Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-04-13

resurrection. The season IL rs aus
picious as the occasion is great lhe
snrinp.time is upon US, and Is begin
ming to burst forth In silent vigor anu
delicious tenderness. Buds are max
ing green the branches; blossoms oil
rich hues shed over the fruit trees the
magic laughter of nature at the ae-
parture of winter; mimlcry Oh the
past in the outpouriDg beauty OF the
present, birds sing and flowers carpet
the prairies, and in the promise there
Is on earth and in heaven one heart
and atmosphere of gladness. Every
thing has burst into new life and the
breathing of the air is itself thanks
giving. Such are the circumstances
which have made Easter from the
most ancient times festival OF fullest
rejoicing. Long before the last great
charm was conferred on this season.
before Christ had walked the earth
with the humble, died with the SIN
ner, tenanted the tomb with the
myriad dead of all ages, and risen
ms the irst born of n new, a more glo-
rious creation-the mystery OF lie ana
resurrection had lowered about in the
spirit of prophecy and had furnished
the primitive nations with many a
significant symbol and rite. In Cath
ole counties Easter is celebrated with
great pomp and circumstance. Protes-
tants regard the fcasts associated with
the real and serious events ofthe sacred
history hardly less fondly than Cath
olics; and Christmas and Easter are
perhaps the two strongest of the great
! links which still make Christendom n
unity and bind together Us members of
one great brotherhood sects differing
from each other in opinion or worship,
and even in morality, almost as
widely as any of them differ from
other communities. This unity is no
mere sentiment-no insignificant or
imaginary fact. For ages it mitigated
among the most warlike nations the
horrors OF war, purified the principles
and strengthened the elevating influ-
ences of chivalry, prevented patriot
ism from becoming unsocial, exclusive
and bitter, and rendered possible that
common law of nations-those usages
and qualities whose recognition facili
tated the growth of civilization and
commerce. Like Christmas, the so.
cial value of Easter is as well estab
, lished as its religious significance. Nc
mere national festival can boast o
such surroundings. National festival:
/ generally celebrate victories won by
4 the sword; they are frequently the oc
t casion of rel oicing over, not with othe
h peoples, and have n tendency to foste
r exclusive feelings and arrogance thar
t generous sentiments. In Christian
o festivals we celebrate the consciousness
n of the common nature and interests 70
a time and eternity of the human race
b and thus the festival of casters as
q special function, stimulates an,
e strengthens. And like Christmas, toe
r. Easter is a time for giving comfort
e the poor. 1t calls forth the sympath
of the rich for the afflicted, and I'll
good will of the humble for the afllt
:, ent. 1t affords an opportunity f
something more than the CHART
-, which relieves severe physical wal
>" and suffering, for liberality and ger
-" ality are of the highest Importance
auxiliaries in charitable work. Apa
~ from It's highest attributes, Easter Gee
pies so real and so considerable pla
" in the life of individuals, Of famili,
- of society, that it would seem inco
sistent in journals which deal with a
important aspects of human eXisten
w to deliver a homily on the observanC
f of the day, or presume to remark
w those sectarian and dogmatic dispu
with which the feast of the resurr
w tion has been overlaid. NYe simI
recognize in Easter christian fe.
val most sacred and beautiful, and
~, terpret in the mystery of the wor
~, "He Is risen," the proclamation Il
' death was swallowed in victory q
~, the pledge of human immortality.
WI
Dng THERE are not many Democrats
en- North Texas standing by the T.
ure- thirds rule. We are all against 1t {
Ken, clog to the smooth working of no