Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-03-22

The procession moves slowly round the church.
stopping ut intervals before the various affairs.
The bier Is rested at each until a sermon In a
different language Is preached. The figure Is
finally rested upon the stone OF JUNCTION, which Is
In front OF the holy sepulcher. and the last sermon
Is then preached. After the sermon the figure Is
again incensed, prayers are recited and the dead
Christ Is laid to rest for another year In the holy
sepulcher.
On Holy Saturday. or Easter eve. quite n num-
Der Of old %liturgical rites are observed at the
Church Of the Holy Sepulcher. Chief among them
Is the blessing Of the paschal candle at the nine
o'clock morning service.
On the evening OF Holy Saturday the church Is
beautifully decorated with Easter flowers and
greens, and there is held the Service OF resur-
%rection." The frars 20 to the part OF the church
in front OF the holy sepuIcher and then chant the
solemn mathis Of the resurrection. At the con
clusion OF this office the celebrant and his minis
ters proceed to the holy sepulcher and the blessed
sacrament is brought out in triumph. In gorgeous
procession, amid hymns and the pealing of the
organ, 1t IS carried round through the various
chapels, and finally to the high altar. where the
solemn benedictlOn Is bestowed, and the first
service Of Easter Is over.
The Easter Sunday masses, following the Gus
tom Of those In Jerusalem. are said in the holy
sepulcher every half hour from . 80 in the morn
ing. At nine O'Clock n solemn high mass IL said
at the central altar, when the gorgeous Easter
music Is beautifully rendered by the monastery
choir before n congregation which crowds the
great edifce. A custom Of several years standing
ut the first service of Easter Sunday Is the Mt
tendance In n body OF Il large number Of Howard
university students, who walk out 10 the monas-
terry church to partake Of the early Easter sacra-
ment. At the $50 service In the afternoon the
chanting Of the office Of compline Is followed By
the solemn benedictlon Of the blessed sacrament.
If Easter day be bright and sunny, such OF the
grounds Of the church and monastery as may be
explored by the public are filled with sightseers
after this song service, They wander through
the wellkept grounds and generally find their way
to the grotto Of Lourdes. lying in n little valley to
the south Of the monastery. This Ia a facsimile
reproduction of the famous shrine Of the Pyre-
nees, created by the Franciscan frlars here for
the benefit of those pilgrims who cannot see the
famous grotto of miraculous healing In Its native
home In the south Of France.
II Is only upon special occasions that one may
penetrate the seclusion of the beautiful cloisters
and courtyard of the monastery, the great, severe
~ plain rectangular building behind the church.
The courtyard, with its uncovered cistern In
the center, Is a spot Of rich beauty, which LENDS
additional charm to the graceful atnbulatory,
where the friars take exercise and recreation in
inclemcnt weather. Nor may one, except by spe,
cial privilege. penetrate the beautiful private
grounds of the monastery and enjoy the
exquisitely kept garden and grounds which tho
monks have created behind their hom'