Feet Laved

An example set by Jesus Christ was followed, last week, by their Most Catholic Majesties, King Alfonso and Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain.

As a preliminary they summoned to the Royal Palace in Madrid a starveling rabble of beggars from among whom were chosen by lot 13 men and 13 women. Soon the lucky 26 had their feet washed. Queen Victoria Eugenie laved the feet of the women. King Alfonso attended to the men.

Thus was symbolized the act of Christ in washing the feet of his Apostles. As recorded by Apostle John,* the procedure of the Savior was as follows:

He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel and girded himself.

After that he poureth water into a basin and began to wash the disciples' feet and to wipe (them) with the towel wherewith he was girded. . . .

So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?

Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. . . .

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. . . .

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. . . .

Though Their Majesties did not gird themselves with towels, last week, they were deemed to have imitated acceptably an act of greatest sanctity. The day annually observed in this manner by Spanish sovereigns is Maundy Thursday, so-called from the Latin mandatum (commandment) referring to the "new commandment" given by the Savior.

*St. John XIII: 4, 5, 12, 13, 16, 34.