternoon. Holy communion
was celebrated at 10:3O and will also be
celebrated this evening. The rector will
address the members of the church this
afternoon at 5 o'clock on 1.-THE Last Sup
per-"
At Christ Church. Georgetown, the vest
ed choir Of Trinity Church will render the
sacred oratorio "Gesthemane." from 1.-THE
Man of Sorrows" by Kirkpatrick.
Bishop Satterlee conducted the passion
service held at st. Marks Church, corner
of Sd and A streets southeast, this after
noon from 10 to 8 o'clock. children's
service will be conducted at 4 o'clock this
afternoon.
At ST. Thomas Church. corner of 18th
and Madison streets. the passion service
was celebrated this afternoon from II to
8 o'clock. Services will also be held this
evening.
Services will be held this evening at 7:3O
pm, at the Fifth Congressional Church,
corner of 9Th and streets northwest, when
Rev. George Bailey, Phi. D., president OF
Westminster College. Salt Lake City, will
preach.
In almost all Of the Catholic and Epis-
copal churches .,ie passion services were
held this afternoon from Il to O'Clock.
during the course Of which special music
was rendered.
special communion service will be held
at Foundry NJ E. Church. corner of 18th
and r streets northwest, this evening, The
service will be conducted by Rev. r.. M.
Moore. the new pastor of the church
The story of the cross will be told in the
gospels and in sacred songs at 7:46 O'clock
this evening at Gunton-Temple Presbyte-
rian Church, 14th and r streets northwest
ROBBERY REPORTED.