The Washington herald., 1909-04-05
CHURCHES OBSERVE
TRIUMPH OF CHRIST
Palm Sunday Services Ill
Houses of Worship.
SPECIAL MUSIC IN MANY
Elaborate Exercises Held In the
Catholic Churehes-Grent COnEre-
when Choir Sang the "Seven Last
WOrds'-In other Churches.

With triumphant 'Hozannas'' rising
above the note Of tragedy. Palm Sunday
was celebrated yesterday in every church
in the city.
The palm leaf. standing as a silent deco
ration or carried IN the arms OF choris-
ters and aoolytss, appeared as the symbol
OF Christ's entry into the Holy City OF
Jerusalem In psalm and sermon. chant
and anthem the story was told OF the
hailing Of the Prince Of Peace as king by
the Jews: Of the procession Of the multi
tude He led through the gates over a
palm-strewn way; OF the acclaim. the
cheering. the adulston. and then OF the
sudden deadly turning Of popular favor.
presaging the agony and death on the
HiH OF Calvary.
The churches. which have been prepar-
ing for weeks for the greatest seven days
( IN the ecclesiastical calendar. finishing
with the greatest day Of the ecclesiastical
year. burst into song yesterday with aug
meuted oboIrs. special slusicaI pro
ErammeS. and elaborate oratorios. IN a
number Of the places OF worship con-
fTmatiOn services were held
Elaborate Services Held.
Perhaps the most elaborate exercises Of
all were held in the Catholic churches.
where impressive rites portrayed symbol
ically the opening Of the gates Of mems
/ hearts 10 the Son OF Cod The signlf-
cance Of Palm Sunday was we'll shown
IN the morning and evening services in
/ ST. Patrick's Church, where in the morn
ing celebration the note Of triumph pre-
vailed. which changed 10 mourning in
the evening, when the oratorio. Seven
Last Words by Theodore Dubois. was
sung by a mixed choir. assisted by the
/ sanctuary choir.
At the latter service the edihce was
crowded beyond its limits. Every seat
was taken, and ooo men and women stood
through the entire rendition in the aisles
and at the back Of the church. The
sermon. an eloquent narrative and inter
probation Of the crucifxion. was preach
/ ed by Rev. DR.. William T. Russell. His
words were now vibrant with the heroIsm
/ Of the suffering Son OF God. now low and
appealing as he spoke Of the cruelty Of
/ the jeerinE mob OF Jews and Romans.
The Catholic churches began the ce.e-
braJion OF Palm Sunday and Of Holy
Week with mass. the blessing OF the
! palms. and the procession. In Holy Name
Church. Rev. T. J. Kervick. pastor. the
blessing Of the palms and high mass took
place az 1870 in the morning Vespers
I and the benediction were sung at 7.30 in
I the evening by the male Shojr The bless
/ ing os the palms took place IN the morn
/ ing at 81. Pauls Church. At St Mar
1 tins Church Rev. Eugene r Harmon
/ celebrated high mass in the morning az
II O'Clock. Rev. DR. Emile HUsser. Of the
/ Apostolic Mission House preached at
Lenten services in the evening on The
passion and its lessons"
'The Palms" Sung Generally.
IN many Of the Protestant churches
| the entry into Jerusalem was portrayed
/ by palms carried by the members or the
choir In the rest palms predomInsted
/ in the decoration Of the chanceL In
nearly all the services the Characters
tic anthem Of Palm Sunday. The
Palms." was sung either as a solo or as
/ a choral selection.
With Bishop Harding TO conduct the
: ceremony OF confirmation. and Rev. Canon
s Austin assisting Rev. Dr. c. Ernest
Smith in all the services. ST. Thomas
+ Church was prominent among the Episco-
| palian churches of the city I'm the cele-
| bration OF Palm Sunday. The day al
that place was commenced with the ceIe-
bratiOn Of holy communion at s o'clock in
the morning At the II o'clock service
holy communion was again celebrated.
and Dr.. Smith, The rector. preached on
What shall I do with Jesus ?-Pilate's
dilemma Bishop Harding confirmed a
class Of twenty-nine at o'clock In the
afternoon. with the church completely
filed by the attending congregation. In
the evening Rev. Canon Austin preached
on Jesus and the people"
Services at Trinity Church.
In the continued absence Of Archdeacon
R P Williams. who is i'll at Old Point
Comfort. Va. the pulpit az Trinity
Church was occupied yesterday morning
by Rev. Dr. ". NJ Pettis. and in the
evening by Rev. David Barr. The three
services of the day and the exercises in
the Sunday school at $50 in the morning
were all devoted 10 the celebration Of
Palm Sunday. the choir Of men and wom-
en- carrying palms In the professional and
recessional
While the palm feature did rot enter
so strongly at the Vermont Avenue
Christian Church. the spirit OF the day
was carried out in a chiidren's service in
the morning. The pastor. Rev. DR.. F. D.
Power, was assisted by the primary de-
partment Of the Sunday school. A chorus
Of fifty children was with him on the