The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
THE EASTER FESTIVAL.
HTsToRr or 1HE COS1ROvERsY IN
ESTABLISHING me DATE.
The Difference Christians OF Jew
ish and GENTLE Descent a. to the
lime Of It's Observance.
" An hail the power of Jesus' name,
Lot angels PROSTATE fan:
Bring forth the royal diadem.
And crown Him Lord OF all"

AN hail the power NJ Jesus' name,
Lot angels PROSTATE fail:
Bring forth the royal diadem.
And crown Him Lord OF all"
To-day is Easter. tie annual festival
observed throughout Cfristendom in com-
memoration Of the resurrection Of our
Lord. Jesus Christ. Thousands and mil
lions Of voices will respund with tho tov-
Gus anthem and words OF praise will be
sung all over the land in celebration ~
the central fact Of our religion. which has
always been regarded as the chief fssti-
val OF the Christian year, and has been
from the earliest times observed with a
stately and elaborate ceremonial There
are many curious and Interesting popular
customs I'm connection with Easter of
which the sending OF Pasch eggs or
Easter eggs. is one Of the most wide
spread. Any nuhinci ~ the oval produc-
tons Will be- eAchdhbel an observance OF
the festival.
history of Easier.
The name by which Easter Is known
among The Romance nations is derived
from tho Hebrew word, which signineI
lie passed over IN memory of The
great deliyerauce when the DESTROYING
angel passed over the houses Of the chill
uNIU NI lANIIN AA 1NEIHAf y III no AInnfn
the Egyptians.' amor V%enables. writing
upon the subject OF Easter, saws. amone
other things. that there Is no trace OF the
celebration Of Easter as "A Christian fes-
tval in the New Testament or in the
writings OF the apostolic fathers .,r,o
sdnctity of special times on pla1r,s 80
an idea quite alien from the early Chris
tian mlnd too profoundly absorbed in the
events themselyes TO think OF their ex-
ternal accidents The nrst Christians.
DeinS Intimately Connected with the Jew
lsh church. naturally continued 10 oh
serve the Jewish festivals, as commence
ratiOns Of events ~ which these had been
the shadows. Tine Passover, ennobled nv
the thought Of christ, the true PaschaI
Lamb. continued 10 he celebrated. and
became the Christian Easter. Thus the
human instinct, which Graves for the COM
memOratiOn OF marked epOchs IN the ner-
sOnal. social. ecclesiastical or natural
life. found its legitimate qualification i'm
the public celebration of the events which
are the foundation Of the Christian faith.
But though the observance of the
iaschal festival at a very early period
became the rule i'm the Christian Church
a difference as o. the time Of it's observ-
ance speedily spranS up between iris
tians Of Jewish and Gentle descent. which
led to "A lOng-cOntinutd and bitter con-
trOversy and an unhappy severance of
Christian union. No rule as 20 the date
OF the Easter festivals having been Laid
down by authority, Christians were left
10 follow their own Instincts. The point
at issue really was the date of the ter
minatiOn Of the PASCAL fast. With the
one the observance OF the day OF the
month, with the other the Observance of
the day OF the week, was the ruling prin-
ciple."
Mockcr and Eidicule.
I'm the absence Of any authoritative
decision as 10 the day to be observed.
and the proper mode Of calculating il,
other discrepancies arose which led 10
controversies and discussions. which. i'm
the words Of kpiphanus. distracted the
Church and became "A source Of mockery
and ridicule TO the unbelievers. Some be
gan the festival before the week. some
after the week, some at the beginning,
at the end. thus creating a wonder
ful and laboriOus confusion.
The diversity Of us.lge was gradually