tive Christians; and succeeding generations have adopted it as a memorable day. Protestants hold it in remem brance in honour of our Mediator Jesus Christ; while the Catholics, who admit of a plurality of intercessors between God and man, observe the day expressly in honour of the Virgin Mary, to whom personally and individually they address their supplications. It is, therefore, more commonly called Lady-day; but being one of the quarterly divisions of the year, it is more remembered from the circumstance of rents, &c. becoming due, than from any particular religious observance.

CHARLES. Is not the Thursday in this week called Maundy Thursday, and the day on which you said the penitents, who had been excluded from the church on Ash Wednesday, were permitted to return?

MR. CONSTANCE. Yes, it is; and I am pleased to find that you remember what you hear.

CHARLES. Pray what is the meaning of the term Maundy?

MR. CONSTANCE.

It is taken from the Latin, and

signifies" a command." This day was formerly called. the Day of command, because it was that on which our Saviour himself appointed the remembrance of his suffering to be observed by Christians for ever; and after having himself washed the feet of his disciples, he gave them his command that they should love one another, as he had loved them.

MRS. CONSTANCE. Which is an excellent precept, delivered in few words, and easy to be remembered. It would be a happy thing for the whole world, if this simple but divine command were engraven on our hearts, and made the constant rule of our practice in every engagement of life. I hope, my dear children, you may all be guided by it.

CHARLES. Is the day still held in reverence?

MR. STANLEY. Yes, it is: the practice of washing the feet was long observed in England, more especially in the monasteries, when liberal donations were made to the poor in clothing, victuals, and money; and although that custom has been long dispensed with, the usual gifts are bestowed upon as many poor persons as the King has reached years of age, every Maundy Thursday, in Whitehall Chapel, by the King's almoner. They consist of woollen and linen cloth, shoes, stockings, five threepenny loaves each, salt salmon, cod and herrings, wooden cups, of ale and wine; and lastly, a piece of gold, and as many silver pennies to each individual as the monarch has numbered years. In Catholic countries, however, the washing of feet is still common: it was also the second ceremony which I saw performed at Moscow. It was in the cathedral church, which was crowded with spectators, the priests being dressed in their most gorgeous apparel. Every thing being ready, twelve monks stood forward, when this ceremony, added to many others, was actually performed by the archbishop.

ANGELINA. The desire of seeing the Pope of Rome wash the pilgrims' feet, give the benediction, and perform the other numerous rites of this season of church festival, attracts immense crowds to the magnificent St. Peter's. Lady Morgan characterises them as extremely grand and imposing, and which leave all other church ceremonies of Christendom far behind.

MR. CONSTANCE. To perform the ablution in the cold climate of Russia, appears to me to savour more of affected than of real piety. The example afforded by our Saviour of humility and kindness to his apostles, was in strict conformity to the usage of the people among whom he passed his time upon earth and in those countries where it was usual to wear but a mere sandal on their feet, and frequently not even that, the washing

after a journey was necessary for the purposes of cleanliness and refreshment; and when done by the master or host, was considered as a mark of hospitality and respect. It is the common custom of the Eastern nations to this day.

ARTHUR. Is not Good Friday the anniversary of Christ's crucifixion?

WILLIAM. It is so; and properly considered in this country, a day of extraordinary devotion. All business is suspended, and church service performed. From the earliest period of Christianity it has been held as a solemn fast, and when first instituted it was known by the term Holy Friday. Our Saxon ancestors denominated it Long Friday, from the length of the offices and fastings on that day; but its appellation of good, applied in reference to the blessed effects which sprang from the event celebrated, is of modern origin, and peculiar to the church of England.

MR. STANLEY. In the Catholic church an appropriate service, called Tenebræ (darkness), is performed on Holy Friday, as also on the preceding and succeeding days. It is in reference to that supernatural darkness which overspread the earth at our Lord's passion. In these services much solemnity is observed; and at the conclusion, the lights being extinguished, a solemn silence ensues throughout the church; when suddenly a tremendous noise is heard, to represent the rending of the veil of the temple. The music upon this occasion, as performed in the Sistine chapel at Rome, is the most imposing that can be imagined, and of a solemn and soothing cast; and when the last light is extinguished, and the last strain of the mineret dies away, the people make their way to St. Peter's, which, in the evening, is the place of general That mighty temple is illuminated by a cross of flame, suspended from the cupola; the hundred lamps

resort.

which burn day and night round the sepulchre, are on this occasion extinguished; and the scene altogether has an awe-inspiring effect on the mind.

ARTHUR. Why do we eat hot cross-buns on this day, papa?

MR. CONSTANCE. It is a fragment of a superstition of our forefathers, my dear; who probably first received the practice from the custom among the Greeks, who used to make presents of coloured eggs, and cakes of Easter-bread, at this season. Many explanations have been given in reference to the interchange of eggs. It has been attributed to the Romans, who used to have egg-games about the time of our Easter; when they ran races in an oval, egg-shaped ring, the victor receiving eggs as his prize. Others allege that the custom was borrowed from the Jews, who, at their passover, set on the table two unleavened cakes, and two pieces of the lamb, to which they added fish, hard egg, and meal. But the custom of changing eggs is now little observed in this country, while that of eating cross-buns is almost universal. cross upon them is symbolical of the crucifixion. But the ceremonies of Easter, anciently called the Great Day, and the Feast of Feasts, now demand our notice: be pleased, William, to inform us of its origin.

The

WILLIAM. The festival of Easter took its birth from the paschal feast of the Jews; for the first Christians retained many of the Mosaic customs and celebrations, but in the sequel either abolished them altogether, or rendered them typical of some remarkable occurrence in the annals of their religion. The derivation of our English name of Easter we are warranted in tracing back to our Saxon ancestors, who called the feast the "Oster fest:" the word "ost" signifying the east, in which quarter the sun rises; and being the more suitable designation, since Scripture acquaints us that our Saviour, very early in the

morning, when it was yet dark, had risen from the grave." Hence it became a common rule on Easter-day to rise before the sun; and, indeed, the early Christians were accustomed to devote the night preceding it to prayers and thanksgivings, until the time of cock-crow, which they conceived to be the time of Christ's resurrection. And when these nocturnal observances fell into disuse, it became the custom to rise early, and spend the morning in pious devotions and walking in the fields. But this custom, as well as many of pomp and parade, have now entirely ceased.

MR. STANLEY. Yes, in this country they have; but in Russia the festivity is still observed, and is certainly a magnificent ceremony; one that I could have had no adequate conception of, without having been a spectator. On the

midnight previous to Easter Sunday, the great bell of the cathedral was tolled. Its reverberations on the air seemed like the rolling of distant thunder, and they were instantly accompanied by the ringing of all the bells in Moscow. Every inhabitant was stirring; and the rattling of carriages in the streets was greater than that at noon-day. The whole city seemed in a blaze; for lights were placed in all the windows, and innumerable torches were seen in the streets. The tower of the cathedral was illuminated from its foundation to its cross. I learned that the grand ceremony would there take place. I hastened to it, and it was soon filled with a prodigious number of all ranks and both sexes, bearing lighted wax tapers, to be afterwards placed as vows upon the different shrines. When all the congregation had assembled, the doors were shut; and on the outside appeared the archbishop, preceded by banners and torches, and followed by his train of priests, with crucifixes and censers. They made three times the tour of the cathedral, in procession; chanting with loud voices, and glittering in vestments of gold, silver, and