Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-04-25

Although the church has always been
united a. Ia why Faster should b,. crlrbrat.d.
there has been wide Difference Of opinion
a. to when it should le Observed This con
troversy grew out of a diversity Of custom
the Judaizing Christians keeping their pas
chal feast on the same day the Jews ktSI,
their Passover I4th Of Nisan-tht He
brew month currt~pDndng TO our Marrh or
April-w hil,' the churches Of the west in re
membrane that Christ arosc ON Sunday, had
their festival on the Sunday following the,
lay observed 10y the eastern church This
discussion was kept up until the time Of Con
tantine who A d. - brought the SuEj-ct
aefore the ECumenical council Of Nice, from
hiCh time to this Easter SUNDAY has ben
verywheTr ON one and the same dav the first
sunday after the full moon which happens on
ruext after thr 2lst OF Marnh and if the full
noon comes upon Sunday. Easter day i
the Sunday after This decision was in favor
f the western usage. that body holding that
he Sunday after the 18th Of April was proper
for the cnmnemoratIon Of the resurrection of
.T,SuS Christ. The introduction Of the Gre.
-nrian calendar made some changes nc,r-S-
~Iry. and the ecclesiastical authorities at last
leci led 10 regulate the time Of Et>ter by the
uoOn-not, however, the actual moon, nor
What Is called 10y astronomers the mean
noon, but an imaginary moon. whose mov-
nen's arr arranged that it follows the real
nool by some two or three DAYS
Ea ter, which is now preceded by Lent, in
arly days was introduced 10y fasting on one
iay Only-th" Friiay IN Passion week known
Eli. .l..
rnded to forty hours, in token that Christ
lad lain that long in the tomb, and from
his it was at last prolonged to forty days-
the season # the temptation in th, wilder
ness The primitive Christians on the morn
.ug Of this day saiut.d each other with the
words. Christ j. arisen. 10 which the per
~nn 'ddr,-S~.,d answered. Christ Is arisen. in
Iced and hath apIearesl 10 Simon" a custom
who Is sill retained in the Gr~.k church
Ind +'d. SAYS an eminent foreign writer
all the ceremonies attending the olr>,'rvanct.
# Easter We're al first exceedingly simple,
Tut in the early part Of the Fourth century
a decided change WAS brought about. Con-
stantnr, naturally vain and fond Of
ara ie signalz-i his love Of dis
play 10y celebrating this festival with
extraordinary pomp Nigils. or night
ato les, wer,. instituted for Easter eve, at
whioI the People remained in the churche,
until midnight, The tapers, which it had
zen before customary to burn at this time,
I'D not satisfy his majesty, but huge pillars
( wax wrrr used instead: not only in the |
.huIcbes hut all over the city. were they |
placed, that the hrillianCv of the night should |
ar exceed the light Of day Faster Sunday |
was noticed with most elaborate ceremunials, |
the pOPe officiating at mass, with every i'm |
losing accessory that could be devised
During the interval b+tween Easter and ,
Fentecust, a period of fifty days. the Chris
tlans were not expected TO pray kneelng. |
Tor this attitude was considered a. a token Of |
humility, but rather with outStretched arms,
and faces looking to heaven, at this saason,
when only songs Of joy and gratitude were
Npected. Both Easter and PemtecuSt sun
LAY were accounted fortumat.. days Oh which
t." baPtize ch ldrrm. and the interval living
letween these days as favorable for mar
rIageS