Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1910-12-22

q S@Tz to overlook the fact
ESS that another portion of
06Sa&S the world is doing pre-
n l9M9 cisely the same thing
(S6N in different manner.
| @e Scarcely one-fifth of
the territory of the globe is Chris
tian, and but a proportionate number
of its inhabitants celebrate Christmas.
Yet even in this comparatively small
number of people there are surprising
ly diverse methods of celebrating the
great day. OF course, all countries that
have Christmas have similar spir-
itual observation-disclosures and praise
and worship to God for the birth OF his
only son in the manger at Bethlehem.
But the diversity of celebration along
material lines and the great variety
of Christmas customs in other lands
are surprising, indeed. Even between
countries so closely allied as the
/ United States and England the differ
! eaoe is marked
OF all places on Christmas, surely
the Holy Land--the birthplace of the
| Christ child-is paramount in interest
And, naturally. the celebration of the
people of tEat land centers in Beth
lehem, the humble little village where
the shepherds found 'the babe wral-
ped in sWaddling clothes and lying in
q manager" On Christmas eve the
Christians of Jerusalem and from all
over Palestine and visitors from other
lands flock to Bethlehem tC witness
the gorgeous ceremonial in the Romaa
Catholic chapel IN the Church of the
Nativity.
One by one, and in groups they
come, with their caravans of camels
or on foot down the road from Jerl-
salem to bethlehem, leading through
stony, rolling plains with here and
there ar olive grove Or an orchard.
Under the wonderful radiance of al
eastern night they wend their ways
through the crooked streets of the
quaint little town to the market place.
Opposite the church.
The scene is, indeed, a festive one.
Christians from all the countries of
the East are consregated here in gala
attire. Vendors of sacred relics are
selling their crosses and pictures in
olive wood, and small boys, dressed
in many-colored garments, red fezes
and bright red shoes, are darting
hither and thither in the crowd in
wild exuberance of boyish spirits.
Sheep are being killed by family
groups for their evening meal after
the ceremonies in the church The
mothers of Bethlehem, with their
large, lustrous eyes and brilliant COM
plexions, are making merry with their
children. There is babel of many
voices and great running to and fro.
The door of the church opens and
the crowd presses in. The Church of
the Nativity belongs to the Latins, the
Greeks and the Armenians, each sect
having it's own convent adjoining.
The Latins are holding their service
now, the Armenians later and the
Greeks 10 days afterward The en-
trance is through a small door in
high stone wall, and one has to stoop
as he enters-thus insuring bowling TO
the crucifix opposite.
The building is believed to be the
oldest monument of Christian archi-
lecture eNtant, the basilica erected by
ST. Helena in 327 A. D. The services
are held in an adjoining building and
the WOrshippers are all seated on the
marble floor. The priests and monks
enter in solemn procession TO the
oh Of hO nd 80
bishops and archbishops follow, in
gorgeous robes richly embroidered in
gold and silver. Paeons of worship
peal forth from the grand old organ.
At midnight the music grows softer
and then there comes a pause. The
silence is complete, except for the
peal of the Christmas chimes outside
in the village. Suddenly, as though
by an unseen hand, the curtain above
the chancel arch is drawn aside. re-
vealing miniature cradle holding an
image of the babe. From tine organ
and the choir bursts forth, in glad,
triumphant cadence, the ringing
strains of the Gloria in Excelsis.
The little cradle is lowered and the
"Bambino" reverenuy raised. The
worshippers PROSTATE themselves
upon the ground.
The sacred images are then borne
at the head of the procession to the
chapel Of the manger. Priests,
monks and congregation, all carry
lighted wax tapers and move in sol
emn cadence with the chant. The
Grotto OF the Nativity is reached.
Once a subterranean vault, it has
been converted into chapel lined
and fioored with marble Directly
over the manger is an altar profusely
decorated in gold and silver and silk
en- tapestries. Incense is burning
fra GRAVITY and lamps that are never
allowed to go out cast their dim radi-
ance over the crowd. A large star Of
brass marks the spot where Christ
was born and bears the inscription in
Latin, Here Jesus Christ Vas born OF
E the Virgin Mary"