Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-04-09


season of the year when the
earth pours forth its freshest blossoms
and the reviviiication of nature-the
springing forth of life in the spring.
1t is from this that the Faster egg
custom springs, and centuries ago,
even before the birth of Christ, color
ed eggs were given and received by
the celebrants of the feast. The egg
for all time has been regarded as
symbolical Of the spring, when the
earth receives from nature its new life.
Not only the ancient Hebrews, but
the ancient Persians, employed the
colored eggs in their celebrations OF
the feast Of the solar new year, in
March.
With the Hebrews the festival was
called Pasch, and the name still lives,
with slight alterations, among many
nations. The French call the festi-
val Paoues: the Dutch term it Pas
chen; the Danes Paaske, and the
Swedes Pask. In the early days of
Christianity the influence of the jew
ish Pasch upon the holy day commem-
Grating the staying of Christ and his
resurrection was such that it created
many bitter dissensions between the
western and the eastern churches.
Finally the discussions assumed such
threatening aspect that Polycrates,
bishop of Ephesus, appealed to Victor,
bishop of Rome, asking for q general
council to decide the much. veXed
question.
Accordingly, councils met in all the
countries, as well as at Rome, but,
alas, for visions of harmony, they
could not agree. They finally decided
to recognize the day as their respec
tive fathers before them had done, and
no sect should censure the other for n
difference of opinion.
Many warm and even bitter discus.
sions still continued on the subject of
Easter celebrations, and it finally led
to the great emperor, Constantine, in
1926, issuing an order for the dispute
to be settled by the council of Nice.
1t was the momentous theme of the
day. In obedience to royal command,
31S bishops and some 1000 inferior
clerics assembled at Nice in Bithynia.
The first sessions met in the church,
and as the council continued its work
the place of meeting was transferred
to the imperial palace, where special
apartments were reserved for this
august body. The main trouble was
between the Jewish Christians and the
GENTLE Christians.
On the 14th day of the first lunar
month the Jews observed with all the
solemnity and regard for the Mosaic
law the Feast of the Passover; thus
they celebrated the death of Christ as
represented by the Paschal Lamb.
The first Sabbath after the 14th day
Of the March moon the GENTLE Chris
tians celebrated with joyous religious
services the resurrection of Christ.
Neither sect would recognize the
others festive day, and the council of
Nice was greatly perplexed as how
best to please all parties.
j After continuing their debates, pro
and con, for several months, the
ecclesiastical dignitaries announced
that the bitterly waged war Of dispute
was settled. Easter day was for all
time to be the first Sabbath i'm.
mediately following the fourteenth
day of the March moon. BY this
arrangement the world may celebrate
Easter, justly called the 'Queen of
Festivals" as early as March 90, and
again it may not arrive until April %,
when nearly the entire earth is fragrant
with spring buds and blossoms.
The word Easter is derived from
Pagan goddess of the early Teutons
called Ostera. The German word for
Easter is Ostern, but some philologists
maintain that both the German and
English words come from the ancient
Saxon word Oster, or Osten, meaning
"rising.' Ostera, the German god
dess, was credited with being the
personification of the morning, and
of the east, and also of the opening
year.
Ostera was worshiped very gen.
orally in northern Germany, and it is
believed that the fame of the goddess
spread to England, where the Saxons
Joined in worshiping her. Until the
beginning of the present century
court was paid to Ostera by the kind
ling of great bOnfires and in other
ways, and even to-day in some of the
remote districts where many supersti-
tious beliefs are treasured by the peas
antry the fame of Ostera still lives.
The early Christians made the Easter
celebration extend over a period of
eight days. but in the eleventh CEN
fury the festival was reduced to three
days, and later to one day. In olden
days Easter was the popular time for
baptism. The law courts were shut
and the poor aud needy were feasted
regally in the churches,.'a custom that
was much abused and which led to