The Raymer enterprise., 1916-04-20

lem keeps the passover with all the
charm OF its 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 a very remarkable sight To
the westerner II is a revelation OF oriental chris
tianity in all its picturesque devotion, Greeks,
from all over the Leyant Armenians from Tur-
key. Persia and the Caucasus HISTORIANS from
Mesopotamia and Persia; Syrans from Aleppo.
Damascus and Beyrouts Abyssinlans from the
hermit land Of northeast Africa C1pts 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-a these races mingle with Latns from
western Europe, with Germans. English. Ameri.
cans. Scandnavlans
In the midst OF all, and presenting an indi.
yduality perhaps more distinct than all the 9th.
ers, you the Mohammedan 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 ceremonals make
holy week In Jerusalem a gorgeous event where
the intimate note OF the resurrection Is not con.
spieuous Especially does 1t bring on; the dvi.
sion OF Chrlsendom. so strikingy shown in the
way In which Latns. Greeks Armenians and
Copts share the Church OF the Holy Sepucher
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 platform Is erected in the court
of the church which is occupied by the Greek
bishop OF Jerusalem and l2 high church dgni.
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 certain freedom from gospel
text
Al the end the patriarch washes the feet OF
the IL clerics and repeating Jesus words, Let
us 90 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 root
OF the church amid shouts OF Joy,
Next day Good Friday. all the lights In the
Holy Sepulcher church are extingushed, This Is
symhoeal OF the agony and death of our Lord
and OF his descent to hell, when the light OF the
W. ID was taken away for brief space. Then.
on saturday the lights are rekinded-by super
natural agency. the tradition goes. As the
church dgnitaries pray in the chapel OF the
sepucher. draped In deep mourning the ston,
gathers a peculiar moisture which rises as va
DOR and. suddenly bursting into divine fame.
k,ndles the lights It is the custom Of the people
to light candles from one another. and the faith.
full believe that the FIRST OF these candles is kin
died from that supernatural fire.
The dawn Of Easter Sunday is celebrated BY
magnificent procession which enacts. in impress
siyely dramatic fashion, the events Of the resur-
rectioh morn when the women found the grave
open and empty. Then the Easter greeting re-
sounds Christ is risen'" and the response, He
is truly risen'" The Greek mass. celebrated BY
40 priests. ends the ceremony
Although the Easter OF the orthodox church