The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-06-09
THE ORIGIN OF THE FEAST.

| stepped in the rarcSt freaks OF religious super
| StItlon
THE ORIGIN OF THE FEAST.
origin one the Jewish Observance OF the Pass
oyer, and tho other from i Pagan custom dis
covered in northern Germany and brought int
England by the SaxonS. In Chamber s Encyc!o
Dacdia OF Universal knowledge the Pagan orig
in is rccited as follows:
Many OF the popular obScrranceS conncctet
with Easter are clearly OF Pagan origin Inc
goddess OStarI or Eastrc seems TO have beer
the perSoniticaton OF the morning or east ant
also OF the opening year Gi Spring.
The Anglo-SaXOn name OF April was EStor
monath: and it is still known in Germany a:
OStormonath. The worship OF this being seems
to have struck deep root in Northern Germany
aud was brought into England by the SaXonS Il
continued to be celebrated in many parts IN thf
| north Of Germany down TO the beginning OF the
present Q9th) century. by the kindlinS OF bon
fires and numerous other rites WIN her
usual policy. the church cnde:Irorcd TO give q
Christian Significance to such OF the rites as
could not be rooted out; and in this case tho
conversion was particularly easy.
Joy at the rising Of the natural sun, and at tnC
awakening Of nature from the death OF winter
became jog at the rising OF the sun OF R1%ht
couSness-at the resurrection Of Christ from tho
grave.
The Encyclopaedia Britannica. Vol. 7.-,oagC
6l3. substantially states the same thing: "Ac
cording TO Bede Ode Temp. Rat. e. XE.) 1T is
derived from Eastre or Ostara. the .Anglo-Sax
on goddess Of spring. to whom the fourth month
answering 10 ou. april thence called Eastur'
Monath-waS dedicated
This month. Be5e informs US was the same as
the 'Mensis PaSchalS when the old feStiva!
was observed with the gladness OF new Solem'
nifty.
It's Jewish source OF origin is easy since il
falls upon about the same season as that OF
their observance OF the Passover. That the u
daizlng tendency on the part OF the Jewish con:
vertS TO Christianity was strong in the days OF
the Apostles is evidenced by the conflicts they
had with it in the historical account furnished
by Luke in The Acts. and more aoundantly IN
Paul'S numerous EpiStleS.
1t is not surprising that in the 3rd and 3th
centuries when they could not justify the rite
and its ceremonies upon Apostolic teaching and
practice they should justify it on the ground OF
its serlblance 70 or outgrowth from the Jewish
Observance Of Passover. AS the religion OF kome
is and has ever been. q mixture OF Judaism.
Paranism and Christianity, so in the introduc-
tiop OF this Judo-Pagan rite into the Christian
church it has tried to justify its unScrlptural
practice upon the ground OF expediency.
With her usual policy. tho church endeavor-
ed to give Christian significance to such OF the
rites when they entered other communities.
..aS could not be rooted out" Chambers Ency.
clopaedia, Vol. g.. Page 242. will now beyond
peradventure, BY classic rote eStaollsh lts place
in time. (NoN-CHRISTLAN OFuG1N)
There is no trace Of the celebration OF EaS-
ter as Christian festival in the New Testament
or in the writings OF the apostolic fathers. Inc
Sancity Of special times or places was an Aoe.
quite alien from the early Christian MIND, 100
profoundly absorbed in events themselves TO
think CT their external accidents. the Whole
OF time is ! festival unto Christians because OF
the excellencY Of the good things winch nave
on the passage Cor. ". Z, which has been er-
roneously supposed to refer to an Apcstolc oo'
servance OF Easter. Origin also in the same spur
it (Contr. Celsum VIII. ~ urges that the Cnrls.
tian who dwellS- on the truths OF CnrlSC as our
Passover an6 the gift Of the Holy Ghost, IS
every dac keeping an Easter and Pentecostal
feast. The ecclesiastical hiStorlon socrates
(Hist Eccl. V. ~ states with perfect truth tnat
neither Christ nor his Apostles enlQlneo ie Ihe
keeping Of this or any other festival. Inc
Apostles he writes. had no thought OF appoint.
ing festival days. but Of promoting lie OF
blamelesSneSS and piety; and ne attrloutes Vhe
introduction Of the festival OF Easter INTO Ohe
church to the perpetuation OF an old usage 1uSc
as many other customs have been established
This is. doubtless the true statement OF the
case. Encyclopaedia Britannica, VOLT. rage
6l4.
Although the introduction Of the Easter Gus.
toms can be traced 70 at least the bes1nnlnS OF
the second century, under the protest OF many
devout leaders OF the church. 1t contin nuea 70 oe
a source OF great perpleXity TO those VINO aooPt-
ed it for three or four centuries. Inc jew
wing OF the church commended for ana praciT1cer i1 m
the rite on the Jewish Passover which leli on
the 1ith day Of the moon, at evening, anu tne
Easter festival would Immediately follow, en-
tirely irrespective OF the day G. the week. tne
Gentle element Of the church. entlrey unlstU-
cred oy Jewish tradition, Identified the drSt oas
OF the week with the Resurrection FESTIVAL. anu
the preceding Friday would be kept as q conn-
memoration Of the Crucifxion, irrespective oI
the day OF the month.
This see.saw confusion kept the churches IN
division and up-roar over the time, the nature
and motive OF the feast until the diversity ol
usage was gradually brought to an enc oE !.
verdict OF the church Of Rome. Then loAoWeo
the difficult question Of computing the tlme.
which lasted until well into the eighth century
when q calendar was arranged to compute tne
time from. not natural moon but, an ecc!eS,as-
tical imaginary moon. Hence the time OF Eas'
ter now varies. not wi th reference TO a parclcu.
lar day OF the year. neither Of the real moon, 50
that it falls by the ecclesiastical code OF reckon
ing, anywhere from the 22nd OF March to the &oIh
Of April.
II vii! be seen that the introduction OF TINS
uncnriStian ceremony into the Christian cnurcS
has ever been a source Of great peTpIeNltV anu
often Of sore trial and abuse OF the rlgnIS oi
Chr1stian-cltizenship. One wing OF contenGi99a u
over the rite would gain ascendency ana eaGiuue
from the fellowship Of the church all VINO olaer,
ed from them in view and practice o: |taL nau
become By prestige the most essential marx anu
service Of the church.
When by Papal mandate. these Quaboles were
settled so that organic peace Teigned 10 Cue
churches over the former differences. II Wa
then thought best to extend its observance osei
the entire time allotted for the Jewish Pass:
over, often ending the festivities IN scenes "a "a
debauchery not .5ss shameful than the teas' VI
BelShazZar.
It has been clearly shown by the best aatEor.
tiles on record that it is neither an lntrooucClo
Of Apostolic precept or example, nor app[ot;su ;.a
by the most worthy church fathers IN INC LIZ
mediate apostolic succession. IT,.
The question then very pertlnent4S ai
why do Protestant Christians engage 10 Gue
practice: To comply with the rage o. popod5aaii
sentiment? Will it be admitted that ones creeua'
center has so far left the standards and require
uents of original Biblical teachings, that tnev
would rather be governed by the nanoaIe:ss VI VI
Rome and the giGdy sentiments OF uESancLlneG
human society than to stand 1or ana upuU;to ;S
those simple gospel truths in the name o. Su!1
tianity which find their laws in the rerciatlou
OF Jesus Christ and the cry Of depraVeo nunial
souls: ;.t
It is ottoo late for Christianity to correct its
errors This among other silly and Eurtlul ia
productions will need to be eliminated ere lHs
ushering in Of the Millennial dawn.
II it Shall be said that it is observed 'ts
memorial of the Resurrection OF Jesus: one VII
find least Of all that spirit in the rage 1or osLen
Lord himself gave the first day Of every weei
as a memorial day. Of his RESURRECTION: II MtiS
so celebrated BY the early Christians, loltowin!
the Apostolical example. TO the dev0GC cadte Eae
OF God. every Christian Sabbath IS q Ho!y E.Ls 81;
ter day and his heart answers back TO the trl
unphS Of the Christ on that first day Oh tns
week when He brought the conquest OF eterna
life from the open grave whence ne nao oSp.t
ed More than this is at variance Win tht
truth that should shine in it's pristine purity
every Sunday morning. Less than TINS IS q
share inspired revelation Of its fact aad noaen
to man.
The reader will readily see that II
the very first paragraph OF my orlglna
article, I affirmed the existence OF tne
Easter Ceremony. Among certain
churches, from about the beginning o
the second century. If Prof. New hac
read that article carefully it doubtless
would have saved him untold anxiety
The question he has been trying to es
tablish in his laborious effort is one tina
has not been before me at any time.
No analytical reader OF his callaoo
rated effort has failed to see that this L
ali he could prove, almost all he trlet
to prove, and all he did prove. Why nj
should challenge his reader to 90 VIII
| him on trip to its origin in the New
! Testament and apostolic usage, and thel
take them through such an elusive VII
cerness campaign to land at his neares
approach to it. "a bout A. D. 12O, l:
| , ,,ny,1a cipce that was fundamental