The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-19
IAssTIGls AND IT'S ORIGIN.
The Meaning and Significance of
the EcsIival-A Season OF Promise
and Hone.


the Ecs,ival--A Season OF Promise
and Hope.
The council at Nee decided that
| Gaster should be tho Sunday which oc.
ours upon, or just after, the full moon
next aftcr tho twcnty.lirst OF March,
| or the fourteenth day Of the moon.
| The new moons Of tho ecclesiastical
calendar BY which t,,stor is regulated
arc determined arbitrari y, by the
lunar cycle in tho Julian calendar, and
tho table OF epacts in the Greeorian.
The new moons OF the calendar are
generally one, two, or even three days
later than the astronomical or true new
moons. The fourteenth day Of the
moon IS accounted the full moon.
Thus Easter is a movable feast, or
festival and may come as early as the
twonty- second Of March ana again not
until the twenty-iifth Of April
The early Christians made tho feast
extend over period Of eight days, but
in the eleventh century It, was reduced
to three, and later to the ono Easter
Day known all over tho Christian,
world. but observed as u church fcsti.
val only by the Catholic and Episcopal
churches. The Reformation, and the
Protestant churches, incline to tho be-
lief that Easter is the out-growth OF
pagan customs, and Of tho Hebrew
festival Of Pasch. Tho spirit OF the
Reformation was against tho obser-
vanccs and displays Of tho carly
Catholics on Easter morning." The
lines have been softcned, however,
and churches do not SO much contend
now regal ding outward observances.
In the early days OF the Cnristlan
church the poor were feastrd, slaves
were temporarily set free, prisoners
Si
law courts were suspended and busi
ness houses closed at the T. .Stcr-tiCc.
People presumed upon such inuul-
g@nCcS, turning them INTO license for
hllarity, feastlng ard even dancing,
wrestling aud other sports, so that re-
Strictions had to be enforced by the
church, and the celebration Of Easter
was confined to one day. Tno obscr-
vancG3 became more ChastCncd. BAp-
tiSms Of Innocent children we're re
.IrvuG FOR Easter, and the holy sacra.
mcnt was administered TO church
members. Every reasonable enticu.
munt for the proper observance and
Interpretation Of the cay was rcsortcd
to; church music,--" Jublilantcs,
AllCiuias,' Gl0rias," Oirortorics :"
ana "TA Deums" were grand and
solemn. The interior Of churches
blOOmcd forth in ccciesiastical dccora-
tiOus that the severity Of the church
required should have II purpose aud Is
meaning.
u. Welby pusin. architect and pro
frSSOr Of ecclesiastical ANTIQUITIES in
the college eat ST. Mary's, Ascot, lamcnts
the decline OF the glorious shrlncs, the
vaultcd dOmus, frcscOcI like The !irma-
mCnt, and crosses, crowns and GhaiiuaS
OF gold, each symbol OF Christianity.
lie declares the spirit Of sumptuous
ANA costly church decorations to b.
the same that OvcrIAid with pure gold
the Holy Of tlOiiCs which cOuii be en-
tered only by the high priest After
the Reformation there WAS resistance
TO 50 mucn form, but Easter dccora-
tons were compromised, not r. jectcd.
The nOrlHtcd cross WAS the iirsL con.
cCS"ion and the Anglican cEurch adOp-
ted it as an Easter decoration. followed
by the proiusu Offering OF nIwcrs in
| every iorm Of Arrangement, tho dis
| tributiuu OF artistic aud beautiful
l. ,stcr cards, with Scriptural texts,
auu sentiments.
Ihc time Is long past when people
Of differing Crceds wuuld so to war
aOout the shape Of il cross or any other
SYMBOL. The spirit rather than the
letter ocrvndcs all ranks nov. All
agree that Easter is season OF promise
ana nope, occurring as ii does OE the
ven nal equinox, when nature rcjOiccs.
The mingled sentiments OF heilevrrs
and scrptlCs make OF Easter q glad day.
III hcrAtdS Is season Of rcj >icing every
where. Shepherds are cnecrcd by the
increase OF their folds, ana lambs lie
uo"n upon tho new Green grass that
freshly clothes tao hill sides and
valleys. NavlGatOr5 and fishermen re
jolcc in the breaking up Of the ice.nocs
hat release the waters. O:chauists
arc full Of hope for the truition of
their trees that show their blossoms.
Npiarists watch with delight the busy
bees collecting honey from llJwers that
! at"T the mcuGow. St0ckmon re ioicc in
the Increase Uf their locks when
me- hcrly COWS come in with now calves
blcating by their sidc. All the earth
Is radiant. Birds are nesting, leaves
unfolding and tlo Hcrs arc In profusion
That the heart OF man should rejoice
and give tangible expression Of the
sentiment by exchange Of gifts, OF
ilowcrs, cards and greetings, and that
| children should feel tho bounding inn
pulse to be together aud share each
others pleasures is strictly in keeping
with the spirit OF Easter morning.
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