The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-04-03

EfrFMawP A.N|a '"N ~ - w |
tEt AG{N were devoted to com
25s Il 4S memorative festivals of
y ID the occasiou-Easter
S1 All the churches were
specially decorated with beautiful spring
flowers and plants for the occasion and the
services were of a most impressive character
To some who may have forgotten some of
their early teachings, or have but a dim
recollection of them, a few historical and
religious facts may be interesting, Some of
these facts are really not generally known,
and while many may know the approach Of
Easter and know it is an occasion of special
religious festivities, they are ignorant of the
true import of the occasion. As one clergy.
man remarked yesterday, there are many
who look upon Easter day as solely the
opening day for spring styles.
The name Easter is probably derived from
the Tcutonic goddess of spring, Osteran, or
Oestrc, whose festival occurs about the same
time as the observance of Easter. 1t was not
until the fourth century that there was am
regularity about fixing the date of Easter
Sunday. Those Of the early Christians who
believed the Christian Passover to be a
commemoration of Cbrist's death adhered to
the custom of holding tbe Easter festival ON
the day prescribed for the Jewish pasch, the
fourteenth day of the first month that is,
| the lunar month. Of which the fourteenth
dav either falls on or next after tbed sv nj
the vernal equinox.
But most of the Cbristion churches attach
ing greater importapcc 70 the dov or Cbrist,s
! resurrection. held to Faster heinz celebrated
on the sunday which f,IIou,od tbo forrtoou+l
dav of the moon of March tbe dav ON which
| Christ uttered
This difference was finally settled nv +bc
Council of Nice in the wear 325 The rnIe
then adopted i stiu in force Easter is al.
WAYS the Sunday after the fuu moon which
bapnens on or next after March 9th,
vernal equinox. Bv this ARRANGEMENT Easter
NAV come as early as March % or as late q,
AnriI "a
However. Yesterday was tbe recopnized
Easter Sunday and fine Christian cburcbe.
recognized il as spcb amono them fine
| Trinity Reformed church nj, West Tloyd
street the nnIpit of which u,.s docor,tog
with many ~eapfirlI nIgpts and G,,,ar.
among them some handsome lilies Tho ar
tendance was LARGE Rev O,povIo tb.
@nasfor nreacbe} q bricr bpt exceedingly in
t@erestinp sermon ON the commcmoration q.
fine resurrection Of Christ takipu his tevt
from Matt XVIII. 6-"He is NOT here f,
He is risen AZ He said After tba sermon
Rev O,Rovle administered tbe sacra mont ot
Holy Communion to the CONGREGATION and
the catecbumens and new members, number
ing over thirty. The number of communi-
cants during the morning and evening ser.
vices was the largest in the history of III,
church and the Faster offering of the con.
grepation was also very large. If will he
devoted to home missions. Another inter.
%estinp note is that tbe catecbeticaI class nre.
sented Rev. O,BovIe last evening with q
nurse of $40
81 Tobn,s German Trtberan church ON
West Cherry street was also the SCENE of q
verv interasting and imnressiye Fast,r
ceremonies Yesterday morning and last
eyeriro The altar and nrInit were loaded
dawn with beautifuI floral oflerings which
+brav ont a doIiciors rrogrance The morr.
inc services were esneciallv imnressive Rev
robn Gr,bIer nreacbed an evceIIer+ sormo,
ON toyt from, NorL WV "a Tho 40.
liyorv was in German The choir rrdor tbe
condrctorsbin Of prof zoitz Wien Nil.
lC,rrio Roirr,an 90 orcorist rordorad com,
sorl irsniring music The rerditior ot
Prof. Wouberger's "JauChzct GOtt in allen
Landen" was certainly grand and while the
collection was being taken mp the new and