Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-04-06
EASTER SENTIMENTS.
HISTORY AND TEACHINGS OF THIS
GREAT CHURCH FESTIVAL.
Interesting Contributions on This Subject
from Distinguished Ciergymen oil
Various Denominations.

This is Easter morn; the day OF DAYS,
Che contamination and crown of past sor-
rows and the great festival Of the resur-
rection.
In the churches where il is to he observed
Tho air ia ladened with the perfume OF
lilies and roses; tho sunlight OK the
awakening spring softoued by the stained
class windows streams in upon happy
faced congregations and triumphai music
and the most impressive services make
the occasion worthy OF the great events
which are thus commemofateu.
uroS TUE STREETS.
After the morning services the churches
cmptv into tho streets the great thfohg OF
worshippers, and the principal thoroueh-
faros show a brilliant scene in which bright
sacos snring flowers. and CAV toilets are tho
striking features. Even those 10 whom the
name Faster bears no special slgnihcance
GO along the streets with holiday faces ana
pleasant exchange of greetings, feeling the
influence of the general rejoicing. Au 9u-
ring tho preceding week there is an uh9el-
current OF expectation, OF knowledge tnat
the gloom is but temporary, so that the
contrast Of the bright Easter IS even moIe
strongly emphasized.
THIS PRECIOUS DAY.
As 10 the history and teachings OF the
day: as 10 tho customs that preNai IN WY
churches. and the sentiments mat rtevah
among the people o. diuerent uch9ul LII,
sjons the DisDGfch has been favored wlth
contributions written 90 ITS rcouestl oy
nromineut CITY clergvmcn. Here we nave
a proupinQ % the ideas that OBTAIN Win
yarious churches To some Easter -
specially sacred day; 70 others u Is o49I
one OF the Sabbaths of the. year; Dut al
the writers speak OF il and its observance
with that respect due from one To another
body of Christian wOrshlppers.
vALuAp1r INFORMATION.
In this way we have pretty glimpse OF
church history and OF variations OF
oninion with respect 10 the festival. to-
cstSer with some expression of the JOY
that fills the hearts Of those 70 Whom
Faster comes radiant with cladness, nope,
and faith. and who feel Ike ealuung all
whom thov meet n did many of the Chris
''' a. The lord is Rise',"
and hear the ecstatic response:
"Yea. T,qiV. lie is Risen"
Following are the contributions;
Bishop Van de Vyyer.
Anong ali the people Of the world
wherever the BLESSINGS Of the Cross are dli-
fused Easter, the solemn Anniversary OF the
resurrection, IS celebrated. None remain
indifferent. UnbelieycTs, even. feel that IL
is Easter. season Of JOY. FROM me re-
hottest part Of the universe comes 10 us on
This blessed dav the happy Allelula, thelm-
mortal hail Of the Church 70 the 1,sen "a
yiOur. We cry out with Moses, stahdluS
on the banks Of the Red Sea, WHO'S Ike
TO Thee among the strong. q LordE Z"
OUR PASSOVER.
Faster ie an awe-inspiring day. 20 the
enemies of the Lord the glory OF the ke-
deemer triumphing over death fore-
shadows the MAJESTY OF MS Jua. ~ oi De- ~
day of Judgment. Faster means the tass-
over of the Lord. The avenging angel has
I'm Gods name travcrsed the land OF Egypt
and in the early morning th first born OF
men and animals ~ struck down. Great
was the sorrow of Gods enemies, OUT mae
scrlbable the JOY OF the lsraehtos. Whon
the Lord. after the offering OF the Paschal
lamb. constructed under the guidance or
His all-powerful arm INTO the lahd Oh
Christians. you who seek and love the
crurifed Jesrs fear not. Come TO the
blessing of Easter approach the fountains
of peace and 10Y which flow abundantly IN
the house of the Lord. Taste consolation
after the DAYS Of sorrow. Experience now
dis mercy.
DAY or LIGHT.
Hail early dawn Of Sunday, dav of light:
The divine soul OF the Redeemer, adOred
bv the SANITY patriarchs. leaves the bosom
al Abraham, enters INTO the tomb, and
takes possession Of the Divine BODY, trans
forminq n into the glory OF immortal IT,.
The Redeemer rises through tne stone
senled tomb. HIS five wounds emit da1-
Cling rays of light. lis Majesty shlhes rs
The sun. Hetriumphs as the immortal hing
of Life.
O. Death, whereas thy victorv? Q. Death;
where is thy stingg Jesus hes destroyed
your kingdom, and we, his friends are
freed from the slavery of sin. We know
that our Redeemer lyeth, risen never 70
die any more, and in that belief we cherlsh
the pleasing hope that the grave VIII De 10
SIS the beginning OF new ana eNei4asiin"
life.
JESUS II HIS GLORY.
Who can describe the feelings of Mary
when her Divine son appeared to her on
Taster-SnndaV morning. st the foot Of
Che cross her maternal heart was stepped
ip a sea of sorrow. Now she beholds her
Jesus in the majesty of His glory. She en-
sovs n foretaste of the bliss awaiting her
In the kingdom of Heaven. o, happy Re
eurrection, which will take us one DAY 10
that ravishipg sight IN the land OF the
elect.
don MS. but remain with u always. Our enc
mos are numerous and powerful. Thou
art our strength. We walk IN dark WAYS
In this valley o. tears; the evening OF our
life is fast approaching. MAY the hght OF
Thy Resurrection be our cOnsolauon, our
low May 1t guide our footsteps III tue
paths OF peace.
Rev. j. Il Funston. of Christ's Episcopal
Church.
yesterday is not only observed as On I'M
portant period in the occles astical year
of large number of Christians, but IL mas
become a landmark in the march oi time
for people of all classes and creeds. 1t
NAV not be uninteresting, therefore. Just at
this time TO speak OF its origin and OF
some Of the associations that are connect
ed with it.
The word Easter is Of Saxon origin, and
probably was derived from Eostre, Q
heather goddess whose feast was celebrated
about this time of the year. III the carry
Church the day had the more appropriate
designation of the Feast OF tho l.esurrec-
ZION. and Il seems pity that tins suggos-
tive name should ever have been changed.
1t has also been called the Queen OF Iestl-
walls, the Royal Day OF Days. The obser'
vance of the period to commemorate cur
IOrd'S rtSOri etblon AltfH butA " VIZ WIN
of the apostles. Polycarp, bishop OF Smyr
ma "a. d. 1900, told Anicetus, tishop OF
Rome, that he had celebrated tho feast IL
the presence of the Apostle John. AS Poly
carp was martyred when eighty-six and as
ST. John lived 20 be nearly one hundred
years ola this was a credible statement.
ANCIENT CONVENTIONS.
In the early Church fierce theological
discussions beat furiou,ly around this
peaceful and joyous day. The point OF
Ibis controversy was concerning the exact
day for the feast. The Eastern Churches
lying principally in Asia. contended that
regardless Of the day of the wOek the crucl
6xion of Christ must be celebrated on the
llth Nissan, the time Of the jewish Pascha
feast, and two DAYS after. on 10th Nissan
the Feast of the Resurrection was to be DO
served. In the Western Church II wa
argued that tine DAYS of the week must b'
taken into consideration as well as th'
annual return of the 14th Nlsan, so that
when this the Paschal feast day dlc
not fall on Friday the first Friday
thereafter was taken TO commemorate
the crucifxon and the Lords day
following was called Easter day. The
A ia cnfA LODI