Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1916-04-21

w Will bOlb0Ou1 mabhAhSOhNo " 49,
Christian churches-Latin. Greek, Ar.
IASF menian. Coptic-but the large and ever
~ growing Jewish population OF Jerusa'
- lem keeps the passover with all the
charm Of its cosmopolitanism and even the
have their Easter pilgrimage 10
The grave of Moses.
The throng of Easter pilgrims from the whole
Christian world is a very remarkable sight TO
tie westerner It is a revelation of oriental Chris
tianity in all its picturesque devotion. greeks
from all over the Levant; Armenians from Tur-
key. Persia and the Caucasus; HISTORIANS from
Mesopotamia and Persia; Syrians from Aleppo'
Damascus and Beyrout: Abyssinians from the
hermit land of northeast Africa; Copts from
Egypt. and men from the ancient churches OF
southern India. and, above all, Russians who now.
adays form by far the largest contingent of pill
grims-aIl these races mingle with Latins from
western Europe. with Germans. English, Amert
cans. Scandinavians.
In the midst of all, and presenting an indi-
VIduality perhaps more distinct than all the 9th
ers, you see the M-ohammedan master of the land
the Arab in his solemn garb and majestic bear
ing. and the Turkish official and soldier naughty
in the exercise of his duty to keep the Christian
pilgrims in check and to preserve order.
Elaborate professions and ~ceremonials make
holy week in Jerusalem a gorgeous event, where
the intimate note Of the resurrection is not con-
spicuous. Especially does it bring out the divi-
sion OF Christendom. so strikingly shown in the
way In which Latins. Greeks, Armenians and
Copts share the Church OF the Holy S%epuicher
Particularly at Easter the marvellous services of
the Greek orthodox church convey the priority OF
this church In the Holy Land. And OF these cere-
monies. none. perhaps. is more impressive than
that Of the washing Of feet on the Thursday be
fore Easter
On that day a platform is erected in the court
OF the church. which is occupied by the Greek
bishop of Jerusalem and 10 high church digni'
taries. Court. stairs, inches and every corner Is
crowded by the faithful to witness the enact
ment of the scene when Jesus washed the feet
of his disciples. The parts Of Jesus, John. Peter
and Judas are each given to an ecclesiastic'
and are read with fine simplicity. though the
story is told with a certain freedom from gospel
text.
AT the end the patriarch washes the feet OF
the u clerics. and. repeating Jesus words, Let
us go. for he that will betray me is nigh" gives
the signal TO arise, and they all withdraw to the
church. Then an olive branch, hanging over the
chancel Of the platform. Is pulled up to the roof
Of the church amid shouts of Joy.
NEXT day Good Friday. all the lights In the
Holy Sepulcher church are extinguished. This Is
symbolical Of the agony and death OF our Lord
and Of his descent to hell, when tho light OF the
w a was taken away for a brief space. Then
on saturday. the lights are rekindled-by a super
natural agency. so the tradition goes. AS the
church dignitaries pray In the chapel OF the
sepuIcher. draped in deep mourning the stona
gathers q peculiar moisture which rises as a va
nor and. suddenly bursting into a divine name'
k,ndIes the lights. Il Is the custom Of the people
40 light candles from one another. and the faith
frl believe that the first Of these candles Is kim
dIed from that supernatural hre.
Tbe dawn Of Easter Sunday is celebrated by a
magnificent procession which enacts' In impress
.tveIv dramatic fashion, the events OF the resur-
raotion morn. when the women found the grave
oman and empty. Then the Easter greeting re-
sounds Christ Is risen!" and the response. He
nj trulv hsen!" The Greek mass. celebrated by
40 priests. ends the CEREMONY
Although the Easter OF the Orthodox cnufcn