The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-04-07
EASTER CELEBRATION, ITS ORIGIN, ETC

EASTER CELEBRATION, ITS ORIGIN, ETC.
The Annual Observance OF
Easter as religious rite by the
Romish church extending from
about the beginning Of the 2nd
century. and followed by many
Protestant churches which have
Gissented from many of the other
practices Of the church of Rome
on the ground Of their lack Of
scriptural authenticity, make 1t
a subject Of worthy consideration
By those who would know its or
igin and import. It has at least
figured enough in the controyer-
sizes of religion to gain classic
consideration in history and for
it to be placed within the reach
Of common understanding. The
custom is not without an interest
ing origin whose setting is found
ed in an aged stepped in the rar-
est freaks Of religious supersti-
ton.
TIE ORIGIN OF THE FEAST.
There is a classic reference to
two sources of origin; one, the
Jewish Observance Of the Pass
over, and the other from Pagan
custom discovered in northern
Germany and brought into Eng
land by the Saxons. In Cham
ber's Encyclopedia Of Universal
knowledge the Pagan origin is
recited as follows:
MANY of the popular obser-
vances connected with Easter are
clearly Of Pagan origin. The god
dess Ostara or Eastre seems to
have been the personidcation OF
the morning or east, and also of
the opening year Of Spring.
The Anglo-Saxou name of
April was Estormonath: and it is
still known in Germany as Oster-
monath. The worship of this be-
inc seems to have struck deep
root in Northern Germany, and
was brought into England by the
Saxons. It continued to be cele-
brated in many parts IN the north
of Germany down to the begin
ming of the present (19th) cen
tury, by the kindling Of bonfres
and numerous other rites.
With her usual policy, the church
endeavored to give Christian
significance to such Of the rites as
could not be rooted out; and in
this case the conversion was par
ticularly easy.
Joy at the raising of the nat,
ural sun, and at the awakening
of nature from the death Of win
ter, because Joy at the rising OF
the Sun Of Righteousness the
resurrection Of Christ from the
grave"
The Encyclopedia Britannica,
Vol. Page 613. substantially
states the same thing: Accord
ing to Beda de Temp. Rat, c.
XIV. it is derived from Eastre,
or Ostara. the Anglo-Saxon god.
dess of spring. to whom the
fourth month, answering to on,
-April-thcnce called Eastur.
Monath-was dedicated.
This month, Bede informs US
was the same as the :Mensis Pas.
chalis. when the old festival was
observed with the gladness Of a
new soIemnity.''
Its Jewish source Of origin IS
easy since it falls upon about the
same season as that Of their OBJ,
servance OF the Passover. That
the Judaizing tendency on the
part of the Jewish converts tc
Christianity was strong in the
days of the Apostles is evidenced
by the conflicts they had with il
in the historical account furnish
ed by Luke in 1.-The Acts. and
more abundantly in Paul's num-
erous Epistoles.
It is not surprising that in the
3rd and 4th centuries, when they
could not justify the rite and its
ceremonies upon Apostolic teach
ing and practice, they should
justify it on the ground of its
semblance to or outgrowth from
the Jewish Observance of Pass
over. AS the religion of Rome
is, and has ever been: a mixture
Of Judaism, Paganism and Chris
tianity: so in the Introduction Of
this Judao Pagan rite into the
Christian church it has tried to
justify its unscriptural practice
upon the ground Of expediency.
with her usual policy: the
church endeavored to give a
Christian significance to such Of
the rites" when they entered
other communities, ':as could not
be rooted out" Chambers Ency-
clopedia, Vol. 3, Page 242. /
will now beyond peradventure.
nv classic rate establish IFS Non.
CHRISTIAN ORIGIN.
There is no trace Of the cele-
oration Of Easter as a Christian
festival in the New Testament Or
in the writings of the a ,stolic
fathers. The sarctity Of special
times or places was an idea quite
alien from the early Christian
mind, too profoundly absorbed
in events themselves to think Of
their external accidents. Hphe