The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-17

North NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 1O2, 100000; other
faiths, 1O,285OOO; total. IL, 935 600.
South Observation-Disclosures 366OOOOO: other
faiths, 100000; total, 3S,OOOOOO.
Oceanica- Christians, 12,1O9,O 600; other faiths,
~, 929 900; total, 90 625, 600
1t may safely be said that the allied Christian
nations will celebrate Easter this year with
usual soemnity. The life immortal is a comfort
ing belief just now, when the world has been
brought face to face with death by the great
never before. Probably also it will be cele-
brated 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 part
of the national life. Certainly Easter of 1918
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 so than Christmas AT II o'clock
drove to the Larva,' the oldest monastery
and the richest in all Russia. Can you imagine
huge courtyard surrounded by 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 thousand can
dies, and the chanting of 1900 priests. In the
open courtyard thousands of soldiers with
uncovered heads, each bearing a lighted candle
To the right stands the bell tower, q wonderful
structure 200 feet high. At the stroke of II
the most wonderful bells in Russia forth
you have heard bells in America. Thousands
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 the cele-
bration in Rome of the holy week 1t was not
unusual for more than 10000 visitors to be pres
ent large proportion of them being English and
AmericanS-and also PrOtestants. Doubtless there
will be many visitors this Easter season. Easter
Sunday is the elimination of the ceremonies The
pope himself Oficiates at high in st. Peters
with the most gorgeous ritual. It 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 ceIebra ion 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
MosIem Mohammedan misrule and oppression
had their beginning Is centuries ago. but the Cru
saders held possession of the city twice-Once
under Godfrey of Bouillon (1099-1187) and again
under Frederick II (12291244). The British IN
der General Allenby, in possession at Easter
of 1913 but fighting going in ali the sur
rounding region and the fate of the city still
in the balance.
In normal times business in Jerusalem comes to
stop at the Easter season and religious
monial is the dominating interest. 1t is
sort of fourfold celebration. The Moham-
medans contribute by holding pilgrimage to the
tomb of Moses. The Jews celebrate the passover.