The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1913-03-22

Easter has been observed not only in Christian
Europe and America, but far across the sea in
the ancient stronghods Of pagan superstition.
And SO it has come to pass that the very word
Easter thrills the heart with gladness, bringing
its welcome announcement that the gloom 1s
past, and the time OF bud and blossom, leaf and
spray, glancing wing and sudden song floating
cloud and prismic shower, the time of afluence
and beauty and growing, and rapture of high
vitality in plant and human life altke-that won
drous time has come again.
In every Christian land the season Is observed
with deep, religious feeling. In Jerusalem, the
Holy City, enshrned with SO many memories OF
Christ his life his work his death and his resur-
recton, the celebration Of Easter is OF peculiar
interest. Representatives Of SO many churches
and sects assemble here at this season for spe
cial religious celebrations that 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 are 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 Doorosa- supposed to be the
road which Christ bore the cross to Cal
vary-when this commemorative journey is made
by the pilgrims their knees.
Easter customs still cling England in many
places. Maundy money is distributed Thurs
day at Westminster Abbey as in the days OF
Pepys, old men and women over go years OF age
receive specially minted coins corresponding to
the older a British 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 to their parish churches.
The yelling of the crucifx at Easter is still
maintained a survival of that older ceremony
of watching the sepulchre." In olden days this
graphic and elaborate rite commenced Good
Friday with the lowering of the great crucifx
and It's bestowal In a shallow grave dug beneath
the high altar, where 1t 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 a temporary wooden sepul-
chre erected on the north Of the choir and the
host as well The crucifx deposited
therein.
An old writer Durham cathedral thus de- :
scribes it: "On Good Friday, after the singing
of the Passion, two monks took large crucix
and laying it upon velvet cushion. brought It
to the lower greeses (steps) of the quire and
there betwixt them held the crucifx.
Then one Of the monks rose and went pretty
space from 1t and setting himself upon his knees
to the cross and kissed 1t. 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
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 and replaced upon the al
tar II 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, includ-
ing St Georges in the Borough-Little Dorrits
church'-and st. Johns, Walworth
thrcnped 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 10 still car
oxri<n thA ~ NapG lpj Ynh
sn.ncer, who was lord mayor In 1874. He left