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54
XEW ORLEAXS ILLUS1RATED.
GOOD FKIDAY
is a church holiday, and by the laws of our State, a dies non. It is very rigidly kept by the Episcopalians and Catholics, and is observed in a greater or less degree by other Christian denominations. The ceremony among Catholics of visiting the churches, which is very generally participated in, forms an interesting feature of the day.
FIliST OF NOVEMBER.
On this day the several cemeteries are visited and the tombs decorated with garlands, evergreens and lloral oit'erings. It is observed by nearly all our people, of every religious denomination, and the “ cities of the dead ” are thronged from early morning until night. A beautiful custom which marks the day, is the giving of alms in aid of the different Orphan Asylums, to receive which, delegations from these institutions sit at the different cemetery gates, and attract the attention of visitors by their continuous rapping on their collection plates. Many elegant tombs are to be seen in our burying grounds, which are, on this day, especially worthy of a visit.
There are other holidays, of recent creation, but they would present few interesting features to strangers.
^==4)HERE are few cities in the Union that can boast of so great a number of -YrK'? magnificent churches as New Orleans.
All denominations of Christians vie with each other in their efforts to make their houses of worship beautiful, stately edifices, worthy of their sacred purposes, while those of the faith of Abraham show their devotion to the ancient religion of their fathers in the profuse and chaste ornamen-® tation of its temples.
Settled under the auspices of Catholics, the first church ever erected within the limits of Louisiana was a Catholic church, the old
CATHEDRAL ST. LOUIS.
Fronting 011 Jackson square, this ancient, sacred edifice stands a link between the far past and the present time, an object alike of veneration and curiosity. This famous building is the third erected 011 the same site. The first Cathedral, a wooden and adobe structure, was built sometime between the years 1718, the date of the establishment of New Orleans, and 1723, as in the latter year, the fearful hurricane that swept over the city spreading desolation in its path, destroyed the “ Cathedral and many other buildings of great worth and value.” The second edifice was built of brick about 1724 or ’25, aud was the place where the worshippers gathered till 1788. On Good Friday, March 21st, of that year, the sacred house was again destroyed; this time by tire. As in the former case, the Cathedral fell amid the almost general ruin of the city, for the conliagra-