Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-16
IPALM SUNDAY OBSERVED
THROUGHOUT THE WORLD
Services To-Day in Token Of Christ's
Triumphal Entry Into
JeruSalcm
BRANCHES SPREAD IN THE WAY.
impressive Services Held in Roman
'a'hoiic' Episcopal aud Other
'hurrheS-Descriptio of Service
NJ ST. Peters i'm i,omc
ny HENRY O.. t.ir,yronn

ny HENRY q. LIr,'uEonp
rive Gays ""f"r" the passion Tho S,-
'o' '"'he ms entry Of truman inf
inc CITY or Jerusalem win ,ha
OF MS faithful folIowe,,
nlHhcheS from the trees heror. h;,o
" "r" used ss token or the
"'"hches spread in the wa" ana -;
conmemoraiion Of ,bix 49,. III
.'"''"aN mas been observed in vcr,. ,,,.
~ S"h'" WAY since the carly ccn,nr,n.
, ."rNices are held in an 70,
,t' ''h"dic, Episcopal aud Other
IN" par, OF the services
I blessing Of the palms and Ji,,rii| ,ns
."''l 'i'Hi"a 81 I" the worsbinn.,g
~ -. Peter" Rome. tn. blessin. .,
NC palms - don" by the pnnc !,
interesting I" know that the hrs,
palms Messed at St Peters wcro ~
Nided b. sailor. and NON, o,h. p,"
ever been permitted 10 he us.d $50,
lh"S" furnished 10y this sailor and he
descendants ''
u" 'ircuns iances OF thi. fac, are
,"' s""e''!lN known and arc very in
'lestInI. Standing upon the site OF
20" - refers was the Egyptian ohe
iiSk which now occupies a nosj,ion :,
Inc center Of the Vatican circus TIKI.
"hc'isk weighs thousands or tons ,nG
Is nearly -" feet in hrich, Tho 70.
NOVA "f ms nonstrouS nonolith with
out doing il damage was vas, under
taking. Hundreds OF mon ney, en-
proved Tor tho purpose So imnnr,art
was inc undertaking. that tho RON.
issued an order that no employee shoI,Id
Nr'ah "hli" ~ work under tn. pcna!ty
"' severe punishment Twisted about
IN" "heNsk were large ropes al on.
time during the work ~ accomnIieh
certain object. it was necessary 10
nave tn" rores Weld just a fraction
seeing IN" Importance. or this and
having hccn seaman. the sailor spoke
out and shouted 10 pour water on the
rop"s. This was done. and on account
or II. II was said The obrlisk Was pre-
vented from injury. Having lisobevcd
the order ~ the Pope tho sailor was
much terrified at being commanded To
arp"ar before his holiness. l-pon in
Gury into tho circumstances the Pope
instead N infictinc punishment on ac-
count of his disohcdicncc IF his order
commended tho sailor for speaking 2
word in season. and rewarded him ny
granting his request :" he allowed the
privilege OF bringing 80 ST. Peters on
Palm sunday III" palms to he blessed
for distribution. As before stated. So
long as he lived, this sailor was &C
corded this distinction. and M TO the
present day his descendants enjoy the
same right which they esteem bless
cd privilege and honor.
u. - \
t>EQi ALLIED N THE: WORLD
Having referred to St Peters | will
'cudcavor To give some description Of
it. which | regret must ne Inadequate
10 give any proper idea OF it's grandeur
and its imnensity. II Is cathedral
uucquallcd in tho world. While II Is
true that the present 81. Peters was
pcarcd or the map or even before the
birth Of Christ"pher Columbus II Il.
ca He'd. in Rome. a modern structure.
|, is built upon the SITE OF the religious
,cdlticc erected in the time OF Cnnstan-
tine. and consecrated as the "Eas'ltca
.of -. l'cter." This old hasilica stood
on a part OF the circus az Nero. and
occupies uhc spot conscciated by the
hlno. 81 the martyrs slaughtered ny
order III that tyrant.
Colossal statues OF Peter and Faui
guard the approach al the foot or inc
steps ~ either side. !" 'front.' 81 me
church sweeping off 10 the right and
lief; Of II in 4 scmicirctr, is vast
arcade supported 10y four rows az LOFTY
pillars which arc nearly loo feet IN
height. In the center Of this area
formed by this immense col!onnd" Is
tho ECyp,ion nbcliSk above referred
it". Two beautiful fountains. the Ia SINS
OF which are porph%ry. are on either
side and are pcrpctnally at play.
RAISED ON three successive lights or
marble steps extending. ] should say.
about 40O feet in length, and tower
ing to a height of about -" feet. YOU
Sc. the ma icStic front Of tho church.
This front is supported by a single row
OF Corinthiau pillars and pilaStcrs. and
adorned with AN attic. a haiustradc and
thirteen colossal statues. Far h"hind
aud above il rises the matchlcss dome.
Two smaller cupolSS. one on each side.
add Ia the majesty Of the principal
IL ,i,,,, i,,t, - MI
i've lofty portals. II is paved with
variccat,d marble adorned with pill
lars. mosaic and base rclcfs. aud ter
minated at both ends by equestrian
statues. on" OF Constantine. the other
charlcmarnc. over the entrance on
tho inside * relief representing
Christ giving the keys Of tho Roman
Catholic Church {" 81. rctcr ON the
inside. mosaic representing our Lord
supporting rctcr when he was about
10 sink when walking OF the sea The
immCnS" bronze doors arc = work Of
great art. In relief on them Al" rep
reservations Of retcr and ranl. and
historic events in tho Roman Catholic
Church
To give som" idea OF tho immensely
"f -. Peters. ! have hut TO say one
half Of tho population Of Richmond
could az tho same time stand within
Ia" walls OF this church without he
ing crowded The dome itself is Of
such vast size that within il could be
placed tho Cathedral Of tho Sacred
Heart Of this city and stiIl there would
u" space !" spare While cvcrNthinc
about the church is enormous in size
the proportions arc 50 perfect tina, the
cy" is never offended
IMMENSE rREp<H tTiONS
ARE I'LL STR <rf:D
Upon entering. my attention was
called 10 tho doves which arc at the
base or the first columns. occupyinr
q position of about nifty feet from the
door. These doves appear to he OF
'itc size. Upon invest Satiun | found
they measured three feet across
The mosaic inscriptions at tho base
OF tn" dome appeared 10 he Of letters
OF about six inches in height when
IN reality. :h"y arc ten feet There
arc in the church about 100 mosaic
copies of famous paintings 10y tho mas
terS. The character OF the work OF
moSaics. its delicacy and the length
OF time required for one picture ,some-