East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-01-07

you to follow, nor yet to agree In all
our teaching on the subject.
We hold that the Christian year is
a lively and systematic exposition OF
Christian truth.
1t is a system of claiming all time
for our Lord Jesus Christ, and filling
every day in every year with His
name and worship.
And the whole scheme is token
and provision and preparation for
his second glorious advent.
1t is a series of prayer and Bible
lessons, so arranged hat wherever
English is spoken, Christians can
worship with the same words, listen
to the same chapter Of Holy Scrip
ture on the same days, or as st. Paul
says, 'T beseech you, brethren, that
ye all speak the same thing"
These lessons comprise for each
service one o. T. and one N. r.
chapter which lead as once through
the principal parts of the o. T. and
twice through the new during the
year.
There is portion Of the psalter ap-
pointed to be read each morning and
evening, which embraces the whole of
the psalms, once each month or IL
times during the year. Moreover,
there is a special collect or prayer, an
epistle and gospel, appointed to be
read on each Lords Day and Holy
Day, and these bring prominently be-
fore US some special subject, or doc
-rine, sometimes expressed by single
word, as for e. g. Faith, hope, char
ty. missions, temperance, the Bible,
ETC., and as each officiating minister
s under obligation by his ordination
lows, to be guided by canons and
'ubrics Of his church, so also must he
III faithfully be guided by the church
'alendar of the Christian year, which
points out the service for each day
throughout the year.
The gospel sounds the keynote for
he day. and II he heard no other spe-
ial theme. the alert preacher and
eacher has the precious scale of So
4 these key notes, on which to strike
lis gospel harp during the year.
Our Christian year begins with
Idvent Sunday, and ends on the Sat
rlay next before so that Advent {
unday is often called the church's {
Few Years day. Just as today
Epiphany" IL days from Christmas '
ay, is often called the gentile's !
christmas day. because we observe '
his as the day when Christ was '
lade known to the gentiles by the c
EASTERN Magi.
Advent to Trinity is called the
hurch's doctrinal year. when all the 6
hief acts of our blessed Lord are I
arrated, and from Advent to Trim a
y, His words, the object being to t
blow Him most tenderly and rev. 7
rently in all He said, or wrought, or I
Uttered for us. and in this way the
year becomes a means OF
race to all who follow 1t.
Our calendar of the Christian year a
ontains a list of fasts, festivals and =
oily days to be observed throughout +
ne year. r
Also tables of lessons, or portions 4
I holy scripture, to be read in 2
lurch and rules for finding the date \
I movable feasts. 2
Take Easter for example. Easter s
ay is always the first Sunday after 6
lie full moon which happens next af-
II the 21st day of March anl If the 4
Ill moon comes upon Sunday "
aster day is the Sunday following. S
What is really meant then, by the "
hristian year. is the arrangement OF
lie natural year into sacred seasons
festivals and facts.
The three festivals of Gods ancient e
1urch were the Passover or feast Of +,
nleavened bread. Pentacost, or the Il
ast of weeks, and the feast of a
abernacles. Deut. 1916. h