The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1916-04-21

u~D ! growing Jewish population of Jerusa-
lem keeps the passover with all the
charm OF it's cosmopolitanism, and even the
Mohammedans have their Easter pilgrimage to
the grave of Moses.
The throng of Easter pilgrims from the whole
Christian world is very remarkable sight. To
the westerner it is a revelation of oriental Chris
tianity I'm all fits picturesque devotion. Greeks
from all the Levant Armenians from Tur-
key. Persia and the Caucasus; HISTORIANS from
Mesopotamia and Persia: Syrians from Aleppo
Damascus and Beyrout; Abyssinans from the
hermit land or northeast Africa; Copts from
Egypt and men from the ancient churches or
southern India. and, above all, Russians who now
adays form by far the largest contingent of pill
grims-all these races mingle with Latins from
vwestern Europe. with Germans. English, Ameri-
scans. Scandinavians.
In the midst OF all, and presenting indi
viduality perhaps more distinct than all the 9TH
ers, you see the Mohammedan master OF the land
the Arab in his solemn garb and majestic bear
fng and the Turkish official and soldier naughty
in the exercise OF his duty to keep the Christian
pilgrims i'm check and to preserve order.
Elaborate professions and ceremonials make
holy week in Jerusalem a gorgeous event, where
fhe intimate note OF the resurrection is not con-
sspicuous Especially does 1t bring out the divi-
sion of Christendom strikingly shown In the
way In which Latins. Greeks Armenians and
Copts share the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
{ Particularly at Easter the marvellous services or
she Greek orthodox church convey the priority OF
this church I'm 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 IL high church digni-
daries 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 ecclesiastc,
and are read with fine simplicity though the
story is told with certain freedom from gospel
text.
The IL cIerics and. repeating Jesus words, Let
MS 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
svmbolicaI of the agony and death OF our Lord
and of his descent to hell, when the light OF the
yworId was taken away for brief space. Then,
1on Saturday. the lights are rekindled-by super
natural agency. the tradition goes. AS the
church dignitaries pray in the chapel OF the
aenuIcber draped I'm deep mourning the stono
gatbers A peculiar moisture which rises as a va
nor and suddenly bursting into divine flame,
E,ndIes the lights. II is the custom OF the people
20 ttobt candles from one another, and the faith
s,, beIIeye that the first of these candles Is kim
died from that supernatural IRE
The dawn OF Easter Sunday is celebrated by
magnificent procession which enacts. IN impress
lively dramatic fashion. the events of the resur
lilo, morn when the women found the grave
or and empty Then the Easter greeting re-
tr,,nas "Christ n risen!" and the response. He
a. truly risen!" The Greek mass. celebrated by
"a priosts. ends the ceremony.