Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-01
Good Friday Services in the
Local Churches.
OLD CUSTOM PRESERVED
THE IMPRESSIVE "ADoRATIoN'
AND THE DEsoLATE TENEBRAE.
All Creeds and All Denominations De-
vout-Services Continue Tonight
Significance of Hot Cross Buns.


were held throughout the District today in |
observing Good Friday. 1t commentaries
the death of Christ on the cross, and as |
such is venerated by all true believers In
the Christian religion. In all the churches, |
Protestant or Catholic, of whatever denom- |
nation or creed. Good Friday has an equal
significance. 1t Is held as the one day in
the year for the most rigorous discipline
and the most thoughtful prayer. The sub
servience to Christ as typified by the old
ceremony of creeping to the cross Is still
observed. in one form or another, is still
churches today. The actual creeping has
been done away with but 1t is a necessary
part of alf Catholic services. and some
Protestant Episcopal well, to make the
Alteration a modified form of the old
ceremony
Universal Supplication.
The most important element in the Good
Friday observance, aside from the 'adora-
ton service. Is the universal duplication
On this day prayers are offered for every
one, for the pope the governments of the
world and rulers of all the countries for
all persons afflicted morally or physically;
for all criminals and for the heather. This
Is a part of the great passion service and
is held Just before the Alteration" The
universal duplication symbolizes the pray
ers of Christ on the cross. No sacrifices
are made on this day and no sacraments
are consecrated. Those used on the mass
today were all consecrated yesterday. The
sanctuary Is open; the ornaments are all
removed. This signifies the desolation of
the church because of the death of Christ
In some of the churches tenebrae services
are held on Good Friday. These services
which belong more properly to Holy Thurs
day and are generally held on that day, in
some instances are observed for three days
hafn In n a
one of the Catholic churches, this is the
rule. and tenebrae services. which were
held Wednesday night and last night, will
also be held tonight
The tenebrae typifies the darkening Of
the world at the death of Christ. The prin-
cipal element of the services is the darken-
ing of the churches. single candelabra
in pyramid form is placed on the altar. This
candeabra has thirteen prongs, the apex
representing Christ and the six prongs on
either side representing the apostles. AS
the tenebrae Is chanted the candles repre-
senting the apostles are extinguished one
by one, signifying the detection of the
disciples. The lights in the church are
extinguished In unison with the lights on
representing Christ. This Is then removed
from the altar by an acolyte, and the
church is In total darkness. For a few
minutes the darkness continues during
which the congregation prays devoutly and
the tenebrae is softly chanted. Then the
members of the congregation rap loudly on
the sides of the pews with their prayer books,
symbolizing the earthquake that followed
the darkness which succeeded the death of
Christ. The lights are then turned on
again and the service proceeds to the con-
clusion. This service Is one of the most
solemn and impressive of the entire liturgy,
and is celebrated usually with the most
beautiful music.
At st. Patrick's.
At st. Patrick's Church today the Good
Friday service was unusually impressive.
The mass was celebrated by Father Nc
Guigan, with Father Carroll as deacon and
Mr. Murphy of the Holy Cross College as
subdeacon. Father Stafford, pastor of the
church, was master of ceremonies and
preached short sermon. AT the conclu-
sion of the mass the priests and altar boys
performed the alteration A crucifix was
placed the steps of the altar, and the
priests and altar attendants approached it
from three sides, from the center aisle. At
the conclusion of this portion of the cere-
mony the members of the congregation
performed the office. and, passing the cru
cihx, kissed the feet of the figure of Christ.
As this tS going ON the choir
Alteration the "Improperia" was sung,
and Messrs. Shoemaker Newlands and
Linsky of the Holy Cross College chanted
the Passion" This afternoon a second
service will be held at st. Patricks, during
the course Of which the stations of the
Cross will be recited. This evening the final
tenebrae service will be held. and Father
Charles Warren Currier of st. Marys
Church will preach the sermon.
The stations of the cross will be recited
this afternoon at a special service to be
held at st. Teresa's Church. Anacostia,
Father John T. Whalen of Baltimore will
preach the sermon. Holy Thursday serv-
Ices were held at the church last evening of
more than usual ceremony. Father Schmidt
preached sermon on the holy eucharist.
In Episcopal Churches.
In the Episcopal churches the services
yesterday and today were impressive. AT
the Church of the Epiphany last evening
the holy communion was served and an i'm
pressive service sung. This morning at 10
O'Clock a full service was held, with COM
munion and a sermon. The three hours
devotion was observed this afternoon from
IL to o'clock, with meditations on Christs
words on the cross.
One of the institutions of Good Friday
which Is rapidly gaining ground in this
country Is the custom of serving hot cross
BUNS IN the morning. These buns are very
much like the old fashioned currant bun
with the figure of the cross made on top.
In almost all of the local bakeries hot cross
BUNS can be purchased or orders left for
them to be delivered early Good Friday
morning. In the north of England 1t is
customary to eat herb buildings on Good
Friday.
Vestments for Services.
The vestments have a significance not
generally understood. even by those who
are members of one or the other demoni-
nation, to say nothing Of the churchgoers
who are connected with the other Protes-
tant churches" said a well-known clergy
man to a Star man this morning people
20 to the Roman Catholic Protestant Epis-
copal and Lutheran churches and they see
the various articles used in the ritual but
they are as Greek to the initiated. The fol-
lowing explanation will probably prove In
teresting and of value:
The amice Is white linen veil which the
priest passes over his head and with which
he covers his shoulders. 1t represents the
Veil with which the Jews covered the face
OF Christ when they buffeted him in the
house of Caiaphas and babe him prophesy
who II was who struck him.
The alb Is large white tunic which
desceuds to the feet. IL represents the
white garment that Herod put on Jesus
The girdle Is the cord that Is passed
around the waist and serves to hold the
alb.
The maniple is vestment which the
priest carries upon his left arm
The stole Is vestment which the priest
passes around his neck and crosses over his
breast.