Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1887-04-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

XIII., who,amid profound silence, and in a deep sonorous voice, chants forth the usual benediction in Latin. As soon as the voice ceases there is a thunder of cannon, the bells clash and peal, a few white papers, like huge snowflakes, drop from the balcony— these are indulgences, and there is an eager struggle for thorn down below. Now the Pope again rises—again gives his benediction —waving to and fro his right hand, three fingers open, and making the sign of the Cross, the peacock fans retire, and he between them is borne away. And now will Uncle William's nieces and sepliews go on another trip, this time  TRIP TO JIIIIMELLLSM, to witness another Easter celebration. Come with use to the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre —a chapel built by the Crusaders, and which has been standing for several centuries. It is Easter Eve, and the chapel is crowded with a dense throng waiting to receive the holy fire. Turkish guards are at the door and stand as I seminels within, because these Christians are so far from loving one another that there may be fighting—perhaps murder—between the sects if the infidel is not there to preserve peace. Gradually the crowd becomes enormous. Every foot of standing room is occupied. All costumes are there, from the English sightseer in his black coat to the rude Asiatic Russian in his sheep-skin. Presently above all the din and babble of many tongues are heard the magnificent voices of the Greek priests chanting in deep tones, and from the Greek church under the smaller &toe of Constantine issues a procession of priests and bishops clothed in gorgeous robes and bearing numerous banners. They make with difficulty through the mass of people to the sacred tomb. Three times they encompass the Holy Sepulchre, and then one of tue Greek bishops, called the "Fire Bishop," accompanied by the Armenian Patriarch, passes into the sepulchre, and the door is shut. The frenzy of the mob increases. Yell succeeds yell, clamour rises upon clamour, and, indeed, the noise is so great that if a caution were fired in the church the report could scarce be heard. Presently the Bishop blinds out the fire. One man straggles to bear his lighted torch to the door of the church, *ere stands a fleet horse, on which he bears it with speed to the Greek converts at Bethlehem, others rush to different parts of the cli.r.h to supply their friends, and all eagerly etr. a to light their tapers as speedily as posathie. In a few minutes each one of the dense maltitude holds a lighted taper in his hand ; each person draws his hand across the and as it were thrusts it down his throat. Again and again he repeats the same art.on, and conveys it to every part of his bo iv. Women wash their arms and bosoms wti: it, and singe their children in their eu,.;erness to make them partakers of the holy fire. snd when they have made it lick them all r,,,ind as much as possible they fold the up per . in a white cloth brought for the perr.". which is hereafter to be their winding she .t. Such is the dreadful scene which year after year takes place around the spot where the Prince of Peace was laid in a peaceful tonab.  I:len—bare in England some carious customs have leen observed, but Uncle William has Dr" pule to tell you about one or two of OP 'l. In days gone by a curious custom was rely:ally kept up at University College, ()afore. called  CROPPING TEI atom A I:lock in the form of a long wooden decorated with flowers and everWas placed outside the door of the hall, leaning against the wall of the bi&ry opposite. As soon as dinner was over l'•:t9ter Day the cook and his attendant, dre ed in white jackets and white paper cam, toot! teir at on either side of the block, sa !,eitring a I,ewter dish. one supporting a  blunt chopping axe from the kitchen, the other in readiness for the fees expected on the occasion. As the members of the college came out of the hall each took the axe and struck the block with it, and then placed in the pewter dish the usual fee to the 000 k—the master's fee being half a guinea, and that of the fellows five shillings and sixpence. According to one tradition, anyone who could chop the block in two was entitled to lay claim to the college. Formerly at Twickenham on Easter Day