The Springfield herald., 1913-03-21

Easter has been observed not only in Christian
Europe and America, but far across the sea in
the ancient strongholds of pagan superstition
And SO 1t has come to pass that the very word
Easter thrills the heart with gladpess, 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 afiiuence
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 80 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 form of the Christian faith from
Interfering with thai of another. Turkish SOL
ders are much in evidence at this time to check
the smallest beginning of open conflict One or
the most impressive features Of the Eastertide
observance in Jerusalem is witnessed on Good
Friday the Via Dolorosa-supposed to be the
road over which Christ bore the cross to Cal
vary-when this commemorative journey is made
by the pilgrims on their knees.
Easter customs still cling to England in many
places Maundy money is distributed Thurs
day at Westminster Abbey as 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 British king is. the more money is
distributed
On Good Friday there Is procession to St.
Paurs 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 crucihx at Easter Is still
maintained as a survival of that older ceremony
of watching the sepuchre." In olden days this
gra phic and elaborate rite commenced on Good
Friday with the lowering of the great crucifx
i,,o eIa1JN hot,a, 81,
the high altar, where it remained until early in
the morning of Easter day. In course of time,
as the ritual became more ornate, the grave
discarded in favor Of temporary wooden sepul-
chre erected the nsrth of the choir. and the
host well >a- 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 n velvet cushion, brought 1t
to the lower greeses (steps) of the quire and
there betwixt them held the crucifx
Then of the monks rose and went pretty
space from 1t and setting himself upon his knees
to the cross 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 an anthem. Amidst the light
of the candles and the burning OF incense, the
cross was then carried to the sepulchre and there
was 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 Gnd replaced upon the al
tar 1t was an 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. incud-
ing St Georges In the Borough-"Litte Dorrits
church"-and st. Johns, Walworth,
thronged by Easter wedding couples that the
clergy often marry them in groups.
At the church of st, Mary, Woolnooth, near the
mansion house. queer distribution is still car
ried out in accordance with the will of Sir John
Spencer who lord mayor in 1894. lie left a