The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-04-18

fancy layers of bark are wrapped
around it, and caring seriously for
only that prime cause of its ex-
istence = without regard for the
origin of the various manners of
celebrating it. And in taking the
day as it is we shall proceed to en-
joy it to the utmost. AS a day of
enjoyment it is of course better
than other days only in so far as it
is specially recognized as a par
ticular occasion for seeking enjoy
ment. 1t is our duty to enjoy our
selves every day, and as much
more on holidays as their radiant
Particularly will permit.
OF course there is one phase
which we children of a new world
will not be likely to think of in our
own pursuit of Easter for the gay
ETY. which it affords US. That is
the circumstance that in the Old
World, on or near the spot where
the inspiration of Easter took place,
the annual anniversary is not OBJ
served as a day of gayety at all.
In Jerusalem Easter is observed for
what it seriously, actually is, and
not according to the convenience
OF any mortal plan for plea
sure or any temporal fashion.
The material reminders of the
oruciflxion are right there before
those people. The reputed tomb
from which Christ rose on Easter
and the arches underi which
He walked on his way to the Cross
are still in evidence. To-day the
little children of Jerusalem will be
taken to these arches and led under
them and told what they signify.
The story of the wonderful
events which occurred there ages
ago will be Illustrated by actual
relics, .grimly and gauntly eloquent
with their dumb evidence pre-
served upon them through all the
centuries. One writer has truly
said that these are "the only chill
dren in the world to whom the true
significance of Easter Sunday is
made apparent by an object lesson,
and such an object lesson as no
Christian mind ever has the ad-
vantage of realizing
The same writer goes on to say
that "although nearly nineteen
centuries have elapsed since Christ
passed from among men the city of
Jerusalem does not exhibit notable
changes from its appearance, as
judged from history, at the begin
ming of the Christian era. 1t is
still the terminus of pilgrimages.
The same queerly gowned and
strangely hooded figures are seen
upon its streets now that were
familiar to those who lived when
Pontius Plate was disciple of
justice, so called. The famous
localities which the world has
learned to know are absolutely as
they, were then. All about,
through and thr ough, it is a place
of memories, and one which stirs
the emotions of even the most
flinty hearted" Perhaps it is as
well since we desire to make
Easter holiday for gay rejoicing
that we do not live in Jerusalem
to be "stirred" by its memories.
Probably we are better off and
more at peace where we are.
SO let us all take Easter in what
ever llgnt we may prefer. MOSl
of us really regard it more as a
holiday than as anything else.
How we do it or why doesn't mat
ter, and those who conScientiously
preserve for it the significance of
a day of resurrection above all else
are not disturbed by the lighter
and more elastic significance which
the butterflies add to it.
May all the readers of THE CALL
enjoy the day and the season to
their fullest measure according to
their best lights, for in that lies
the nearest approach to happiness
that this world affords.
CARROLL CARRINGTON.