Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-03-31

some of the religious denominations d
not look upon it MS so important festl
val rs others. it is considered by all
glorious flowery festival and an occasio
of great rejoicing. The Lenten seaso
commemorating the forty days fast i
the wilderness is past. YesterdaY-G
Friday-w was the day OF crucifixion. To
morrow. the third day, commemorate
the rising from the dead.
Easter is a movable feast Easter, ac
cording to church ritual, sis always tn
first Sunday after the full moon, whic
happens upon or next after March CLAM
If the full moon happens upon Sunday
Easter day is the Sunday after" Tbi
is the ruling which regulates Easter
called by the church the festival of th
resurection-originally the festival o
the Passover-the passover including tn
whole interval between the cruclfixion o
Christ and his resurrection. original.
there was a feast of the Lentonic goodies
Ostera, the goddess of spring (whenc,
comes our Anglo Saxon Easter)
The festival was introduced by prepa
ratory fasting. Some tasted one da!
| some two, some forty hours, that is tn,
forty hours during which Jesus was sup
| posed TO have been Il tenant of the tomb
Later the time was extended to forty
days, in imitation of Chrst's fast of forty
days in the wilderness. Hence cam,
Lent, which, in its present form, embrac
ing a period of forty days, cannot be
traced back beyond the end of the SIKH
century
With the old, but not the Oldest chris
tians' the resurrection was all in all-or
| it the truth of christianity rested. Christ
rose, the vaDquishcr of death and hell
the first born from the dead; the begin
ming Of the new spiritual creation. Ligh,
came out of darkness, as in material crea
tion. From night all things came. The
festival was called the "salutary" festival,
the "kingly day." the day of vic ory,
the "crown and head of all festivals"
MODES OBJ CoMMEMoRATIoN.
The egg, symbol of unrevealed life, in
all ages and every country has been the
subject of poetical myths and legends.
In France and Germany the custom Of
offering eggs at the Easter festival is so
old that its origin is lost. The Russians
and Jews also give Easter eggs. while the
Persians present them at the beginning
of the new year. With the Romans the
year commenced at Easter, as it did
among the Franks under the Capets.
Mutual presents were bestowed, and as
the egg is the emblem of the beginning
of all things, nothing better could be
found as an offering. The symbolic
meaning is not to be misunderstood.
Eggs are the germs of fecundity and
abundance, and we wish our friends all
the blessings contained within its slender
shell when we offer the gift. whose frail,
ity represents that of happiness here
below.
In some remote districts of France it is
still customary for the priest of the parish
to 60 round to each house at Easter and
bestow on it his blessing. In return he
receives eggs both plain and painted.
The idea Of fabricating imitation eggs
in sugar and pasteboard is of compara>
lively modern origin, and was brought
into life by the genius of trade. In both
France and Germany their manufacture is
au important source of traffic. In Paris,
that city which Beranger says is "full of
gold and misery" the splendoIs of the
Easter eggs are almost fabulous. Once
a Partisan house furnished, as present
for the infanta of Spain, an egg which
cost nearly $4,000. 1t was formed of
white enamel; on the inside was engraved
the gospel for Easter day; and by an in-
genous mechanism a little bird, lodged
in this pretty cage, sang twelve airs from
as many fashionable operas.
The designs for Easter eggs in Paris |
are more numerous than the flowers of
the field, and more unique and beautiful
than the dreams of a barbaric king |
Eggs, eggs everywhere-eggs unkroken,
eggs opened and revealing wonders with
in, eggs transported on the shoulders of
fairies, eggs decorated in every conceiva'
BILE style and made of every conceivable
Easter in American cities is commem
grated by the sound of bells, the pealing
Of organs, the fragrance and beauty of
numberless flowers; the blossoming out
Of bevies of spring bonnets like beds of
crocuses; thousands of dainty cards stuff
ing fat the bags of the letter carriers;
of florists cleaning with tall
white lilies; toy shops filled with lIfe-like
rabbits; fluffy chickens and nests of eggs,
ieghting the eyes of children.
IN ROCK IsLAND.
In the churches tomorrow the occasion
will be glsdsome one. In the
Episcopalan and Catholic it will be a
important day. The church
IS will be profusely decorated, and the
music and general services in keeping
With the day.
AT the First NJ. E. church tomorrow
morning will be Missionary Offering
Day." when the children are expected TO