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)t' adlili I The Easter Festival _ By Lena M. McCauky j I I * ? t. HE. world itself keeps Easter ' Day," begins an old carol in recognition that Easter is a festival of. spring. While the Christian faith accepts it as a movable feast depending on the time of the Paschal moon, it is always * within the period when nature is awaking from winter to a renewal of life. QaS Each day the sun rises fljj earlier, its warmth'drawing the frost from the ground. V As if by magic the dull fields are veiled in tender gre in and the flowers bud in the sheltered places. t In the first days of human history the cave man rubbed dry sticks together to steal fire from the sun. When the sarin? melted the ice of f winter, he bowed more profoundly to the great luminary in the sky as it appeared in the east, and later when he built his altars he renewed the fires when the sun turned northward. The word Easter is from the Saxon "Eostre," the name of the goddess of spring. "Eoster" lived in the east with the rising sun. She was the most gentle of all the deities of the pagan world. As she tripped across the meadows the grass came out, the flowers blossomed, the ice was broken t in the brooks, and the streams sang mprrilv. All the earth reioiced. for the fairer seasons of the year were at hand. Significant of Resurrection. Each year Eostre was born again significant of the resurrection from the dead of the Christian faith. The young plants awoke to life from dry seeds, the chicks from the eggs, and everywhere in nature the springtide under the spell or Eostre became lovely after the winter's sleep. The Romans adopted the Saxon , Eostre as their goddess Aurora. When ' the Christian fathers were naming the feasts of the church it was a wise thought that brought the old nature worShip and the Easter resurrection into harmony. Tne emperor uonsiannne, at xn-e beginning of tfoe fourth century, resolved to fix the time of Easter that It should not conflict with the Jewish Passover. To prevent disputes, he made the rules which were accepted ai the Council of Nice in 325 A. D. The twenty-first day of March was known as the Vernal Equinox, the next full moon was the moon of Xisan, or the Jewish Passover, and the Lord's Day following was Easter Day. But if the full moon happened on a, Sunday, Easter Day was the Sunday after that. Old Easter customs, while differing widely according to religions and localities, had some things in common. The Easter flower has always been sacred to altars. Toaay we speai: o: the Easter lily, meaning the St. Joseph lily, and in other parts of the world the dnfod:!. or th^ nsrcissns, .>r the car.3 lily may be regarded as .lie ii.y. i J ? tzcm.I i 1K^r The colored Easter eggs, as gay as the Easter flowers in the fields, are universal. In Russia and in Paris, j and in fact today in all large cities of the world, imitation eggs are made of confectionery, and jewelers go so far as to make eggs of gold and silver and to set them with gems for the Easter trade. Ci/mKftlc I InivArca!. UdO'VI V/IIIWVIW wail* V v?f? r The Christian church introduced the most beautiful celebrations of all. Easter is the inspiring feast of the year and its celebration means a renewal of faith. Even inTemote parts of the world, where priests and their ; little flocks assemble, the Easter lights burn on the altars and faithful congregations sing Easier carols with joy. The most solemn celebration of all is that held in the Church of the Holy Sepulcner at Jerusalem, nignins assemble from every corner of Christendom, and ascend the Via Dolorosa chanting prayers. Man>r attend the feet-washing ceremonies, and throngs haste to the church where devotion keeps them waiting from Good Friday nntil Saturday afternoon, when the Patriarch with unlighted torch enters the gloom of the sepulcher. They watch with bated breath for his return. Xo light flickers in the darkness, then suddenly a blaze flames up, the torch is on fire and with a shout of thanksgiving the multitude breaks into singing a glorious hymn of thanksgiving. Those nearest the altar eagerly snatch fire from the torch, candl? after candle is lighted until every taper in the church is burning. The worshipers rise, the gloom is dispelled, and they go forth into the gray of th? morning greeting one another, "Christ is arisen!" meetijig the reply, "He is arisen indeed!" Ceremonies at Rome. The festal ceremonies at Rome are most splendid. The Pope officiates at ty-,kcc nn that dav and St. Peter's is filled witti cardinals, prelates, and dignitaries from all parts of the world. The day is ushered in by firing cannon from the Castle of St. Angelo. The magnificent basilica is richly decorated, altars are newly ornamented, the lights around St. Peter's tomb are burning, and the Pope is seated in his chair of Kate in vestments ablaze with gold. Beautiful Easter Carols. Easter carols are sung in all Christian lands. Some of the most beautiful are those from the Tyrol, where singers go from house to house. Spain gives way to joy in fetes, and gifts are made to the Virgin, who is adorned with her best robes and jewels at this time. Russians enjoy a gift tree, like our Christmas tree, while jewcied Easter eggs are exchanged in the imperial household. TO - ~ ~ J. 2.1 mere is u ni.vfciery auuui me origin of the Easter rabbit of Germany. Egg-hunting in the forest, where grown people have hidden the colored eggs, is as popular as egg-rolling is on the White House grounds in Washington. Tn some places doves are liberated at Easter, and it is quite general to fill Easter baskets with flowers. or cakes, and to make visits to renew good will among friends. A great deal of beautiful music has been written for the Easter services, which have become elaborate occasions in the churches. Many carols that are sung have?been handed down by tradition and repeated from father :o son. They frequently tell the New Testament story of the first Christian Easter morning when Christ rose .Vi-VA the tomb, and n-'ve all human bens o faith in immortality. IT | Cilctor I iygY? TccI in myself !!k cut flo;vn; *')C n:w 5 IkWMi eoer- 1 r:5!;:3> /sl:lne l$ ca bK*I)c2ycnw li ^cu say tl,c $ou Hi flU?) bodily powers. Ull W|)S-q when my bodily pew bead, but eternal $p 2t tJ5's ^cur t!)C *r2 ! ^ r0SC$ a$ at ^cs; rpWi end, the plainer T phonics of tbe world yet simple. THsal TTtfTV' Tor half a cenw mm in prose and ccrse? 1 tradition, satire, ode ?feel T haw not said1 Ulftcn I go down t< ethers, "T have fini say, "T have finish begin the next morni it is a thoroughfare, with the da?nu i i < "?~ ^ I Easter in . j j Jerusalem | j I i j [L. ? fFTER the wonderful midnight mass on the eve of Easter, when at 12 o'clock bells sounded within the church, and, as each one of the thousands assembled lighted his candle, the cry ! went up, "Christ is risen!" j came the Easter morning j /%nnrt f I rf'V'JT^> CC.l CiliWilJ' 1X1 lug V.UU1 V, - . | JiQ< the holy sepulcher. Ah, how gentle, how ten- 1 fK der, how touching, how vi- ! j tal it was, that simple V greeting of the wonderful morning after the delirium ; and the fury of the holy fire! Robert ! ? - - > ? A < 11 Hichens says in tne ^eniui\y. ?%.u hearts were excited to frenzy by the j holy fire. The Easter morning pro- . cession moved hundreds to tears, held them tensely silent. Instead of , the blue dome, spangled with artifi1 cial stars, a faint blue sky was over i our hea.ds. Instead of the glare of i the torches, the sunbeams fell mildly upon us. Instead of the yelling multitudes, we heard the sound of the wonderful bells. They began to peal forth just before the procession entered the court from the city. Down below me I saw tears streaming over the seamed faces of many Russians as they signed themselves, kissed one another, told one another, "Christ is risen!" answering to the triumphant proclamation of the bels, which, unwearied, reiterated their " marvelous message to the children of men. And the canvasses in blue and red and gold came slowly into the court, and a man carrying ";he cross, r and boys in red and gold with swing- ; ing lamps on chains, and many priests j in black. And there followed a priest j with his arms full of flowers, and be, hind him another bearing on high the risen Christ crowned with a halo of gold and framed in a glory of bios- i i soms. ' ! Then there rose from the thousands I of pilgrims a cry of sweet exulta- j ! tion, and the bells seemed to grow : louder as they told Jerusalem that the 1 marble house was empty, that the ' stone had been rolled ai^ay. The | bishops appeared in pale yellow, pearl i color and gold, all holding lighted : i candles. And last of all came Dam- : ! ianos, bearing a staff and a jeweled i I picture of the risen Christ. The pro- 1 ' cession stopped. The hells were si- j i lent. There was a pause. Then the i I patriarch took a step forward, gazed i at the immense crowd of adoring pil- ; Lgrims, lifted the jeweled picture of Christ, held it cut toward them and ' said, "Christ is risen!" As his voice died away the priest with the flowers raised his arms and j showered blossoms over the crowd; the bells pealed forth again; the pro; cession moved on and the pilgrims, j ! ^>icrn?l?r 1 i orli f ? v> CT +1"! C> i T? Mn^loc P T1 fl PTP I VagCUJ i.iw II 11-1^5 Ul'.ii J bracing one another, closed in behind, 1 1 crying, "Christ is risen! Christ is j risen!" 1 And so into the darkness of the j great church, quietly, softly, the pro| cession gradually vanished. The gloom | was lit up by the candles of priests : and pilgrims. Through the doorway T saw Damianos in his gorgeous vestments sink humbly :?ovn to kiss the stone of unction. Then the Russians, weeping with joy. movd :or"*ar"! ar.d f hid hill} l.ciu my { _S?iJ* * U wt 'LX z //>/ N \i u \_n ' i iu i \ s$ter I)ope^ future life. T am lilcc a forest once ftcots are stronger and livelier tfcan 1 knew. toward the skv. the sun , the cartl) glees me its generous sap, c with reflection cf unknown worlds. 1 is nothing but tfce resultant of the by, then, is my soul more luminous ers begin to fail? UMnter is on my ring is in my heart, there T breathe graitce of the lilacs, the violets and ty years, the nearer T approach the hear arounS me the immortal sym $ which invite me. Tt is marpelous, fairy tale, and it is history* iry T tape been writing my thoughts history, philosophy, drarca, romance, ; and song-T haue tried all. But T the thousandth part of what is in me. > the grape T can say, like so many shed my day's work." But T cannot ed tsy li'e." !Ey day's work will ing. the tomb is not a blind alley; Tt close.; on the twilight; it opens ?VICTOR HUGO. 'I Origin of I Easter f^HE lily is, in the great nations of the world, being considered as important nowadays, on account of its symbolism, as the holly or the evergreen. Indeed, there seems to be little difwiVii ference between the im fportance accorded to Christmas and that given to Easter. Each stands in its symbolism for a deep religious event, and each in its place holds a significance not to be filled by the other. It is regretted by some people that an observance such as the Easter festival had its inauguration in a ceremnnv that was an outgrowth of a pagan festival. But to the broadminded the fact appears as an evidence of the lasting traits of man, recurring in different ages, and modified to suit the conditions of the times. The twentieth century celebration is the modern evolution of heathen ideals influenced by those of the Christian religion. From time immemorial man has celebrated the birth of spring?the passing of the gloomy days of winter. Easter, through the happy initiative of the Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, was celebrated not on the dav of the Jewish Passover, but the Sunday after. The variation of the date depends upon the fact that the vernal equinox, of the 21st day of March, is the point from which the first Sunday after the full moon is reckoned. The first observance of Easter dates back as far as 68 A. D. From that time it has meant much to Christians, and :in the joyous rebirth of Christ fharA is n ^pnpral heartfelt resolution to emerge into the springlike freshness of newer ideals and better things. ? AN EASTER PRAYER. # ? 2> Cr & {j 0 Thou Sovereign Lord of & - - - - ... 25 g Life and Lignt, our Kisen. ?Dr Saviour and Helper evermore, ?^ we bless Thee for the perfect <2 and precious hope imparted to # ^ sinful humanity through Thy ? & atoning sacrifice and resurrec- & ^ tion. Supreme above all rnaas- # ure of earthly mind the love ^ which brought Thee from the <2 Throne of God to walk among ? men, bearing their burden of g sin along the Sorrowful Way, Jv and leading them upward to r> j & the glory of everlasting life | ? . . . , # Ar | # and joy in the Fatner s nome. r> ? Grant at tliis blessed Easter- # ; # tide that all darkened and ?> | ^ troubled hearts may open to ^ j # the light of the great Easter ^ truth and wake to newness of *? # life in Thee. Perfect in all ij* Thy children the inspiring <2 hope of Thy risen life, that r- | 1* they that are risen indeed with it ! <2 Thee may seek steadfastly ! % those things which are above. 5; | i2 Continue in all hearts the ri- I ^ cheer and strength and courage | tiv thp K!astpr message t- I jc and bring all to a saving ac- X \ v' eeptance of eternal life through : '' Christ our Lcrd. t[ j ~--v--v?."Vv", ?- . .. ?,?" . . j % ' si^r rvrtv KT'A NT/1 i ? . ? i li 1 *""]] y > -it *?:- ?? *.*vx>?"'' n /r t t ,. iviy pappiesi Easter ! I i ; , By H. B. Sonnebom c Distinguished for sweet saintliness it ! 3rew me nearer to the large and kindly side of human life. rspT was a happy thought, to | I ?OBI ftr.% w*/> +/% mlofo cfnrv I faon. me iu iciait j , of tlie delightfully picturesque Easter which I passed at Justin's net so many years since. If in my unskilled way I can trace the faces, note some of the soulful utterances, ; and limn the 'effect which 1 contact with the meek j spirits over at the low red > ? cottage near the bill, in- I spired in me, 'twill make ! me joyous of heart, and j stir my soul with thanks, j And inasmuch as Easter is j symbolical of spirituality, budding after a winter of worldlyism, ! and each Easter we blossom forth anew with a desire for more spirituality, it's comforting that in thought, at j least, I may turn to the scene which ? Ti * _ uplifted my aims and amomons. its i because of this that I try to coax back I ! to mind the incidents of genial good- j fellowship which humanized the occa- j sion of which I am about to speak. Right after sunrise there assembled j in the crowded combination room in , j the low frame dwelling, known for j I miles as Justir s\ thirteen cf us, e:ght j ! children and five adults. It waj a | I rare company. The old grandfather, j j slightly bent?a luxury of bushy hair ; | turned white?hands thin and knotty, I always outstretched in welcome, and Janie, the dearest little minx that ever reigned, at his side, coaching him ! if he should fail to discern the speaker, graciously acted as hosts, and made us all feel very much at home, j The atmosphere was so peaceful there I ihat one could not help but be drawn I to the others present. Like an en! chanted fairy's, Janie's golden locks shed a splendor all about the room, but with this glimmer was outshone j by the illuminated countenance of j the grandfather which radiated the light from within. "Weeks ahead, Janie had confided to ' me her design to ?et all the really j i poor children to come up to her place I for some Easter joy. To use her own j phrase, "I want to give all the poor i kids a lot of fun on Easter morn." In this I consented to act as procurer to the extent of inducing one little crip- , pie to promise for my sake?that was : the way I put it?to accompany me to Justins'. This little chit of a girl, - c r _a Agnes, was weary oi ueai L uetauac ui | the thought that her own widower? j mother, whose life's blood was going cut fast, could not muster enough j strength to attend, but she did not j evince any sign of agitr.tion for fei? ' '\it it uigii- a glocLi to scrde i i . i r&j' TEE MYSTERY 1 ^ *r-V?#kr??W?H5-s, -? ^ on the enthusiasm of the others. I have always believed that one of the ' J-- - - * tro a .' nappy moments iu nguco hit: na& > when Janie embraced her in her arms, j and literally smothered her in her small bosom with all the warmth that she could exude. ?1 . Hardly had the word been given' * that all was ready for the egg hunt, Y when I offered my arm to Grandpa, who, with his eyes always turned in my direction, from habit, nodded a gracious acceptance as ne suitea act tion to the word and hitched his arm into mine. Off we strode. The whole company, divided off in twos, threes and fours, scampered over the ground, examining every foot of soil to locate the nests of colored eggs, chocolate bunnies and other goodies which .had been secreted the day before by John Choppe, who alone did not join in the search. One moon-faced, round, chubKir hrnth rvf a hnv failing to extract any information from John Choppe as to the whereabouts of some of the "plants," was wandering off by himself, sulkingly, when there suddenly was great rejoicing and shouting. Far away?yonder by the sharp elbow in the stream where the enormous chestnut tree branches hang low?in that secluded spot, Janie carrvincr a little tot in her arms and lead ing caressingly my crippled friend, Agnes was seen, hclding high over her head what looked as a particularly rich find, ft was a large rooster in chocolate. Immediately from every part of the field came groups of anx- . ious eyes who wanted to examine the find at close range. There was great glee. After all the eggs that had been hidden by John Choppe had been uncovered, and there had been a generous distribution of the plunder, the company started to retrace its steps through the blossoming plum trees ' and reach trees, along an alley where the foliage in its symphony of green adoined the group of merry Easter children. It was here that Grandpa Justins drew us all nearer to him. He stood up in the center, all alone, and asked us to surround him, and be seated on the soft turf. His voice was like a song in a minor key. "I have long yearned for this opportunity to say a word to you, and this occasion is most favorable to thought and meditation." He was not preachy. He spoke in that gentle tone lor wmcn ne was Known au ms life. "I want to converse with myself and with you," he continued, "and make it possible for us to live closer to the inner life. I want to be more conscious that I am worshiping right, that I am *using the God-given grace for silencing suffering and sorrow, and strengthening the weak and the meek." His state of soul was of that delicate softness. As it is difficult to be happy and be away from divine influence, is it not hod +<-\ nroon nn a c rilneo tn th#* ffiim tain head of the precious love of the Master and Savior of Man? It was this thought that I have carried with me since that sermon of Grandpa Justins on that memorable Easter morn, Cnce !\"crc the Enste-tida. Once mor.? to :ind love : The I -"' 1 ! uves ?:* iiprfns C :r ? f r" ; .-12 above 1 i.C SiIIQ.