Evening star., 1937-03-28

West Temple, which rises nearly 1000
feet, is the highest point within the
area. Near here stands the massive
East Temple, its walls ablaze with
color. Along the winding Virgin
River. which cut this deep valley, one
find many fantastically shaped rock
masterpieces - Altar of Sacrifice,
Tower of the Virgin, Angels Landing,
Great Organ and Cathedral Noun
tam. The mystic Temple of SinaWava
is a great natural amphitheater en-
clrcled with walls that appear to close
behind as the visitor enters. Upon
the lush floor of this bowl stand two
stone pillars called the Altar" and
Pulpit"
Zion attracts more visitors on
Easter Sunday than at any other
time. Last Easter, 1875 persons
visited the park to enjoy its scenery
and TO attend services. This was the
largest attendance in Zion Canyons S
history. The widespread and growing
interest of Utah's citizens in this
reservation was manifest. Although
on that day people came from II diff
ferent States, Canada and England,
81 per cent of the visitors were from
Utah.
MEILOWED with romantic tales
and legends. Americas great
Southwest provides numerous historic
spots for Easter rites. At Tumacacori
National Monument in Arizona. near
the ruins of ancient San Jose Mission,
a group is reviving an old pageant
the first dramatization of its kind
presented there since this picturesque
Spanish church was abandoned a
century ago. RoDed to represent
Biblical characters, the cast is re-
enacting the story of Christ.
The venerable walls of San Jose
are monuments to the undaunted faith
Of Jealous missionaries who explored
this region. The most authentic in
formation reveals that the mission
was founded by a Jesuit priest from
Spain about 1891. For nearly 100
years, weary pilgrims paused at this
haven. Then the Jesuits abandoned
San Jose. Later, Franciscans took
charge of the mission and repaired its
crumbling walls.
In the early part of the nineteenth
century, rebellious Apache Indians
drove the priests away and disbanded
the peaceable Papago Tribe living
nearby When discovered by Ameri-
cans, in 1850, San Jose Mission was
in state of ruin. In modern times,
colorful Easter ceremonies further en-
rich the eloquent story of this relic.
Varied are the scenes of Americas
open-air Easter festivals. Strange to
say, in the Southwest a prehistoric
race has contributed unusual sites for
present-day religious rites. Today
amid crumbled dwellings of an ancient
people, sunrise services are being held
at Casa Grande and Aztec Ruin Ma
tional Monuments. Not far away, the
suns golden rays fall upon Mesa Verde
National Park, site of the Sun Temple,
believed to be shrine of aborigines
who used the sun symbol in their
place Of worship.
Americas billoWing desertland lone
has been a favorite place for Easter
observances. In California, the tenth
annual Resurrection day exercises are
scheduled at Death Valley National
Monument The natural setting OF
sand and sky has changed little from
that Christmas day in l849, when Q
famine-stalked Jayhawker party cele.
brated the first Christmas festival eve,
held there. To the Forty-niners, thu
vast wasteland was synonymous with
tragedy and suffering. Today, Deatl
Valley vies with the Old Worlds mos
famous oasis resorts as q health spo
(Cont,nued on Sixth Pa1e1