Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-13
A MOST SOLEMN OCCASION
Evidences of the Great Love the
Savior Bore Mankind.
NEARLY ALL SECTS CELEBRATE
Mass Of the Presanctifed - Three
Hours Devotion and Stations
of the Cross.

This is Good Friday. the most solemn ana
potential day in the calendar OF the Chris-
tan church, and a day on which very
nearly all God-fearing men and women put
aside earthly affairs and contemplate with
devotion the crucifxion of the Savior.
Though nineteen centuries have passed
since the Savior's death was accomplished
on cross at Calvary, Good Friday seems
to grow in pious interest each year. II
is a day of meditation. and all Christians
without regard to sect, find In the history
of the day the most fruitful evidences
of the great love the Savior bore man
kind, and on their part through prayer
and seIf-sacrif1ce endeavor to manifest
love and fear of God
The story OF Calvary is ever new; Be
ginning in the early morning CHRISTIANS
may follow the Savior In spirit from nus
delivery to Caiphas, the high priest. to
the last sad hours when Jesus CHRIST eN-
pires upon the cross. In sermon ana sohs
this will be rehearsed today throug hous
the District from hundreds of pulpits, ana
1t Is regarded as a wholesome commentary
on the Christian religion that the theme
never seems to lack In interest TO the pull
pit orator or his congregation. Formeriy
the special services for Good Friday were
confined largely to the liturgical churches.
but ca CHI year the custom has become more
general, until now nearly all sects and de-
nominations of Christians observe the DAY
in some way.
In the Catholic Churches.
In the Catholic churches the special SER
vice, known as the mass Of the presancti-
fed is particularly solemn ceremony
This mass was said at Holy Trinity Church.
Georgetown. this morning. The celebrant
and his assistants were dressed In black
veStmentS, and the sanctuary was WITHOUT
lights or incense.
All classes were included in the prayerful
petitions offered up. Another imposing fea-
ture Of Good Friday Is the veneration OF
the cross, which was begun In connection
with this mornings service, and at almost
every Catholic church in Washington
coss has been exposed at the entrance TO tne
sanctuary for the generation of the faith
full The devotion of the three hours agony
was also begun at noon In Holy Trinity
Church.
Three Hours Devotion.
Beginning at II o'clock today the three
hours devotion was also observed at St
Aloysius Church, when In connection with
this event THE Seven Last Words" was
sung by the choir. Rev. William OBrien
Pardow, s. j., of New DIRK city, distin-
guished pulpit orator, gave the explanations
to the service, which are in the nature of
nleditations while the prayers were read
by Rev Eugene de L. Mcdonnell, 8. j. The
music was splendidly rendered by the prin-
cipal choir of the church, under the direc-
ton of Prof. Kubel.
Stations of the cross were gone over IN
all the Catholic churches in the afternoon,
and will be repeated this evening, when
sermon on the passion of Christ VIII be
given. Rev. DR.. Stafford, pastor of st.
Patrick's Church. will occupy the pulpit at
that church this evening. Rev Charles
Warren Currier will preach the sermon at
the Shrine of the Sacred Heart. while Rev
Joseph McSorley C. S. P, president of st.
Thomas College, Catholic University Of
America, will occupy the pulpit at st. Pauls
Catholic Church.
A service that is observed in some Of the
Episcopal churches in recent years Is the
three hours devotion, between noon and
o'clock, pm, in remembrance Of Chrlsts
agony on the cross.
Other Services.
At St Marks Church services were held
at o'clock and II o'clock am. At noon
the passion service, which continued for
three hours was In order. Other services
will be held at o'clock and 1880 O'Clock
pm.
The Pro-Cathedrai Church of the Ascen-
sion. Epiphany Church, st. Johns, st. Mar
garets and the other Episcopal churches
will have services this evening Services In
Most Of these churches were held at II
o'clock and at noon. Another will be held
at 4:30 o'clock.
The Methodist Episcopal churches held
suitable services for this occasion at DIFF
ferent hours.
The Baptist and Reformed churches also
COMMUNICATED the day with imposing serv-
ices Another service will be held this even
ing at o'clock.
ST. Paufs English Lutheran Church, In
addition to the religious ceremony. had a
musical program, with selections from Wag-
ner and Chopin
The Congregational churches held services,
and another is announced for this evening
at T:30 o clock.
The Unitarian All Souls Church will have
services at 4:45 O'Clock this afternoon.
Rev. Isaac Landman of Cincinnati will
preach at the Eighth Street Temple this