The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1921-03-24
Easter In History
Reu. Geo. w. Robinson D. D.
whispers Of Bursting Life.

Whispers Of Bursting Life.
We must not lose the symbolism of
Easter, whether Easter eggs remind us
of the potency Of life that they con-
tain, or Easter music whispers of the
bursting life of nature, or Easter bap-
tism typifes the resurrection of our
Lord. 1t is an ancient custom OF the
church, and one that is peculiarly APP
propriate on Easter, to observe the ordi-
nance of baptism on that day.
It is the symbolism Of immersion that
makes the form SO important to Bap-
lists. To rise from the watery grave is
prophetic, as Easter is, Of the resurrec-
tion that shall be. While we have no
reason to restrict baptism to Easter
Sunday, there is a peculiar fitness in
observing it on that day.
Will Men Quarrel at His Grave?
1t would seem as if nothing should
be permitted to mar the observance of
Easter, yet early in Christian history a
dispute arose among the churches as to
the proper date of Easter Jewish pre-
iudice clashed with GENTLE preference,
and one more quarrel was added to the
hateful controversies that have stained
the history Of the religion of the Prince
of Peace. Strange tits that human pas
sions wax fercest over the forms that
clothe our faith and hope and love. The
doctrine of the nature of our Savior,
the meaning of the atonement, the OBJ
servance Of the day of hope, these
have stirred the ire and aroused the
bitterness Of those who call themselves
Christians. So through centuries bit
ter quarrel went on over the date of
Easter.
It is not helpful to recite it.
4l,af% IN n hncr, n
there, and see how Easter has been OBJ.
served. In the holy city of Russia it
was long the custom at midnight on
Easter eve for the populace to gather
in the great square, and amid blaze
of light and pealing bells, to bow in
worship and to rise with an Easter
greeting on their lips. In the Tyrol
mountains bands Of musicians wound
through the valleys and the people
sang their Easter hymns as the must.
clans thummed their guitars. In Amer,
ca the Moravians have beautiful way
of heraldiqg the Easter dawn. While
it is still dark, a trombone choir tours
the town of Bethlehem playing on in.
struments and singing carols to arouse
the people who rise and throng the
church and cemetery for the morning
watch. Joyfully they join in the serv.
ices that greet the day, and the cheer
Of those hours remains for days as a
benson of hope and peace.
The custom of observing Easter has
been general throughout. Christendom
Roman and Eastern Catholics have cele
brated it with great pomp and display
Popes issued DEGREES directing the de.
tailed manner of the fasting that pre-
coded and the rejoicing that accom-
Panied it. Pagan customs were adapted
SO that they should fit into the genera
celebration. All secular work was laid
aside. Sometimes in their abandon the
JOY Of the people gave way to a car
nival Of delights, but the church took
care to see that the day did not lose its
Christian significance.
Among the protestants Easter has
been observed with increasing regard
in recent years. In their reaction from
Catholicism the Puritans did not OBJ
serve the festivals Of the church year
and American churches that inherited
Puritan thought and ways were slow tc
alter their customs.
But by degrees Christian thought
has come to center more and more or
Easter. We are transferring our spe
cial evangelism to the pre- Easter
weeks. We are reserving our baptisms
for Easter day. We are making more
Of Easter music and Easter joy.
This is as it should be. To make
Easter the focal point Of the Christian
year is the stress Of our Christian hope
and to strengthen our Christian faith
For a life that shall not perish is oul
great desire, and Easter is the festiva
of that life.
EASTER IN THE CHURCHES.
Preparations are Ching Made for Specia
Features.
The stage is being cleared for Easte,
services by the churches in Des Moine
and those in charge of the religious in
stitutions are working to get their pro
grams rounded into shape for the day
Programs of many descriptions vii
be presented in the various churches
and the Sunday schools will be called
upon to do their part in the exercises
Palm Sunday is Observed.
Fitting services for the observ
ance of Palm Sunday, the sixth Sunda.
in Lent and the first day Of holy weel
commemorating the triumphant entr.
OF Christ into Jerusalem We're held il
most Of the churches.
In many Of the churches large classe
of those who were seeking admittanc
to the churches were given the prellm
mary work preparatory to full admit
tance into membership at the Easte
day services Sunday.