The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-03-31

The week just closing has been solemn one
in the Catholic and Episcopal churches, 10
which the term "Holy' or "Passion" has been
applied because il is commemorative OF the sea
son Of Christs death. 1t is a week OF special
fasting by all good Catholics ana churchmen,
snd is usually celebrated by daily services in
both these churches and also the Lutheran
caurch The celebration Of the week beginning
with last Sunday-Palm Sundays almost as
old Christianity. and in the rituastic churches
is still observed with great pomp of ceremonial
Particularizing, Thursday, Holy Thursday, is
special day of the week. being the day on
which the eucharist was instituted. 1t is also
the beginning eff the Jewish "Pasch" or Passover
season which, in the Jewish church, lasted seven
days.
Yesterday, commonly called "Good Friday"
was the anniversary OF Chrsts DEATH AS Good
Friday is "moveable" fast it may be interest.
ing to review Herr Falb's "a German sdluntS)
calculation in fixing the true date of crucilixion.
lie calculated back the Jewish calendar to A. d.
81, and the result Of his researches fully con-
firms the facts recorded by the Eyangelists of
the wonderful physical events that accompanied
. the Crucifxion. Astronomical calculations
prove, without shadow of doubt, that on the
18th day of the Jewish mouth of Nissan april o.,
there was total eclipse Of the sun accompanied,
IN all probability, by the earthquake when "the
veil OF the Temple was rent in twain from the top
10 the bottom, and the earth did quake and the
rocks rent" (Matthcw xvii. 81, whilst st. Luke
describes the eclipse in these words: "And it
was about the sixth hour Or noon, and there
was darkness over all the land till the ninth
hour % o'clock r.M) and the sun was darkened."
duke xxi, ~ This mode of reckoning cor
responds perfectly with the result of another
calculation Herr Falb made by reckoning back.
ward from the great total eclipse Of April 90,
1915 allowing for the difference between the
Old anu New Styles, which also gives April as
the date OF the new moon in the year A. d. 81.
As the vernal equinox of that year fell on March
-, and the Jews ate their Easter Lamb and cele-
bratcd their EytJ PeSdch, or Feast of the Pass
Cver on the following new moon, it is clear that
april & was identical with Nissan II Of the jew.
Ssh calendar, which, moreover, was on Friday,
the Pardskerec or day of preparation FOR the
sabbath" and this agrees with the statements
Of the Evangclists, and also with the Hebrew
Talmud. Thus, by the united testimony Of as
tronomy, archaeology, tradition, and Biblical his.
tory, there can be but little doubt that the date
Of the Crucfyon was April 6, 4. y. 81
The services of thc day are appropriate, having
special reference TO the circumstances of the
death and entombment of Christ and are very
impressive, though most, or, at least, many, of
the concomltant customs of the old English
church have passed away. The Roman Catho.
lie and Greek churches still, however retain
many of these relics of "yc ancient times, - their
rituals containing highly elaborated cercmoni-
ais for the days services. In the Episcopal
church morning and evening services were held.
On to-day the Lenten fast of 40 days ends, and
tomorrow comes as the "Queen Festival Of the
Year." Easter, commemorative of the resurrec.
ton of Christ. The name is doubtless derived
from Astera or Eostrc, among the Teutonic
races the goddess Of spring, whose festival was
celebrated at this season, before the advent of
Christian missionaries among the Germans ard
saXons, by whom the heather festival was chang
cd to this the greatest feast Of the Christian
year In the early church there was a grave
controversy as to the proper day for the observ.
ance OF the festival, some adhcring to the date
of the Passover, the Nth day of the March
moon; Others adopting the Sunday following the
18th day, since Christ arose ON Sunday or the
first day of the week The controversy lasted
for about POO years, when it was finally settled
at the council of Nice in $40, by adopting the
rule which makes Easter Sunday to be always
the LIST Sunday after the full moon which happens
upon or next after March 81. So that Easter
comes between March ~ and April p.
Easter was always marked in the primitive
church by services Of great solemnity and Gevo' !
ton, and is still so celebrated in every part Of
the Christian world, though the so.eaed evan.
@eical churches denudcd 1t, in their observance |
Of it, of most of its lmpressiveness, So that in
this country the Catholic and Episcopal churches
only give their services character approximate |
ing the manner of its observance IN primitive |
days
In southern lands where flowers are abundant
the churches are most gorgeously decorated;
but in the north where, at the Easter season,
flowers are scarce and costly, only the richer
metropolitan churches are able to observe this
beautiful custom in manner satisfactory, some
OF them, or their members, spending thousands
Of dollars for costly flowers for the altar and
chanccl decorations.
The services at the Episcopal church Oh 10 |
morrow will be at 1880 A. NJ, to be followed by
the celebration Of the Lords Supper at 7:3O
p NJ The church will be as handsomely deco.
rated as the scarcity of flowers will admit Of,
~
.. HeCian { CO. have large stock OF boots
and SHOES of all grades which they sell at bat.
ON rates. Call and examine the goods