Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-04-04

short in the true meaning of the sea-
son that symbolizes to the Christian
risen Lord, and hope Of Immortality.
Like our Christina celebrations. the
religious side Of Eastertide is DER
Swallowed by the social
The change from the solemn peni-
tential week just past to the joyous.
ness and light and color of Easter
morn has for most of us too little of
religious element
Even though we join the throngs
surging the churches and revel in the
Easter flowers that bank the affairs,
and Join in the Easter carols of praise,
we fall far short of realizing what a
lack of Easter would have meant to
civilization
The world is better place to live
In because of. Eastertide. Though the
spiritual side of us be but poorly devel-
oped the material should rejoice in
the blessings and comforts bestowed
by the ages-old belief in the risen
Lord.
What the world would have been
without Easter; what women would
have been we can but family imagine.
Without the hope that sprang from
that open grave in far-away Judea, life
would lack high incentive to purity,
truth and love for our neighbor.
If this were all; If with the ebbing
Of life there were no hope Of 'be-
yond;" then would selfishness and
pleasure reign supreme, the law of
might would prevail, and this world
be a worse place than. it is for the
poor, the sick. and the lowly.
If we cannot wholly approve Of tho
worlds method Of observing Easter
and the days Immediately preceding it,
the Easter festival with its curious OBJ
servances have an interest in that
however feebly, they draw universal
attention to the day Of the risen
Lord.
Odd points of resemblance may be
seen in many of these observances,
and like many Of the great days of
the church, the customs associated
with it have been drawn from pagan
worship.
Easter is time of Joy and gladness,
for it comes in the spring. when, &C
cording to pagan belief, Nature awoke
from the winter death sleep and ev-
breathed of life and hope.
Therefore there is common note Of
JOY in Easter celebrations, whether it
be among the cool-headed Anglo-Sax-
on, the undemonstrative Scandinavian,
or the intense, passionate Latin races.
But perhaps nowhere is the spirit
of the day more emphasized than in
Russia, where when at the stroke Of
on Easter Eve, the priest
announces to the kneeling multitude
HE is risen," the congregation bursts
into unanimous response, "He Is
risen. indeed" and Joy in the blessed
thought is expressed in warm en-
braces among friends.
During all Of Easter Day, the Rus
sian peasants visit among their
friends, exchanging the joyous greet
ing with each acquaintance. Christ is
risen," to which the other responds,
"He is risen, indeed!" followed by the
triple kiss on either cheek and fore
head.
Yet even here is the trace Of pagan.
Ism In the use of the Easter egg,
which was the symbol to the pagan OF
q new life. On the round of visits each
guest presents colored egg to the
hostess, receiving one in return, with
refreshments thrown in.
In most Christian countries the Joy
Of Eastertide is shown in music and
flowers. Every church makes special
preparation for the great day, but
probably nowhere In the world is such
music heard as In st. Peters, in Rome,
Of which Mrs. Humphry Ward has Civ.
en- us so impressive description in
Eleanor.
Besides the fower-banked churches
the newer custom Of marking Easter.
tide with flowers in the window of
each house is one of much beauty and
symbolism. When in palace and tene-
ment alike there is a common bond of
common orative Easter flowers to
greet the passer-by, the classes cannot
be 50 far apart as the pessimist
thinks
In Catholic countries the joy of Eas-
ter is less impressive than the solemn
observances of Good Friday. The
churches are thronged with reverent
worshipers, the procession commemo-
rative Of the Crucifixion, the burning
of Judas in ef1gy, so common a prac-
tice in Portugal, Greece. Mexico and
South American countries, all bear
witness that despite scoffers the story
OF The Cross with the joyous Resur-
rection Is not deemed a myth.
It is said that Portuguese sailors in
whatever port they may be on Good
Friday at shutdown commit Judas to
the waves as the sailors sing the An.
gelus. And there are those who say
~ y, n$r,ksr -.