The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-12

North NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., 1O2, 100000; other
faiths, 1O,2S5,OOO; total, 112,935,0O0.
South Observation-Disclosures, $4,000, 600; other
faiths, 100000 total, 100000
Oceanica-Christians, II, 7O9, 600; other faiths.
42,929,OO0; total, $685., 900.
1t may safely be said that the allied Christian
nations will celebrate Easter this year with I'M
usual sOlemnity. The life immortal is a comfort
ing belief just now, when the world has been
brought face to face with death by the great war
as never before. Probably also it will be cele-
brated as usual in Germany, for the Germans make
much ado over Easter.
Easter in Russia.
Even in distracted Russia Easter will be OBJ
served, for the Greek Catholic church makes much
of the celebration and Easter observance is a part
of the national life. Certainly Easter of 1918 was
observed as usual in many parts of Russia, al
though the anarchist disorders were well under
way. Here is a bit of description from a letter
written from Kief in 1918:
Easter is the greatest festival of all the year;
infinitely more so than Christmas. At II o'clock
we drove out to the Larva.' the oldest monastery
and the richest in all Russia. Can you imagine Il
huge courtyard surrounded by a 40-foot wall and
immense covered gateway, groups of large white
buildings all ablaze with light, with the snow for
a background the center building the church,
doors open, the inside lighted by a thousand can
dies, and the chanting of 1,5OO priests. In the
open courtyard were thousands of soldiers with
uncovered heads, each bearing a lighted candle.
To the right stands the bell tower, u wonderful
structure over 200 feet high. At the stroke of II
the most wonderful bells in Russia peal forth as
you have never heard bells in America. Thousands
of voices cry Christ is risen,' and the priests come
forth and march around the building"
In the days before the great war no festivals In
Europe attracted so many foreigners as the cele-
bration in Rome of the holy week. It was not
unusual for more than 10000 visitors to be pres
ent, a large proportion of them being English and
Americnns-and also PrOtestants. Doubtless there
will be many visitors this Easter season. Easter
Sunday is the elimination of the ceremonies. The
pope himself ~oticiates at high mass in st. Peters
with the most gorgeous ritual. 1t is after he ex-
tends his blessing that the papers containing pray
ers are thrown down from his balcony to be
scrambled for by the congregation.
Jerusalem, the Holy City.
The celebration of this Easter In Jerusalem will
probably be noteworthy. 1t is the first Easter in
seven consecutive centuries which finds the holy
city permanently freed from the misrule of the
Moslem. MOhammedan misrule and oppression
had their beginning 10 centuries ago, but the Cru
saders held possession of the city twice-once
under Godfrey of Bouillon (1099-11S7) and again
under Frederick II Q2291244). The British, un.
der General Allenby, were IN possession at Easter
Of 1918, but fighting was going on in all the sur
rounding region and the fate of the city was still
in the balance.
In normal times business in Jerusalem comes to
a stop at the Easter season and religious cere-
monlal is the dominating interest. 1t is a
sort Of fourfold celebration. The Moham-
medans contribute by holding a pilgrimage to the
tomb of Moses. The Jews celebrate the passover.