Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-05-30

Easter has been observed not only in Christian
Europe and America, but far across the sea in
the ancient strongholds of pagan superstition
And II has to pass that the very word
Easter thrills the heart with gadness, bringing
its welcome announcement that the gloom is
past. and the time of bud and blossom, leaf and
spray. glancing wing and sudden song. floating
cloud and prismic shower. the time OF affuence
and beauty and growing, and rapture of high
vitality in plant and human life alike-that won
drous time has come again.
In every Christian land the season is observed
with deep, religious feeling In Jerusalem, the
Holy City. enshrined with many memories OF
Christ his life. his work. his death and his resur-
rection the celebration of Easter is OF peculiar
interest Representatives OF many churches
and sects assemble here at this season for spe-
cial religious celebrations that an elaborate
schedule has to be planned to prevent worship
according to one form of the Christian faith from
interfering with that of another. Turkish SOL
diers much In evidence at this time to check
the smallest beginning of open conflict. One OF
the most impressive features OF the Eastertide
observance in Jerusalem is witnessed Good
Friday the Via Dolorosa-supposed to be the
road which Christ bore the cross to Cal
yary-when this commemorative journey is made
by the pilgrims their knees
Easter customs still cling to England in many
places. Maundy money is distributed Thurs
day at Westminster Abbey, in the days of
Pepys. old men and women over 60 years of age
receive specially mnted coins. corresponding to
the years in King Georges life. 1t follows that
the older n BrltlSh king Is, the more money Is
distributed
On Good Friday there is a procession to St
Paul's cathedral revived from early times by the
Bishop of London, and the suburban districts
have smaller ones to their parish churches.
The yelling OF the crucifx Easter is still
maintained a survival of that older ceremony
of watching the sepulchre" In olden days this
graphic and elaborate rite commenced on Good
Friday with the lowering of the great crucifx
and its bestowal In shallow grave dug beneath
the high altar, where It remained until early in
the morning of Easter day. In course of time
the ritual became more ornate, the grave was
discarded in favor of temporary wooden sepul-
chre erected on the north of the choir, and the
host as well as .he crucifx were deposited
therein.
An old writer Durham cathedral thus de-
scribes it; "on Good Friday. after the singing
of the Passion, two monks took large crucifx
and. laying It upon a velvet cushion, brought 1t
TO the lower greeses (steps) of the quire and
there betwixt them held the crucihx.
Then of the monks rose and went a pretty
space from it and setting himself upon his knees
the and kissed it, and after him the
other monk did likewise. Afterwards did the
prior and all the monks the whole choir in the
meantime singing anthem. Amidst the light
Of the candles and the burning of incense, the
cross was then carried to the,sepulchre and there
laid, together with the holy sacrament with
IN the sepulchre."
Guards were then placed to watch until Easter
morning, when the singing of '"Christus Resur-
gems" the sacred symbols where taken out of
their temporary grave and replaced upon the al
tar, It old belief that the eyes which be-
held this Easter elevation would not close in
death during the year to come.
The churches IN many poorer quarters, includ-
ing st. Georges IN the Borough-'Llttle Dorrits
church-and st Johns. Walworth so
thrGnged by Easter wedding couples that the
clergy often marry them in groups.
40 the church Of st. Mary. woolnooth near the
mansion house. queer distribution is still car
r'sl out In accordance with the will of Sir John
sDouoer. who lord mayor in 1894. he left