The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-05
EASTER DAY.
The Festival From Various Points Of
View-Lenten FOibles.

One OF the happy Indications or the WORLDS
upward and onward tendency is the universal
enjoyment of Easter-tide Time was. and not
so many years since. when the observation OF
this day was confined to the Episcopal.
Roman Catholic and Lutheran churches, and
the rest OF the religious world. either from
ignorance or prejudice, wagged on in serene
Inconsistencies OF the observance OF fes-
tival nearly as old as Christianity ITSELF
I'm fact, had you visited many sanctuaries
even ten years ago on Easter day you were
as likely to hear sermon on Original SIN
or Total Depravity' as on the Resurrection
OF Christ. But the leaven OF Christian unity
is beginning to move the whole mass Of
Christianity and the ancient faiths are maxi
ing felt their silent influence over the more
modern sects. or those who to-day NIL the
thoroughfares of this great city, wearing
Easter blossoms upon their breasts and
Easter happiness upon their faces. there are
several classes and each of them feels the
Joy OF this festival in proportion to his per-
ception and conception OF this great day or
the Christian church.
The largest class OF Easter jewellers Is
made OF merry youths and maidens who pin
on their boutonniers without knowing much
what Easter is-"a big day in the churches.
you know, flowers. music and that sort OF
thing" These will be seen to-day en- masse.
the girls taking in all the Easter gowns. the
young men. sleek and shining. ogling all the
pretty girls. Their Easter will undoubtedly
eliminate in a grand ball which to them is
the leading event OF this season. This Is
picturesue element IN every community
these happy idlers who drift with the tide in
a sort OF "doce far niente.' bound to taste
the sweetness of everything without the
bother of analysing 1t. The great body OF
UNCONVENTIONAL Christians form another class
which to-day will be largely represented in
Indianapolis temples. Many of these are
only learning the meaning Of Easter-per-
haps in the past they have not been taught
its significance, but they know now that it
is the thing TO adorn the churches on Easter
day with lilies and palms, to add the music
OF cornet and violin to the decorous organ.
and by the powerful accessories OF music.
oratory and beauty, to celebrate with fitting
pomp the great glory of Christ's Resurrec-
ton. The true conception of Easter as a
majestic and happy climax to the soberness
of Lenten days has not yet become familiar
thought to this class OF worshipers. In
deed, by some of them Lent is regarded as a
somewhat fanatical idea-intended for the
disintregation of social life, and they are
wont to denounce 1t as entirely too long,"
forgetting. possibly, that forty days was not
considered too long term of retirement
from the world by Him who founded Chris
tanity.
Another type which also finds Lent too
long, although apparently wrapped in the
closest observance Of 1t. is the fashionable
religeuse. This morning, surveying her
charming Easter toilette in her mirror. she
is breathing satisfactory signs that it is all
over and she may conscientiously return to
the distractions OF Vanity Fair. All through
these six weeks she has managed with al
most supernatural diplomacy to conform to
the letter of Lenten denials while evading
the spirit She has worn violets. and gowned
in q sober tailor-made suit, with dainty
prayer-book In hand, has walked daily to
Lenten service. She has kept Thomas A.
Kempis on her reception table and Hannah
More on her toilette. She has attended Len
ten readings among the fashionables, given
for the benefit of certain becoddled charities.
1t is in her brain that those social affairs
known as ''quiet Lenten diversions arise
something which isn't too gay, you know.
but will make the time pass and keep one
from getting entirely out OF the swim. 1t is
she who plans these little side trips TO coun-
try clubs, during which it Is supposed that
no subjects but biblical ones are discussed,
and where the height of dissipation does not
transcend dignifed and improving game
Of authors. The Lenten luncheon, where
''violets are frozen in the cream as a suit
able delicacy for the fasting, is another of
her devices. She persuades herself that she
is following the footsteps of the anchorites
or old IL she denies herself meat, while feast
ing on oysters. terrapin and lobster. Her
self-denials are regulated by an elastic con-
science and the dimes dropped in her Lenten
box are few in proportion 10 the dollars
which go for bon-bons. Truly the fashion
able religeuse is most amusing person and
one whose jewel box lacks only that won
drous gem known as consistency. And yet
to be fashionable Is in no wise incompatible
with the truest Christianity. In fact hun
dreds of women who kneel to-day offering to
God hearts as sweet as the blossoms on the
altar. are OF that kind described by that
expressive IL inelegant word swell" 1t Is
one OF the beauties OF true religion that II
encourages love of all beauty whether IL
be the ecclesiastical grandeur OF stained
glass windows, gorgeous brasses and fine car
riages. or the more fascinating delights of
lovely Easter gowns. bonnets and Jewels.
That unlovely. ascetic element which de-
nounced the love OF beauty years ago, even
TO the persecution and dismissal OF any
woman who might bedeck her modest bonnet
with bow Of ribbon, thank God. has passed
away forever. only to be remembered with
the horrors or the Inquisition and other tor
turous steps In the evolution OF true re-
ligion. IL there could be chronicled the Lent
denials OF the devout men and women
who to-day are in our midst. 1t would indeed
-
the widows mite is enacted over and over
again each Lent. There are sacrifices. phys
ical. mental and moral. which would put
most Of US to the blush. Things wished for
put bravely out OF the mind-things within
ones grasp. given up that their price might
60 to some one more needy. Shabbiness and
discomfort cheerfully endured that sum
may be put aside to be consecrated on Easter
affairs. While the den1aIs Of the poor touch