The Washington times., 1921-02-06

season observed throughout Christen-
dom, will be ushered in next Wednes-
day by special services in Episcopal,
Lutheran and Catholic Churches in
this city.
EMBLEMATIC SERVICE.
Thousands OF Catholics will visit
their churches In a spirit OF self-ef-
facement. there to receive on their
foreheads the ashes from the palms of
last Palm Sunday. This service is
one OF the most important In the
Catholic church calendar. and en-
bIematic OF the days or the, early
church when Christians "bewailed
their manifold sins and wickendness'
by donnipg sackcloth and sprinkhng
themselves with ashes. .
In the Church OF England. Ash
Wednesday Is marked by interesting
services. In st. Psufs Cathedral
London. Sir John Stainer's "Miserere"
is sung by the celebrated choir OF that
edifice, and clergymen OF information
al reputation admonish the congrega-
ton to abstain from "all lust OF the
flesh" and evil and corrupt practices
during the forty days penitential
season.
SUSPENSION OF GAYETY.
On Shrove Tuesday. the day before
Ash Wednesday, all gayety In the
Capital Is supposed to end until after
Easter. number OF social func-
tions are planned for that day
In certain parts of England and
America the day Is also known as
Pancake Day" or "Doughnut Day"
Everyone is supposed to eat plenti-
fully OF pancakes or doughnuts in
order to keep away evil spirits.
On st. Patrick's Day, March II, the
bars OF Lenten abstinence are lifted
bit. and the Irish are permitted to OBJ
serve the birthday OF their patron
saint. according to custom.
PALM SUNDAY. MARCH 2.
The Lenton period comes to a eli
max with the ending of Holy Week,
which begins with the celebration of
Palm Sunday. on March 20. On Palm
Sunday the anniversary OF the trium-
phant entry OF Jesus into Jerusalem.
when the populace strewed palms
along the way and shouted. "Hosanna
to the Son OF Davdv' will be celebra.
ted in churches of every denomina-
ton.
Then will come the week of mourn
ing. Episcopal and Catholic churches
will be open for worship almost every
hour OF the day and night. The scene
at the Last Supper will be re-enacted
on Maundy or Holy Thursday by spe-
cial celebrations OF the Holy Euckar-
list in all Protestant and Catholic
churches. In the Catholic churches,
the altars will be draped with heavy
black at midnight Holy Thursday, and
no music will be neard until Easter
Sunday morning.
GOOD FRIDAY SERVICES.
On Good Friday the usual three
hours agony service from noon to 3
p. m. will take place in every Epis-
copal. Lutheran and Catholic Church.
The Catholics will have the stations
OF the Cross" while in the Anglican
churches "The Story of the Cross"
will be recited by clergymen accom-
panied by the choir in black vest
ments.
On the night of Good Friday Stain
er's "The Crucifixon." and John Hen
ry Maunders From Olivet to Cal
vary" will be given by the choirs of
a number of Episcopal churches of
Washington. From Good Friday to
Easter Sunday there will be a hush in
the activities of the church in men,
ory Of Jesus three days in the tomb.
But on Easter Sunday morning,
March %. choirs will send forth
paean of gladness, and the earth will
awake in it's spring splendor to pay
homage to the Risen King.