The Holly chieftain., 1924-04-17

spring.
The celebration Of Easter comes easy for the
average man and woman And not all who cele-
brate it do their celebrating in church or with re-
igious rites. For the celebration of the coming Of
spring is as old the human race. The religious
observances, established by the churches, are
comparatively modern. Christianity took the
pagan spring celebrations of the ancient world and
remodeled them, which was not only wise but
easy
From the beginning of time man has rejolced at
the turn of the year, when the sun began to
back to him. The winter. of COURSE was time
of discomfort of food scarcity, of restricted acv-
tiles. With the lengthenng days, softer urs and
the springing up of the green things, man took on
fresh courage and began anew. 1t is small won
der that practically all the peoples of the ancient
world sunworshipers. During the winter
man may have been likely to say with Eccesiates.
One generation passeth away and another gem
Grafton cometh.
The also arlseth and the sun goeth down.
and hasteth to his place where he arose.
The wind goeth toward the south. and turneth
about into the north: it whrleth about continually.
All the rivers run into the sea; not
full: unto the place from whence the rivers
thther they return again. All things full OF
labor; man cannot utter 1t.
But in the spring all is changed Each man
feels sort of physical resurrection in himself
81 have risen from world of cold and of gloom
and Of dead things to world OF warmth and of
light and of live things renew my strength
with the spring. Now for another try with for
tune" So says voice within him. And so man
rejoices with the coming of spring and celebrates
his Easter, with or without religious rites
The shroud OF winter melts into the past.
blue skies replace the gray.
AMI then. rejuvenated, Spring returns
For this is Natures way.
At Easter when the woods and gardens wake
And verdure every KNOLL
Ths fresh young voice of sprinstime speaks and
so il 1t with the soul"
Moreover. deep in the heart of mnn is planted
the wish for Immortality and the hope of 1t. And
at Easter this wish and this hope blossom anew
future life is matter of faith rather than of
scientific proof If 1t Is vain hope 1t Is strange
that the faith should be universal and SO con-
hdent, as Tennyson puts It,
Thou wilt leave US In the dust;
Thou madest man, he knows why
He thinks he not made to die;
And thou hast made him. Thou Just.
Some Of us hope for future life because Of
our dread of separation from those we love IT'LL
death doth part" runs the beautiful marriage
service-and even in this age of divorce the
words are no empty phrase And when those we
love have already gone before faith in n world to
come Is comfort, If not antidote for grief
When Easter comes We kneel beside
Our graves. whore lies such precious dust
And say while strewing fragrant flowers
because the Christ arose. ye mustg"
This Easter there are many whose thoughts will
turn to graves "Over There" where rest our sol.
dler dead of the World war.
Marys. weeping in stricken lands
Your pleading voices cry. Where Is no laid,
The young. the strong the brave he who obeyed
His country's call. went forth at her commander
But ask It not-he is not where he fell
And seek him not among unnumbered dead
Whose dust is marked-a cross above each head
He may stand close beside thee. who can tell?