The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-04-18
THE SPRING FESTIVAL.
THE DAY OBSERVED IN ALT. TIE
CHURCHES.
CUSTOMS ~ QUAINT OLD CHESTER.
HOW THE SPRING FESTIVAL WAS
cELEBRATRD IN ENGLAND.

1esieruay the Wuflu emerged from the /
gloom Of the Passion into the glory II
the Resurrection. The fearful glim-
mer Of the langnid dawn has been fol-
lowed BY the full blaze Of sunlight
falling on tender grass and budding
leaf and bursting flower, and whisper
ing Of the birth Of life and beauty,
while from vast cathedrals glowing |
with myriad lights, and humble
churches standing on bleak hillsides or
lonely moors, there comes the cxultant
cry: "The Lord is risen.''
There is nothing in human history |
around which more pathos and majes-
ty cluster than around that Life the |
elimination Of which Christendom
commentaries to-day. II began in a
manger. in helplessness and humility.
To greet il the Kings Of Orient urged
their camels along the sandy wastes,
and guided their steps BY one bright
star that hung over Bethlehem. As il
grew it tasted Of human sorrow, sound
ed all the depths Of human experience,
vibrated with love and sympathy, and
ended apparently on the hill Of Cali
vary.
Around the Life there have, been
woven the sweetest stories that have
ever charmed the ear Of childhood or
sootbed the querulousness Of age. Or
atory, music and art have been drawn
upon in all ages to picture lis mingled
pathos and majesty; and neither the
sceptic nor the scoffer has found ono
single blot in that marvellous career,
nor one flaw in either action or utter
ance in that transcendent drama IN
which the Christ was the central and
the heroic figure. The world has often
enough found faults in the followers
of the Man Of Nazareth, and has mag
nified flaws in His gospels; but Il has
been forced to confess, with plate.
that it finds no faults in the Man-not
one word, act or single gesture that
mars the majesty and the sweetness
of His divine humanity. The Charac-
ter which he claimed is without par
allel in human imagination. His life
would be inconceivable if il were not d
fact; and Rousseau, comparing His
death with that Of Socrates, says
ssSocrates died like philosopher, but
Jesus died like Cod The world
has in it more of sweetness and aifec-
ton now that it is lighted up by His
tenderness and love. If life be still
struggle, we feel that ii is not a strug-
gle for naught; that there has come d
new hope to humanity. and that "The
Lord is risen, indeed.
All the churches in the city were
handsomely decorated with flowers,
andappropriate sermons were delivered.
This is from the Washington Star:
"0ld Chester, in England, was q great
place for Easter games. There on
Easter Monday morning might be seen
a procession starting out for the Rood
eye to play the annual game Of foot
ball. The Rood-eye, where these
games were held, was meadow ont
side the wall by the river. Eye means
water side meadow. The rood or
cross, from which the meadow was
named, had been at Hawarden pre-
vious to its setting up at the eye.
Legend says Q man was killed by it, so |
in punishment the cross was thrown
into the river. It foated to Chester,
where It was dragged ashore and set
up. At first It is said to have perform
ed many miracles, but gradually be-
came regarded as less sacred, and was
used by school teachers as whipping
post for scholars. To this Rood-eye
came the mayor and corporation, with
the twenty guilds established in Ches-
ter. Under the cross the guild Of
presented the ball to the
mayor. He merrily set the bali a-roll-.
ing.
THE PEPPER GATE.
The women were not behind the men
in their sports, but had their game Of
football also by the Pepper gate. The
story has come to US Of a Mayor, busy
with the festivities at the Rood-eye,
while his daughter, taking advantage
Of the opportunity, ran away with her