Show EASTER Easter is observed by Christians in commemoration of the resurrection resurrection tion of Christ but its observances observance is s really an outgrowth of the thc Jewish Passover There is no mention of Easter in inthe inthe inthe the New Testament nor in the writings s of the apostolic fathers In fact neither Christ nor any of his apostles su suggested the keeping of this or any other festival as most of oC the early Chris Chris- Christion'S Chris tion'S were drawn from front the Jewish church hurch it was natural that many of the old Jewish festivals contin contin- continued tied to be observed by them and gradually passed into the Chris Chris- Christian Chris tian thin tian calendar In the ancient church the cole cole- brution of Easter lasted eight davs days but after the eleventh century it was limited to three later to two and finally to one The pro proper r time for the observance I ance of oC Easter has been the sub sub- subI subject sub I j d of bitter controversy among various Christain groups and at atone time one time no less than seven East I ers era were celebrated in a n single year In fact the Greek church did lid not adopt the date used by the rest lect of the world until 13 so that only during the last ten years has all of Christendom observed Easter simultaneously According to present usage which conforms to the date Continued on back page EASTER continued from page 1 lisped by the tho Council of Nice in inthe inthe inthe the year Easter can not fall upon a date earlier than March 22 nor later than April 25 it having been decreed that it should be the first Sunday after the full moon following the vernal equinox The last time Easter fell fellon on March 22 was in 1818 after which about three centuries must elapse before it occurs on that date again It fell on April 25 the last ast time in 1813 but will not occur so 80 late in any year of the present century |