The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1913-03-20

Our IuOU0Tu C6lSUTdtlOn VI
Easter tide, based upon the resur-
rection of Christ and the belief of
spiritual Immortality derived there
from, seems to be continuation
and modification of festal celebra-
tions begun long before the birth
of our Savior. His crucifixion and
resurrection adding, indeed, a new
Significance to ceremonies and
festivities observed in some form
by all people.
Back to the early Asiatic Aryans
may we go and find trace of re-
ligious ceremonies corresponding
to our Easter festivities. The sun,
symbol to those ancient races of the
deity, at the season of the vernal e.
QuinOx afforded suitable occasion
for sacrifice and worship. At this
time of year, nature was in the joy
of renewed life and beauty, and
flowers became and have since re-
manned the natural and apprOpri
ate emblems of Easter.
Chinese, Persians, ancient Celts
all had their spring festival witt
religious Significance, and the Jew
who does not recognize the Easter
festival on account of the resurrec.
ton of Christ, yet has his Paschal
sacrifice corresponding closely in
date, and also season of rejoic-
ing.
Our name, Easter, comes from
the Teutonic Oestre, goddess OF
spring aud flowers, wOrshipped by
northern Europe peoples as herald.
ing the advent Of spring, a time Of
popular rejoicing after the terrors
Of hard and rigorous winter.
In almost all of these celebrations
the egg has had an important place
and it also is imbued with deeper
Significance with the advent Of
Christianity, when it became The
emblem of the resurrection, anf
was colored red as typifying the
blood of Christ shed upon the cross
Although the actual anniversa-
ry of the resurrection of Christ
must have always been peculiarly
sacred to his followers. it was not
until about the year So A. D that
the celebration became an estab
lished custom among Christians, and
1t remained for the Council of Nice
in A. d. 1926 to fix the method for
reckoning the date of the festival.
Easter has always been a gentle
festival, with softening and salu-
tary influence upon mankind. 1t is
a day of good fellowship and kind
~ feelings which tend to unite all
men into one brotherhood. 1t Is a
feast of hope which tells man that
death has not conquered, and that
beyond the grave there is life, and
from death there Is a resurrection
Winter has covered the earth with
its mantle and nature seems wrap
ped in the sleep of death, but the
bright sun of spring causes all ma
ture to burst forth into renewed
life. The fields are clad in verdure
trees and flowers bud and blossom
and send forth their beauty and fra
grnace, and their voices seem to re-
peat the words: ''If God so clothe
the grass Of the fields. which today
Is, and tomorrow Is cast into the
oven. shall he not much more
clothe you. o We of little faith?"
As flower will not blossom in
the darkness. but in the sunlight
so a soul will not unfold unto ha-
tired, but rather unto love. The
heart of the gospel taught by Je-
sus breathed the spirit of love. He
came during a time of struggle and
strife-the death of winter was up
on the world. An eye for an eye
and a tooth for tooth was the
keynote of the warlike faith OF
those to whom he came. But the
Nazarene gave a new command.
brought a new faith. It judged
net; it excluded not. Like sunshine
his love went out to all alike, Gen
tile and Jew, saint and sinner. He
came not to condemn, but to renew
and to lift up. Not yet do we fui-
~ understand and appreciate the
harmony of the song OF sweetness
tina. Tell from his lips. but we are
beginning to glimpse the wisdom OF
his doctrine; We arc learning tha'
the universal love which he incarn-
ated is, indeed, the way, the truth
and the life.