Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-03-29

\Nlk A'.S
FASTER has been called the Queen Of
Church Festivals, and there is no festival as
eociatod with the Christian era whose lite
rature-legendary NEUROLOGICAL histori-
cal. and roligious--is more interesting.
There is no day in tho Christian calendar
Hhoso customs. ecclesiastical and social.
ure more symbolic. Much has been written
a. to the origin Of the name. and there
have been learned pathological discus
fions on that point. There, how
ever. seems TO be 10 question now
that il was derived from the title of the
oh Britain goddess Eostre. whose festival
81 about the same time as the commence
rnt1n of the resurrection. Efforts have
I'm made to show that the word is the
couiyalent of 0crist, the Anglo-Sa1on for
resurrection. but this contention Is mill
,a'rd against 10y Elfrc in the declaration,
"Ne the Christians. do celebrate the re-
trfr.ctiln Of Christ at Easter-tide during
IT,. seven days" In the original both
"Crst and Easter" are used.
IEBsoNWlcATIos or MORNING.
fr.lcltion Of morning and the East and
AS uf tie opening of the spring. The
,,.,.nip of her had strong hold upon the
bouts ara the minds of the people ofNorth
Germany. and was brought to England by
g.. Anglo-Saxons. with whom JOY at the
nr of the natural sun became Joy at the
rn.0f the sun of Righteousness. and who
Incorporated upon the Easter festival many
innocent Pagan customs. However, the
Transition carried with it nothing of orien-
htou savo that the Christian churces were
frequently built on the ruins of the pagan
baruc'.
~ TIE PRIMITIVE CHURCH.
u tho Primitive Church the ecclesiasti-
Cd wear began with Easter, and vigils and
IL .lt-watches were held in the churches
a.il dazzling display of lights. In the
j. .rrn Church this custom has never
been allowed to die out, and up to the be-
ginning If the present century in North
Cm Germany immense bontres were part
q. thc Easter commemoratiOn.
SIS we'll known Easter-Sunday is day
g. flowers with the Catholics, Lutherans.
and Epscopalans, and with the exception
81 few dioceses OF the latter in this
country including the Virginia diocese, the
churches are deliberately dressed with the
saIe.t Of buds and blossoms. But as a
tllc chief among the flowers
The stately lilies stand,
Fair in The silvery light;
like sanity vestals, pale in prayer,
Their pure breath sanctines the air,
Asi,s fragrance ILLS the night.
These floral offerings are typical OF the
ItW hfe that bursts forth IN spring.
rAsrIK AND THE OLD DEFAMATION.
As regards the connection of Easter with
81 old dispeusation Blunt in his Diction-
az q Doctrinal and Historical Theology
s.r.. Pastor IS connected with the cere-
ponies Of The jewish law AS antique with
tl.. n Is tho direct consequence OF a
f.na.hcll nntecedent. the final cause OF Oil
W4.OrdAlued for the service OF the sane
t..v " old. But there Is one typical rite
DBL t.c aw more significant than the rest,
C..-ucd 10 predgure the historical event
q. Faster morn, and represented before the
To-. veil OF the temple at the very time
tl4t the ussn Lord appeared TO HIS Disci:
e-. the wave sheaf of the second day OF
g.. Iasclal week.. e., on the trst Lord's
Cn.li tie tcrrOrs OF Calvary had caused
}. interruption of the stated service III
to temple. Doubtless this coincidence
t.rCested the words of st. Paul, Now IS
(.r,t risen from the dead and become the
lis. fruits of them that slept Tho wave
fhUli was of the first fruits OF the harvest
ard was offered in the temple on the day
g. our Lords resurrection. For fifteen
hundred years II had been perpetual
utoi Ot our Easter"
4 MoRAyIAS EASTER.
description of the services in the
Cih0hc, Lutheran, and Episcopal churches
g. tNchmond to-day would present nothing
Low Q. the readers of the DISPATCH, as they
Wi nc OF the usual order. The music IN
p. as shown 10y the programmes that
have already been published IN this paper,
W. he of a Joyous character. lester-
Niy, however, in cOnversing with the hev.
Tau. J.. Menzel, pastor of st. Johns Ger
tal Lutheran church, q DTsPATcH repre-
sentative was gwen o picture OF the man
ar OF celebrating Easter in the Moravian
tt't.rmouts OF Germany, which was ex-
tvriug.y interesting.
Nowhere la the world. Rome ex-
tttad.' said Mr.. Mcneil. ARE the suffer-
il-, aid death of our Lord celebrated IN
> oppressive manner as III the Mora
Van churches OF Germany. The celebra-
u D, grand in its simplicity. On the
Ssturlay before Palm Sunday the con-
hon W the day consists of the reading OF
lie n.uatiye Of Bethany, where Mary an
Siir4 our Lord with precious OIL On
IAN sunday q Characteristic feature OF the
Service Is confirmation. During the whole
Service the children take an active part
til lu the reading of the history, when
tLe children Of Jerusalem are mentioned
a. singing praise TO the Saviour, all toe llt,
oues ARISE and join IN beautiful
Aosanaa.
Daring Holy Week service IL held every
evening, and the history of tho day is read
tIe congregation at intervals singing
i'lns, and what is remarkable. they know
l1rr hymn-b0ok by heart. The minister
Ntle reading will start tho verse OF any
g. An De may think appropriate, the organ
Eii immediately take 1t up IN the same
ae,, and the congregation will Join IN.
4he muslc. both vocal aud instrumental.
= maguihcent.
TIE COMMUNION.
On Green Thursday" services are held |
~ ., II. and o'clock, and in the evening. |
tAeTe Is general celebration OF the CON- |
hanion. The men sit apart from the wo- |
iien. Al the communion the minister. sc- |
eo'apanied by number Of assistants, male |
sad female. enters the church. All are |
dressed in long, lowing garments OF . 70. |
'ahar shape, and they bear with them the |
COMMUNION clements After the elements |
are eonsecrated and set apart the waters
ere distributed. Zach member Of the con- |
aiegation holds his wafer in bishand until
signal is given. then al cat together aud |
Drop on their knees IN silent prayer. The |
cups are then passed from hand 70 hsads |
ana during TIE singing Of . hymn the min.
Ater makes q sign, and each eo9nunioant
embraces his OF Der neighDos BON %