Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-14
They Ring Out a Message of Peace
and Good Will.
SIGNIFICANCE OF The FESTIVAL
Never Before Was 1t So Fraught
With Meaning as Now
ALTRUISM AND HUMANISM



in exerci-e as will be the Easter Of this
year of grace 1900. AT all points barbarism
Is making way for civilization. The Easter
sky is becoming radiant with the crimson
and gold of brighter day. This years
Easter bells ring out Libertys tie Deum'
with gladness and glory unknown hith-
erto in the history of the human race, and
at the same time these bells are uttering
prophecy of still gladder Easter whose
coming will be in the near future.
The word Easter is of heather origin. 1t
is to be regretted that the word which
commentaries the most blessed fact in
Christian faith should come from pagan
sources; but we must take it as it is found
and fill it with nohler. higher and diviner
meanings. The names of the days of the
week and the months of the year also
heather in origin and in their earlier assoc
Citations: but we must accept them. as we
cannot unwrite history and unmake Ian
gGage.
Easter is the Saxon oster osten, mean
ing rising The German is osteru, the He
brew-Greek form is pasGha, the French
paques. the Scotch pasch. the Dutch pas
chen, the Swedish pask and the Danish
Iaashe.
The Apostle Paul calls Christ "Our
Pasch-" No doubt the old Teutonic name
was connected with the festival of the god
deSS OStara. in AnglO-SaXOn EaStre. and
So was connected with our word east. This
cation Of the morning or of the east. and
aiSp OF the beginning Ct spring 1t is Well
known that the Anglo-Saxon name of April
wa f-N'"rmGHath, and IN Germany TINS
month * still known as OStermonath.
FROM northern tTtflhdiN IN 'Ile carry ddE
tI.r worship vi oStaIa was prUusht 70 our
"'e' 1t'llS II! iitdt briIi.i. Many OF the
l"P1idI "p>tTN dlletS 81 Easter. even 10 TINS
Gay. clearly indicate its heather origin.
IN Httthgh h"ilreS We're pefpetua'ed IN
li{Tf rod ,r0E no bril-
lalal It'ti'l.Ii'e .'hs " Tue cnuFtGeS, anu
pa = 90 ;. hle q 'iE tltlts. III RUSSIA at thls
edSvh are also reminders OF those carry
M ~, ,t-'I. ., leSt w. Is. ~
me pdSch eggs, when stained and
kh'Shrd t"sethtr' carry US back to that
~ - a. PI,elt "''t ol when so many
~ :, S'li''S anu f-aSlrt customs nave come
~ ''''-.'. II iias Ing Dteti tIe cusIohl 10
.t - Ul VIZ" it"Is vi Easter
hoil,lIS i',i ett,'h3,'SS, an" sheIr discovery
- SNli''7eu To oe an omen Oh so"d fortune
Originally Henthcn Festivals.
~ L,,,v,- ,l7at tho aarl,, f,brf-4i,r,, 49,.
=" anu S.i'Ne l" ''iSioll III ht'theh Iest~
walls which Were So deeply seated in popu-
lar customs as to make their neglect inn
,,,,ssi,r, ., n. ,,,r+ g -, Io.ta tut:
- =, m, - ~. , M
MaS ""t'o'S -"lSf P"Ilc!' perhaps also
II had deep religious significance. The
Christmas festival was the transformation
of somewhat kindred heather festivals,
such as the S2turnalia, Juvenalia and Dru-
These were observed in Rome In the
month CT becsInhtr. Ihey were held in
rnemoratfnn Of the ,rol1c,, 40. az $3.50,
and equality They were DAYS of great Inv
Tor slaves ana children 1t was natural
eiidt .he carry CHRISTIANS should strive to
nifcanca. thay cI,TIrd NOT he rnc,nd ~ rs
they might he transformed In many narts
Of the country today are acting a sim
mar part toward the holidays of the Chi
ntS.- IL was natural that the heather
blrth FESTIVAL or the sun, which, after the
winter solstice begins to run a new career,
should suggest the birth festival of Christ.
the Sun Of Righteousness and the light Of
the world.
Bat there * a deeper truth in these COR
Responsiveness. In these pagan festivals
notwithstanding their acknOwiecieed sensual
abuses. there was a profound religions sio-
nifc-Ince and a lofty >rir,tu,1 n1csibiIitI -.
they hav" been well c1ifed .'uncnns+f,,i,s
prophecies Of the true ana divine Christ
mas FEAST, No doubt the ha4than origin of
IN" Christmas feS-iv.I acc cunts for the
stN.E& az presents 20 children and to the
poor Tor the lighting of wax tarcrs and
FIR the general use of C,rr.srrr,s -, -
s@rN;nCe Of Chr Easter fessty H. J,y AT me
rs r. Of the natural IN and al IN, aI,aL
ehl"s; a nature from TIC sleep Tnd app.r-
Ont Geath Of winter, WIS an illustration Of
the 'L@her ahd dIllucr Joy ,rye- inc r,.s,,r-
rectl"u II jesus Christ the Sun of pI..bt
epuSU"ss. from death ard the grave Trye
fi..-,r,f
pr"T-'CN OF heavenly III 'u5s
ReIirious Si;s
Ihe resurrection OF Christ is the crown
ing miracle Of Christianity To This miracle
its first preachers mad. co,,... -, -
faent ar...r Is r. ant ana con-
ii-e"' appeal II TINS greatest event could
DE- proved all other miracles were at least
credible No greater miracle than This can
be imagined, if 1E,. greater b,, ,,,,t,Ii-,,
the lesser may be- believed orr an Dis s
told His resurrection. that r,iI,,r+,,t ~
therefore was tn fuIfr1,rs.y1t - = g tipi,
"a well as the perforrnanc. y" Ls d piopnecy
dOus miracle 10 he a 49,, a Slepeh-
resurrection was a cbjaF f-smgss OF the
apostolic office In his arest dil.I,, vi 'he
the day Of Pentecost /, ~. w. ~, Sc on
that the Apoetle PAM Md i.btar ,tt S event
Not otherwise was il with ,b. -, it'Tnce;
when he address sell the rnen Of 80. I a VI
that matchless discourse mis- r,aarIe III
tie declared thar cod ham sr 80 t tpos7
day in which He will iudpe M ,i d
that man whom He haTh ordained Co., ~
He hath raised Him from tba IL =, IL -,
writing TO the Corinthians h. cIga[i
firms that If Christ be NOT risen op,r to az
Is vain. ~ ''-'''
The resurrection of Christ ,1,ro ,..