Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1886-04-24

Although the church has always been
united as to why Easter should be celebrated,
there ha been wide difference of opinion
as to when it should be 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 keep
their Passover-the 18th of Nisan-the He
brew month corresponding to our March or
April-while the churches of the west, in re-
membrance that Christ arose on Sunday, had
their festival on the Sunday following the
day observed by the eastern church. This
discussion was kept up until the time of Con-
stantine, who "a. D. $3.50 brought the subject
before the Ecumenical council of Nice, from
which time to this Easter Sunday has been
everywhere on one and the same day-the first
Sunday after the full moon which happens on
or next after the 21st of March; and if the full
moon comes upon a Sunday, Easter day is
the Sunday after This decision was in favor
of the western usage, that body holding that
the Sunday after the 18th of April was proper
for the commemoration of the resurrection of
Jesus Christ The introduction of the Gre
gorian calendar made some changes neces-
sary, and the ecclesiastical authorities at last
decided to regulate the time of Easter by the
moon-not, however, the actual moon, nor
what is called by astronomers the 'mean
moon, but an imaginary moon, whose move
ments are SO arranged that it follows the real
moon by some two or three days.
Easter, which is now preceded by Lent in
early days was introduced by fasting on one
day only-the Friday in Passion week, known
as Good Friday; by and by the time was ex-
tended to forty hours, in token that Christ
had lain that long in the tomb and from
this it was at last prolonged to forty days
the season of the temptation in the wider
mess The primitive Christians on the morn
ing of this day saluted each other with the
words, "Christ is arisen" to which the per-
son addressed answered, "Christ is arisen, in
deed and hath appeared to Simon" custom
which is still retained in the Greek church
Indeed" says eminent foreign writer,
"all the ceremonies attending the observance
of Easter were at first exceedingly simple,
but in the early part of the Fourth century
decided change was brought about Con-
stantine, naturally vain and fond of
parade, sgnalized his love of dis
play by celebrating this festival with
extraordinary pomp Vigils, or night
watches were instituted for Easter eve at
which the people remained in the churches
until midnight. The tapers, which it had
been before customary to burn at this time
did not satisfy his majesty, but huge pillars
of wax were used instead; not only in the
churches, but all over the city, were they
placed, that the brilliancy of the night should
far exceed the light of day. Easter Sunday
was noticed with most elaborate ceremonials,
the pope officiating at mass, with every i'm
posing accessory that could be devised
During the interval between Easter and
Pentecost, period of fifty days, the Chris
tians were not expected to pray kneeling,
for this attitude was considered as token of
humility, but rather with outstretched arms,
and faces looking to heaven, at this season,
when only songs of joy and gratitude were
expected. Both Easter and Pentecost Sun
day were accounted fortunate days on which
to baptize children, and the interval lying
between these days as favorable for mar.
riapes