Imperial Valley press., 1918-03-28
REV. BARNES OF ST. PAUL'S
CHURCH TELLS THE HISTORY
OF THE DAY WHICH MARKS
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE
DEATH OF CHRIST.
In Many Cities of the East Business
Is Suspended Entirely Between the
Hours of l p. Nj. and 3 p. Nj. To.
mOrrOw-In Some States Good Fri.
day Has Become Legal Holiday.
BY REV. c.. RANKIN BARNES.
A Good Friday Message.

The observance of the anniversary
of the death and passion Of Jesus
Christ originated very early in Chris
tian experience. 1t arose from in
stincts OF great reverence. Even in
Apostolic days there are indications
of a special memorial observance of
the day. Tertullian, who flourished
about 200 A. d., speaks of it in de-
tail in his discourse on prayer. Lat
er titles for the day were the Day
of Preparation or the Day of Our
Lords Passion. In early English
times it was known as Long Friday,
but it's present name is one by which
it has been popularity known for many
centuries.
In observing the anniversary of the
Cross of Christ the object of the
Church has ever been to make the
devotions of Good Friday such as
would help Christians, to realize the
magHitue of the sacrifice there Of
fere. The Passion, as narrate in
thed Gospels, has always formed the
central subject Of the days medita-
tion and teaching. 1t is very an
cient practice to abstain from cele-
brating Holy Communion on Good Fri
day. In the Roman Catholic church
the Mass of the Pre- -sanctified is Gel
ebrated, whereas in the Anglican and
Eastern churches no Eucharist upon
that day is provided for. In all three,
however, the day is kept as very
strict fast.
Though the official observance of
Good Friday is practically limited to
the above, the day has tremendous
hold upon the hearts and minds of
Christian people of other names. Many
housewife who does not attend a re-
ligious service that day will make
the "hot cross buns" which have long
been baked in England at that time.
In many of the cities of the East fl
nancial business is suspended entire
ly and all stores are closed from 12
noon to 8 o'clock. In New York iCty,
for instance, the Stock Exchange is
invariably closed throughout the day. |
In some states Good Friday is a legal
holiday.
To us of America, Good Friday,
1918, has an additional significance. In
a way it is our first anniversary of
taking up the gage of battle in be-
half of democracy, for it was on April
6, 1917, Good Friday of last year,
that Congress declared that a state
of war existed between the United
States of America and the Imperial
German government. 1t may well be
that this coincidence was not acciden-
tai. America, at the cost of weak
ness and dishonor, might have stayed
out of the war. Just as Christ, at the
cost of the recantation of His Divine
claims, might have avoided the cross.
When He climbed to the summit of
Calvary He was teaching the world
the lesson of supreme self-sacrifice.
And just so did this American people,
year ago, stake all in q supreme self
sacrifice. Our freedom, our liberties,
our democracy-they were deliberate
iy risked when the United States be-
gan to war against the most powerful
nation of the world
That is why this Good Friday is
peculiarly meaningful to the people of
America. That is why tomorrow,
standing in the shadow of the Cross,
we shall be able to appreciate the
real significance of the war ,as never
before.
Greater love hath no man than this,
that he lay down his life for his
friends" "