The Washington herald., 1909-05-29
SUNDAY FEAST DAY
Whitsunday Is Next in I'm
pOrtance to Easter.
CHURCH PLANS CELEBRATIONS
Rev. J. Henning Nelms Invited to
Deliver Graduating Address TO
Boys of the Episcopal High School,
Near AIexandria-COmmi Selects
Organ Builder for st. Thomas.

Tomorrow IS Whitsunday, one Of the
three greatest festivals Of the church,
the others being Christmas and Easter.
OF course. the greatest OF taese is
Easter Whitsunday commentaries the
descent OF the Holy Ghost upon the
Apostles 20 abide in the church forever.
II has been annually observed from the
very beginning, having at first been in
grated by the Jewish Christians onto
the festival CT Pentecost. but being ever
regarded as a separate festival OF the
church
The name seems 10 be Whitsun-day and
not Whit-Sunday. though this is not
absolutely sure In medieval English
il is spelled both White Sunday and Wit
sunday the first name being associated
with the practice OF bapttzing the con-
verts IN white and the second with the
outPCUring of wisdom or. in old English,
wit" InasmUch as the latter preceded
the former IN time and still preceGes It
In enduring Importance. the name Whit
sunday has precedence over Whit-Sun-
day
Tomorrow there is also the celebration
for the Episcopal branch Of the church
catholic a great event in its history. for
It was on Whitsunday. I549. exactly three
ana half centuries ago. that the Book
O. Common Prayer in Erslish was first
used instead Of the Latin Offices. Doubt
less the day was chosen for distribution
for copies were printed and ready some
time befOTei as being that day IN the
cnurch'S history when every man heard
IN his own tongue the wonderful works
Of God.
Monday and Tuesday following are also
holy DAYS as attending satellites upon the
greater days In the Collect. EpistIe,
and Gospel Of Monday the primitive
custom Of baptism is suggested by the
narrative OF the baptism OF Cornelius.
and in the appointed Scriptures for Tues
DAY confirmation in similar way has lis
special reference
In point Of numbers. there has prob
ably never been in Washington in the
Episcopal Church such a baptism as that
recently held by the rector Of the CrdrCh
Of the Ascension. al Eighth ana euclid
streets. where he baptized eighty-two
Col0red orphan children. though bapJisms
such as this were common enough in
the early days on the eve Of Whitsunday
The Rev. J. Henning Nelms has been
invited 10 deliver the graduating address
TO the boys OF the Episcopal High School.
near Alexandra He has also been asked
20 conduct the quiet hour az the theoIog-
ical seminary. but an invitation. which
he feels he must accept, 10 attend the
commencement exercises OF ST. Johns
College Annapolis. falling on the same
date, June l5. compeis him 90 f6rego
visits 20 the seminary and the school
The Rev. Herbert Hensley Henson.
canon Of Westminster. Abbey. who IS now
visiting The British Ambassador and Mrs.
Bryce. IS graduate with frst-class hon
ers. OF oxford University. where he
graduated in IS4 from All Souls College
Three years later he was ordained by the
bishop Of oxford. After receiving ap-
pointments 20 a fellowship az his old
college Of All Souls and 2 chapIaincy 10
the bishop Of St. AIbaus. he became. in
1850. rector Of the important Crown living
Of ST MaTEaret'S. Westminster. the rec
rOrsnip Of which Dean Farrar once fHed.
and canon OF Westminster Abbey.
Since then he has been prominent
figure in English church affairs. He is
the author Of several books. Light and
Leave3." 1897. and Apostolic Christian
ity.'' fssS. among them. He is in the
United states for the purpose OF Iectur-
ing at Yale University.
The committe intrusted with tire mat
ter Of selecting a firm Of organ build
eTs for the organ in St Thomas Church.
have reported favorably on NoIler &
Co. Of HagerstOWn. Nd.
Before coming 70 this conclusion the
committee or parts Of il, visited Hagers-
town. Pittsburg. Baltimore. New York.
and Brooklyn Their report has been
accepted by the vestry The organ is
to cost $4,000
The clergy Of St. Marks parish request
the officers OF every parish society ami
class in their jurisdiction to arrange
for. each organization 70 hold a picnic at
Marshall Hall. Saturday. June IS. the
day OF the annual parish excursion. since
such picnics serve 10 promote good feI-
lowshiD and to give an esprit de CORPS
TO each body participating.
After thirty-six years OF faithful serv-
ice, W. 4. NARROW has been constrained
by. continued poor health finally to retire
from the vestry q St. Marks parish
The first Of St Marks clerestory win
COWS representing worthless Of the church
IN all ages has been put in. The window
nearest the altar appropriately pictures
sSSSMHE&Ns1