Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1922-04-13
Easter Here.
and Abroad.

Daybreak, Bethlehem. Not I'm Ju-
dea but In Pennsylvania. Church and
cemetery outside thronged with peo-
pie, many OF them there since the night
before. all OF them watching, waiting
for the sudden glad burst OF music
from the marching choristers who
will come to- herald in the sunrise an
nouncing that "Christ is Risen!"
For two days these Moravlans have
kept celebration. On Friday at 10 80
they gathered for the beginning of
services which progressed in dramatic
intensity through the events of Black
Friday till at O'Clock. the hour of
the crucifixion, they knelt to the toll
ing bell and the dlrge-like chant,
Christ is Dead" Later at vespers
the Vigil of the Paschal Lamb was OBJ
served. and the Saturday services
were eliminated by Love Feast dur
ing which buns and coffee were served
by black-robed priests and the night
watch began, the end Of which was to
usher In the glad tidngs which they
now acclaim, Christ is Risen"
Universal Celebration.
At the same hour, In every civilized
country in the world, some version of
the great religious drama OF the ages
is being enacted with solemn music,
lighted candles, the odor of lilies and
prayer. That is why 1t Is almost n
- a. 10
er celebration did not originate with
the crucifixion OF Christ, but antedates
his birth by many centuries. It's origin
is lost In the dim distance OF remote
antiquity and It's name even is that OF
Eastre, Ostare, the Anglo-Saxon god
dess OF Spring TO whom the fourth
month was dedicated and called East
er month" According 10 Canon We
nable of the Church Of England. the
keeping OF Easter was made church
custom only after popular usage
had sanctioned and dignlfied it. The
commemoration Of the passion of
Christ was later identified with ii, as
was the Jewish Feast OF the Passover.
The Persians at the same season OBJ
serve their Renewal Of the Year
when the "Sun OF Justice. the Savior
Of the World over Death Is resurrect-
ed" IT was also the first month Of
the year with the Drulds, and the
worldwide custom Of Easter fires
dates back TO the primitive worship Of
the seasons, as does much of the
worldwide watching for the Easter
Sunrise, when the golden orb leaps
three times in Joy" as even the canny
Scots who watch its reflection in n
basin OF water, will aver that II does.
Easter Sunday in Russia.
But the universal significance Of the
yfcarious sacrifices and the emerging
through a season of abnegation, into
new being, deepens rather than takes
from the religious holiday, which Is
never so devoutly kept as in Russia.
Along deserted thoroughfares of little
villages, or shoulder to shoulder with
the throngs surging through city
streets, In somber darkness 90 old and
young, high and low at midnight on
Easter. "Yea, Christ is risen," their
challenge comes ringing back through
empty space or ripping In hundred
echoes from the thick-packed masses
Of devotees. On Good Friday they
have all followed the black coffin
through the streets to the mournful
music of the military bands and her
aided by a crepe-draped crucifix. Now
tha OH NH oh
is dark as the outside--darker. They
kneel, huddle together, they wait.
Presently down the center aisle a
lighted lantern borne aloft on pole
comes, followed by the crucifix and
white clad priests, peering right and
left through the darkness. They are
the PROCESSION of Searchers for the
Body" They reach the altar; they,
too. kneel. They wait.
"Then comes the sound of shutting
feet nearer and nearer" an eye wit
ness described Il. Suddenly the
doors are pounded from without rap
idly and incessanHy-a profane sound
that startles the stiffness into awaken
ing life. The kneeiing figures at the
altar listen, rise and hurry down the
aisle. The doors are flung open and a
long procession enters, each bearing
lighted candle-followed by the choir
chanting the glad news. From the
tapers as the priests pass, people near
est in the heaving crowd light their
candles. Flame is passed UP and
down from hand to hand A trail OF
fire flowers springs forth from the dusk
as though by magic until the gloom
lightens to a rosy glow, the glow to
sudden blaze Of brilliance that CLEANS
on the jewel burdened ikons-on a sea
OF faces"