The Connecticut labor press., 1919-04-19

the purpose in the side of the holy tomb. It is then made of to light candles with which every worshiper is equipped. The intention is to sym belize the descent of the Holy Spirit. The candles are kept sacred relics and are relighted only at marriages, births and deaths. T
 The reception of the fire is the work of the patriarch. He appears at the head of a. gorgeous procession of ecclesias astics-bishops, archbishops and priests. He leads his followers three times around the holy tomb and enters when passing the doorway the, third time,t leaving his followers standing by. Shortly after the tholy fire" appears through the opening in the form of blazing torch. Men have been appointed to snatch the torch. These light their own candles and pass it on to their neighbors; every burning candle be-. comes a train leading on the sacred fire to hun : dred others. Robert Kitchens, description of the scene is in part this: *s.-E --.-~5 .t
 "It came at last. With fierce gesture as of savage exultation the long-haired priest withdrew his from the hole and held up great bunch of flaming candles. And then delirium seized the close-packed thousands. All the mouths opened to let out yells, shrieks and the wild titteringS of women All the arms gesttculated with frenzy toward the smoky yellow flames. All the bodies struggled desperately, cruelty to get to them. And the priest dipped his torch, and suddenly fire be- gan to rush through the great church. The patri- arch tore out of the holy sepulcher and fell in the Greek cathedral with the fire in his hands. From the balconies the blue star-spanged dome masses of candles were let down by long cords, were lighted by priests below and drawn up flaming Fire encircled the rotunda, three tiers of fire. Through the glare, the smoke, the roaring, the procession !. bishops and priests, accompanied bX soldiers by acolytes, by banner bearers. by canvasses beating the floor with their slaves. Down the avenue of banners and muskets and torches came bearded and long haired men in magnificent vestments, and the gorgeous Armenians, almost like nov ing idols clad in the jewels of their wonderful treasury; and the witheredlooking Copts and the astounding Abyssinians, in magenta, with partly shaved heads and great tufts of coars hair, like the gaudy puppets that people nightmare
 From time immemorial the Christians of Jeru- salem have observed the events of Christs passion, death and resurrection in complete and dramatic fashion, and it from Jerusalem that Easter customs spread to other parts of the world. The earliest record of these observanceS is in 3S5. At that time the Christians strove to realize by ap- last acts in the life of Jesus. Each event memorated far as possible the spot of its occurrence. The proper passages from the Gospel were read and appropriate prayers were said as the clergy and people went in procession from place to place-Bethany, Gethsemane, Golgotha. the sepulcher and Olivet. It during the mid de ages that the character of the ceremonies changed greatly, taking spectacular features which have persisted to the present day.
 Tradition with less accuracy has fixed the of the Via Dolorosa and the IA stations at which the chief events the way to the occurred. It is followed by thousands of visitors on Easter week.
 Easter is the principal festival of the Christian