The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1934-03-29

.tat rsraa1 az tho Passover for many CEN I
t,,~,as hafora tho birth Of Jesus Christ. 1t WAS |
hasod unon the events which took place when /
tha Hebrews we're saved from the destruction
which was visited upon the Egyptians as given
In Exodus 2:27. The first Christians, Dein4
In the main Jews, continued for long liine
to observe the Passover as well as other hnclen'
ceremonies But gradually these early Ioiio"ers
Of the cross began to substitute the Christ TOT
the paschal lamb OF Israel In the PASSOVER ceie-
monies.
EvontuaIlv there arose difference OF opinion
hatwean the Christians OF Hebrew descent ana
those OF Gentle descent as to the time Wnen
thasa ceremonies should be celebrated. Inose
of Hebrew descent declared that the day OF the
death OF Jesus should be the date OF the endlng
81 the paschal fast. which In Hebrew rites al
WAYS was on the fourteenth day OF the moon ~
the evening Therefore the Easter festlval when
followed. might fall on any day Oh the week.
Thoue ~ (ente descent however. wanted the
fret day Of the week, Sunday, to be the nrst
day Of the resurrection festival. Thus the FRIDAY
preceding would be observed as the date OF the
cruciflxion without paying any attention 20 Tue
day of the month.
For 325 wears the difficulty between the Christ
fans OF Jewish descent and those OF dehlile
dascent continued. Not being able to decide the
Christian church finally appealed to the astron-
omers IN Alexandria, Egypt, for aid However,
tho scientists were not OF much assistance. Tor
thav had no lunar tables such as we now have,
comnntad nv master mathematicians. They at
tempted to make rules, but the variations OF inc
full moon In reference to the year would moi
cause Easter to fall on Sunday any more tnan
any other day. All wanted 1t to come on SUNDAY
40 each nation celebrated to suit itself SO that
II would come on that day. Thus In A. ID. 3ol
rho Ganls celebrated Easter on March a. IL
italy It fell on April 49, and In Egypt 1t fell OF
April o5
Eventually the selection or q certain Sunda.
was definitely fixed In the sixth century a. y
It was designated as the SUNDAY between lh'
nfteenth and twenty-frst days OF the moon In thu
arst month Of the Jewish lunar years It wa
directed that the computation should be mad
according tn the tables of Victorius OF Acqul
taine introduced In Asst A. d. Because OF In
fact that Britain had ceased to be part OF To
Roman emnire the Sixth century decree did nc
affect the British church at nrst, and II cor
tinued to calculate Easter on basis prevlousl
aDnroyed ut Rome. The matter was hnally al
nosed ~ Of SYNOD held at Whtby In Yorkshlr
IN ee4A n after which the clergy OF the Brtis
Isles conformed to the general practice OF tn
western church.
Accordingly Easter is now observed ov Dol
the Roman Catholic and Protestant churches
the FIRST Sunday after the full moon Tor fou
teenth day Of the moon) on or next after Marc
d So IT cannot be earlier than. March ~ NJ
Inter than April rs. Thus 1t Is possible for Il
astronomers and mathematician to tell In a
vance IN what dates Easter will come each yes
and they are now known for more than centu
in advance. Thus too, we know how often It
that young America will be confronted with :
problem that confronts them this year-that
celebrating on the same day two occasions Whi
are at the opposite poles 10 character eV
though they trace BACK 70 s'l ,,n,ar o''s'A