Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-04-17
DAY OF THE PALMS
Cele brated By Various
Churches Yesterday.
IMPRESSIVE SERVICES
ENTRY OF JESUS
INTO JERUSALEM.
Exercises at st. PauPs
Roman Catholic Church-Dedica-
ton of Church.

Roman Catholic, Anglican and other
churches of Washington yesterday cele-
brated In an impressive manner the feast
of Palm Sunday in memory or the
triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem
This commemorative festival is said to
have been fixture In the Roman Church
since the fifth century. AS the introduce
ton to Passion week. it is the prelude to
what might be termed the most memor-
able period of biblical history.
One of the most interesting ceremonies
in this city took place at st. PauPs Cath
Ollie Church, where complete fudfillment
of the ceremonial of the day was observed.
This ceremony Is said to have been IN
strict conformity to that which occurs
yearly in Rome, emphasizing all the ira
ditions of the day and of late papal bull.
Preceding the II o'clock mass in this
church the palms were blessed by the cele-
brant of the day, Rev. Father Ketchum'
director of the Catholic Indian bureau,
assisted by Revs. McMullin and o Reagan
of the Paulist order. A procession was
then formed, and as the new male choir
of sixty voices took up the strains OF a
hymn of praise it advanced down a size
aisle to the door of the church and passed
out. Two of the cantors remained inside
and sang the responses to the hymn
Gloria Laus.' at the conclusion of which
the procession of priests and choristers
entered the church.
Before entering one of the priests knock
ed at the door three times, to signify, II
is said, that until Jesus Christ came
heaven was shut to mankind but Is now
open to God, the Father. who sent His
Son Jesus to die for the sins of mortals
and obtain the grace of salvation. This
is meant to move the penitents to compass
sion and contrition for their sins.
Following the distribution of palms to
the congregation a solemn high mass was
said. There sermon at the mass.
Father James F. Mackin had arranged for
a strict liturgical rendering. which Is
said to be somewhat different from more
the Roman Catholic churchgoers of Wash
ington familiar, in addition to a full
rendering of the plain chant as introduced
and perfected for use of the Roman
Church by st. Gregory the Great. The
choir evidenced careful direction and en-
deavor, and will be a regular feature IN
connection with worship at this church.
In the evening a solemn Gregorian ves-
perS was sung by the new choir, and
sermon was preached by Rev. w. L. Sui
Ivan.
All the other Roman Catholic churches
of the city had solemn services in COM
memoration of the day, though not all
had a procession.
Rev. d. J. Stafford. D. D., celebrated the
solemn high mass and preached yesterday
morning at st. Patricks Church. Rev.
Thomas McGuigan acted as deacon, and
Rev. William ]. Carroll as subdeacon. The
Passion was chanted by students from the
Holy Cross College, and in the evening
the choir rendered Dubois Seven Last
Words" st. Aloysius Church was crowded
to the doors at the solemn high mass, dur
ing which the Jesuit priests chanted the
Passion. At st. Augustine's Church the
Passion was read in English. .