Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1912-07-11

~ unique as well as beautiful, and
1t Is fitting that In this new
land, 80 full of the spirit Of progress,
30 alive to the artistic. SO keenly
aware Of the value Of beauty. these
new ceremonies should have birth. Los
Angeles has her May Fiesta, reincar-
nation of the Spanish feast day. The
beach towns have their touching serv-
ice of Memorial day. when they COM
sea on an outgoing tide. thus COM
memorating the death of all sailors
who died for their country. Pasa-
dena has her Rose tournament on
New Years day. One OF the most
beautiful of all ceremonies of Call
fornias creating is that of the yearly
sunrise Easter service on Mt Rubi-
doux. Nearly 1000 people grouped
about the Sierra cross on the summit
of the mountain this year. and | have
never witnessed more impressive
scene, writes Gussie Packard Du Bois
in the Los Angeles Times.
On that first Easter, We read that
the disciples rose before dawn and
hurried to the sacred place outside
the city. So, In the hush before day.
break, the footballs of pilgrims echoed
on the streets Of Riverside, the tread
of many feet, the sound of wheels,
On the evening before, the Mission
Inn had been well filled with those
who had come from all the neighbor.
ing towns to rest under It's arches
until daybreak. Great fires glowed on
the hearths and roared up the chin.
neys; SO they may have glowed and
roared on the hearths of old abbeys
when Arthur and his knights went on
quests.
oIden Days Recalled.
Sitting in the cloistered music room.
with It's stalls like Westminster, Its
many banners and ancient hangings.
heraldry and swords, one might we'll
be minded of the olden days OF pill
grimage, and alone in the clustered
walk among statued saints, the sound
of the great organ coming family to
the ears the days of the Mission
padres came again. 1t was fitting to
rest in such place and await the
dawn. At a quarter before four o'clock
came the summons that the hour had
arrived for the assembling Of the pill
grims, and soon the court was full.
1t was a morning of fog. and out Of
the pale, gray opalescence the arches
lifted indstinctly, half-hidden. half
disclosed. The bells were still, their
clappers mute. Voices were hushed.
The great eyes of motor cars gleam-
ed strangely, many people passed on
the dim streets, and all were STILL
The foot of the mountain was reach
ed. the ascent began. Here a group.
dlscarding the road. climbed up the
mountainside over rocks and around
great boulders. UP and up, around
and around went the crowd, disappear.
ing into the dimness. Beside us were
precipice with no bottom. Great
rocks loomed before, beside US, and
were gone. Roof by roof, spire by
spire, grove and garden disappeared.
We were out Of the world, we had
climbed above 1t, we had reached the
top. and the Mount of TRANSPORTATION
Earth and earthly things were gone.
There were a few moments Of quiet
while we got out of our car and climb
ed up to the foot of the cross, then
from the enveloping. tremulous opal
clouds came the clear. pure notes Of
the cornet To the unearthly beauty
of that sound listened until 1t ceased;
then from the vast throng, as with one
voice, came the Lords Prayer, and
responsive reading of the Scripture,
and one voice took up the melody Of
a simple song. sweet and high.
Two Thousand Sing.
Again the sound OF singing fell upon
the ear, but now 1t was the many. the
vast assemblage In familiar hymn.
| caught my breath to hear that vol.
ume of song rising from 1000 voices.
II seemed to me like "the great null
titude" that we read about In Revela-
ton. 20 never harp nor horn. nor
aught we blow with breath or touch
with hand was like that music as 1t
came" A single voice followed, clear,
treag. vibrant, In Henry Van Dykes