Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1899-04-06
EASTER FLOWERS.

Learned persons are fond OF
reminding US that our very mans
for the great Christian festival
Easter, is derived from the gods
dess of Spring of our pagan
ancestors and, that this feas5 o.
flowers is itself of pagan origin
What of i? 1t is not conceivable
that map, from the time that he
was capable Of thought coulo
have been insensible to tn
significance of the recurring seas
sons or could have failed to asso
ciate the annual reawakenipg OF
nature with his own hopes Of life
after death, whereof he found q
symbolic suggestion in the fl W
rs. Ia the fullness of time the
Gospel CAM, with the positive
teaching of the Resurrection.
Mere formless aspirations were
realized in a distinct faith The
vague symbolism of Eostra gave
place to the triumphant declara-
ton of the Risen Christ.
This English name for the
festival that in every other lam
guage keeps its name OF the
Passover or pasch-the type
wherein it was foreshadoWed-is
only one of many instances IN
which what Butler calls ''the
analogy Of natural and revealed
religion" is practically exempii.
fed. It is like St. Pauls recognl-
ton of the unknown G0d' of
the ADMINISTRATION then ye
ignorantly worship. Him declare
unto you" We have kept the
old names but with a new signl>
fcance.
In this way we can perceive
that the flowers in the streets and
in the windows have just as much
or as little meaning, a meaning as
vague Or as precise as each soul
may be able to ascribe to them. 1t
must be a dull mind to which the
spring-time, with the budding OF
the planted seed, carries no sug'
gestion of d spiritual mystery, a
the sun rises in the heavens ant
brings life again to the frozeI
earth. Even those who gave u
this name of Easter must have fel
that. It's higher symbolism has
come with the Christians faltl
and knowledge, and 10 the be
Eeying soul this is the gladdes
feast of all the year, not becaus
of the flowers and the sunshin
merely, but Of that of which the,
soeak to him of the risen Sun o
r ghto
Easter comes with the suushin
and flowers, the budding tree
and all the other welcome sign
of natures reawakening, The ser
timent of the season is SO init
mately associated in our mind
with the great Christian festiva
that it is hard to remember tina
they are thus associated oni
in our W climate and that til
significance of the Paschal feas
is quite independent of the PAL
allel suggestions we derive
this time from the religion {
nature. Perhaps it is more exa'
to say that the feast Of the Res
direction. has given a deepe
meaning to these suggestions,
that the qulckening Of the burle
seed, the bIossomlng Of the ba,
boughs, which must always hay
stirred mems minds to wond'
and speculation, have become Il
natural symbols of a defni
faith,
There is, of course. a vel
large share of mere thoughtle
extravaganza, of fashionab
custom, even of the commerce
spirit, IN all this display of fo7
ers in. the streets, ia windows,
the shops, Easter is not only
religious festival; it is a soc
festival as we'll, even a busine
festival. 4 marks the resumpti,
of gayeties and is expected
mark also a revival OF trade. 1t
possible to assume that all t
Easter symbols that brighten
town are even a remote expires
ion of religious faith. And yet
is impossible not to recogn
from year to year the Wider a
deeper observance not only
the Easter festival. but particul
10 of the solemn season that pl
cedes it and on which it dcpeh
Some part of this. no doubt
a change rather in the modes
outward expression thanin INV
sentiment, for even the Purl