The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-12-25

selected as the scene OF his ideal
Christmas. and erected rude stable
in which he erected an altar. Wooden
Images Of the divine child and MS
parents were placed within the
shelter. and at midnight shepherds
arrived and. in the presence OF many
OF the country people from the vio-
unity and friars from the neighboring
convent. gave the first portrayal OF
tho drama which has ever since been
enacted by Franclscans on Christmas
morn.
The observance. as Il meets Amert-
can eyes today. Is somewhat modified
At Mount St 'Sepulchre the services
begin at 1880 o'clock on Christmas
Eve with a solemn high mass. the
ceiebrant being the Rev. Father Beds
OldeEeerinE. the superior OF the com
munitv. After the mass the brothers.
chanting the "Adesta Fidelts." pro
/ coed IN solemn procession 20 the
grotto. At the head Of the procession
walks the Superior. carrying figure
OF the Christ child. which has been
blessed at the close OF the high mass
already mentioned. When the nativity
chapel is reached the gospel is re-
cited and. at the words Gin LATIN.
and Mary took the child and wrap
ped ii i'm swaddling clothes the cele-
brant OF the mass deposits the figure
OF the child on the bed Of straw.
This ceremony is followed by two
low masses.
The church and altar at Mount St
SepuIchre are beautifully decorated
for the occasion with flowers. palms.
ferns and rare exotic plants, and
many persons who cannot gain ad-
mission TO the church. owing 20 the
throng I'm the early morning. come
later i'm the day TO see the decora-
lions. Indeed. almost every pleasant
Sunday throughout the year finds
hundreds OF visitors at this mecca.
And. I'm closing. just a word OF tho
clustered community whose members
conduct this impressive Christmas
spectacle. The buildings at Mount
St. Sepulchre are twofold. the College
and Chapel Of the Hold Land being
at once a monastery and a mission
AIRY institution having for its object
the harboring and educating Of those
persons who are ambitious TO serve
the Holy Land. through the Order Of
st. Francis. For this reason the col
lere at the rear OF the chapel al
ready described is built on the old
monastic plan "a large rectangular
building. with a courtyard in the
middle. which is laid out as a garden
as I'm the old monasteries. with walks
a flower beds and strawberries. Tn,
center Is occupied by a cistern Of
great dimensions. provided with an
old oaken bucket that lends a pic
turesque touch
Few persons. however have a peer
Of this quaint haven. Seculars are
admitted to the large corridor which
connects the monastery with til,
n church. but no women and very fev
masculine visitors have ever beer
permitted to enter the enclosure
Just described. The courtyard from
which visitors are haired is sur
q rounded on the first floor Of tn
n building by the traditional cloister-
e a broad open gallery measuring 20
feet on each Of its four sides-whicl
D. serves the friars, for their walks OF
u rainy days. when it IS inconvenien
l- to take exercise in the open. Higl
Is above. in two towers such as on
sees at the old missions Of Souther-
u California. are soft-toned bells. whic
IL at eventide sound the angelus -
le which has been aptly termed the yer
a. poetry Of prayer. and a form Of dev,
y ton. by the way. for which the Frau
e, ! Ciscans are resDO~-iN'-