The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-05-15

Whltsunda day-May Is.
SUNDAY, MAY IS, 1910

Today is Whitsupday, the third OF the
three greater festivals celebrated by the
Christian church, 1t commentaries the
descent of the Holy Ghost on the apostles
when they were all with one accord in
one place" after the ascension OF our
Lord, and when they received the gift
OF tongues. As this event occurred on
the day OF Pentecost. Whitsunday is
naturally associated with the great Jew
ish festival held, as the name denotes,
nifty days after the feast Of unleavened
bread.
1t Is a remarkable fact that in the
languages peculiar To western Europe
tniS day seems to have no particular
name, and the English word "Whitsun-
day" IL is said was derived from some
of the characteristics OF the early Ro-
man ceremonies Of the day. This fact
seems more singular as Pentecost In
medieval western Europe was such
marked day.
In the middle ages a great wax candle
was then blessed and was supposed to
be emblematic OF the light of faith shown
forth upon the world. Numerous cere-
monies then In vogue have now passed
into desuetude, especially In the English
church. One OF these strikes the persons
with modern ideas as peculiarly unac-
countable, the distribution by the church
of 'Whitsun ale" Yet the accounts of
the church wardens OF the seventeenth
century show many entries where they
paid for "Whitsun ale" The best expla-
nation TO be found for It is that 1t was
a survival OF the ancient Agape, or love
feast" which early Christians INDUCED
In.
A dove descending from heaven was
the emblem of the descent of the Holy
Ghost adopted by the church, a dove
was often suspended above an image OF
Christ on Whltsunday. The canonical
color for Whltsunday is red. While this
color signifies divine love and royal dig
nifty. as we'll as blood. war and suffering.
being thus emblematic OF martyrs, 1t also,
according TO Dr. Nicholas CHR, recos-
nized authority In such matters, sym
bollZes that burning. glowing love which
is enkindled in the hearts OF the faithful
throught the Holy Spirit, that self-sac-
rlhcing triumphant love which in martyr
dom makes Offering OF the greatest
and dearest earthly good-even life It
self"
Regarding further information as TO the
Anglo Saxon name Whitsunday. the
Encyclopedia Britannica says: THE orr
gin OF the, Anglo Saxon name OF White
Sunday. which also occurs in lcelandic
Is somewhat obscure. for in the Roman
church the Dominica In Albis Glow Sun
day.. so called from the white robes
then worn by candidates for baptism has
always been the Sunday following Easter
A very probable suggestion is that in
northern countries the colder climate
made i, desirable es, to postpone the the great
spring season was further advanced
On May Is, 1897. the American army
entered Pueblo. Mexico, and 1t is the date
in 1867 that MaXimillan abdicated the
Mexican. throne at the solicitation of Ma
poleon. 1t Is the date OF the duel fought
between General Mcintosh and Governor
Gwinuett in 1777, and the Confederate
Alabama was launched In 1862. and on
which the battle Of Resaca, Ca, was
fought In 1864. 1t is the birthday OF
Levi Lincoln. first United States attorney
geenral Q749); Jacob Thompson, secre-
tary of the interior under Buchanan
QSlO); OF Balfe, the composer CS0S); /;
Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of army
nursing GS20). and Noak X Davis, the
educator GS30).