The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-03-25

DAYS of the ancient SaXons who worshlpped
Easter as goddess of the dawn and benign giver
of new life with the coming of the Vernal eQul-
nox. That was long before they had ever heard
of Christianity and the Resurrection. In their
ioy at the return of new life in the springtime
they brought the Easter goddess their sweetest
cakes, ar the same time eating great numbers OF
them themselves.
They chung to this custom even after they had
embraced Christianity. Some of the early Chris
tian leaders were bit dubious of preserving
such relic of heather religion but some toll
Grant person who was also genius for COM
promise suggested to the priests that they bless
the pagan cakes marking them with the cross.
Thus the Saxon Easter biscuit was made fit for
Christian consumption and for centuries AFTER
wards it was felt that they were endowed with
some special spiritual qualities. few cross
buns baked on Good Friday not only would not
molder as would other bread, but if kept through
out the year they would be an efficient medicine
for various ills when crumbled in a cup of water
and thus taken into the body.
To most people Easter means time for COM
ing forth in new clothes and although some or
our philosophers have bewaied the extravaganza
of the Easter style parade" as sign that we
have lost the spiritual significance OF the day
in reality it is in keeping with the essential
spirit of Easter, which is shared by Christian
tion,, of revived life after apparent death. 1t
marks the climax Of the year when all nature
awakes from Sleep throws off the death-ke
chill of winter and beings to live anew. With
all nature pointing the way by bedecking herself
in new raiment, it is only natural that mankind
should celebrate the surge Of new life by putting
on new apparel.
So when mady appears at church on Easter
Sunday in a new frock and new hat, II is not
ffcolf C1o pr1tc
them on because she must! She has responded
to the fundamental instinct by responding thus
to the call of spring, to the message of renewed
life There is an old British tradition that 1t is
"geod luck to wear something new on Easter
day." but that is mere outgrowth of the essen
tial idea Of the Eastertide.
Far as some of the symbols of Easter and
their meanings for different people may seem
to be removed from the essential spirit of Easter,
they are in reality not so far removed. For all
of them are based upon the idea Of "ressurec-
ton" and il resurrection" is the spirit and the
message of Easter, then the inmost essence Of
that spirit can be sumSed up in the one word
Immortality" If man can find an answer to the
old old question that has troubled him through
the ages the question docs death end all?" he
can find it In the message of Easter 1t is reas-
surance that he does not face hopeless task.
Even If he did not have the comfort of his re-
ligion to help him arrive at that belief he finds IT
In the mere fact Of living
Each day. each year and each lifetime he sees
the cycle repeated. The sun comes up in the
morning and goes down into darkness at night.
But he knows that 1t will come up again the next
morning Each "a hours he sees the miracle of
resurrection New life is manifest in the animal
and vegetable kingdoms with each recurring
spring. 1t ripens in the heat of summertime
and mellows into maturity In the autumn. only
to die In the cold Of winter. But he knows thar
life will begin again next year. Each II months
he sees the miracle Of resurrection. A baby is
born passes through childhood grown into youth,
reaches mans estate and then declines into old
age What If the darkness Of death Is only a
matter of few years away? He has seen the
recurring miracle of resurrection every "a hours
and every II months. Why should not man,
reasoning logically from this evidence of which
he is aware every day of his life, believe that
the cycle of lifetime includes resurrection
just as does the daily cycle and the yearly
cycle? He does so believe and from that belief
comes his belief in the life everlasting, In i'm
mortality.
Perhaps II would be more accurate TO say he
chooses to believe For few men. of any. have
ever solved the riddle of life to their utter sat
isfaction. They constantly grope for the truth,
seeking always seeking, the answer to the I'M
solved problems of life. They have the never
ending longing in their hearts for everlasting life
and they choose to believe. and take comfort
from the belief, that they shall have it.
So whether he be primitive man or modern.
civilized man. whether he be Christian or heather.
the essential spirit of Easter the message of
Easter is the same-it is message of hone q
message of Joy and promise and a fulfillment
in one.
&c by Western Newspaper Union,