Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-09
M AUNDY THURSDAY
OBSERVANCE IN CATHOLIC AND
EPISCOPAL CHURCHES.
Many Worshipers Visit the Repositor-
iese6ome Of the Exercises on
Good Friday.

In the Catholic and Episcopal churches
of the city and in some of the houses OF
worship of the Lutheran denomination
Maundy Thursday has been celebrated to-
day with special ceremonies which Will
be continued throughout the evening The
form of observance has been varied among
the different denominations, yet the sig
nffcance of the day has been common to
all churches. One of the features of the
worship among the Catholic communicates
today consisted of pilgrimages BY the faith
full to the various churches of that denomi-
nation where they offered short prayers.
Many Catholics of Washington devoted
the entire day to visiting as many churches
as possible in this form Of worship. and
streams Of people have been noticed going
to and from several Of the leading ed1ffces
throughout the day.
'Maundy" is used to signify the celebra-
disciples before the crucifixion. and IN the
Episcopal churches the holy communion
was celebrated this morning in commemo-
ration of the ancient event.
Affairs Stripped Of Ornaments.
In the Catholic churches the affairs were
stripped OF all ornaments to typify the
stripping Of the clothes from the body of
Jesus. One mass was said in the churches
today instead of three, az was the ancient
custom. In most OF the churches 'repos'
tory Is arranged on a side altar hand
somely decorated with flowers.
A custom which Is still practlced by some
of the leading churches Is the washing of
the feet Of twelve poor people by the prtn-
cipa1 prelate or priest on Maundy Thurs
day. This custom Is not generally practiced
by the churches In this country, however.
The most solemn observance in the Chris
tan calendar will occur tomorrow which
is designated as Good Friday. This is the
anniversary of the crueifixion Of Christ, and
its significance Is the most sorreWfu of all
the institutions Of the Christian church.
In England. Ireland and in some of the
states Of the Union 1t is appointed legal
holiday. and as such Is observed. Good
Friday marks the close of Lent.
The services of the day are conducted in
black vestments to lend a somber aspect TO
the occasion, and all ceremonies are In
tended as an expression of the grief Of the
Among the Catholics the weird ceremony of
the funeral of Christ is observed on Good
Friday. and this service il distinctly SOL
emn and impressive.
At st. Aloysius Catholic Church Merca-
dante's Seven Last Words will be sung
from l until O'Clock in the afternoon.
In addition to the usual morning services
at the Church of the Epiphany tomorrow
IL until o'clock. Maundy Thursday was
observed at the Church of the Epiphany
today with celebration Of the holy commu-
MON in the morning at 1890 O'Clock. The
holy communion will also be celebrated at
7:30 o'clock this evening. The subject of
the rector's address at the o'clock service
will be The Last Supper"
The vested choir of Trinity Episcopal
Church will render the sacred oratoriO,
'Gethsemane." a compilation from 1.-The
Man of Sorrows" by Kirkpatrick. and Of
.'Gethsemane." by williams, at Christ's
Church. Georgetown. tomorrow evening.
Special services will be held in all the
Catholic and Episcopal churches tomOr-
row.
A very ancient and curious custom which
is still observed in the parish of st. Bar
tholomew, London. is the picking up Of
twenty-one sixpence by twenty-one old
women. The origin Of this custom. 1t Is
stated. dates from before the great fire."
when a lady beQueathed property to have
twenty-one sixpences laid on her grave In
st. BarthOlomew's Church on Good Friday.
These coins were to be picked up and sew
orally owned by the same number Of aged
women.