Show THE EASTER FEST FESTIVAL IV At Tomorrow will be the tho great Easter festival It I Iwas was adopted by the Christians early after the after the Christian Christian Chris Chris- tian era but hut it was a very old pagan festival nally The thought behind it is a 3 beautiful one At first it was one one- of rejoicing that the white winding sheet of winter had once more been withdrawn that there was another promise of spring blooms another promise of the fruition of the har harvest est It was mans man's original method in giving praise for mercies received a n. method of expressing thankfulness fo for the good that had come to men to signal mans man's gratitude for forthe I 4 the coming of the spring and the feeling was exactly the same in the hearts of pagans before they any clear idea of the infinite power that rules and aud protects pro prO- teeth mankind that had the Christians when mixed i with ith all their thoughts was the paramount one that thaL a Sa Savior Saor or hal had come and that there was a hope of a certain heaven in the hearts of men As Christianity spread through Europe moro more and more demonstrative were the ceremonies of the day clay There were loving Joving greetings between people as the they met in tho the street In the churches and cathedrals there was all till the pomp of robed priests smoking ng incense incense in in- cense cease stately music music all all the impressive ceremonies possible to give sanctity and gladness to the day dar Thus established first b by rude rudo men that could not in any other way give expression to the gratitude e in their thou hearts new solemnities and a no solemn jO joy were ero added to it when the tho thought took positive form in inthe inthe inthe the Christian mind It has always been a no da day of tf especial interest its crowning feature being that it brings with it the promises of blessings to come blessings gs from on high and that it links mortals nearer with the immortals and so the day is made as ns it were a n connecting link between poor sin bowed man and the glorified ones in whose chamber ante mortals wait until the door loor opens into the eternal day dare It is one of the best of all the sacred days of the year because it comes nearer lifting the thoughts of men up and intensifying intensify intensify- ing the hope in iii their souls that when the sun goes down on this world it will rise on a sweeter one that when this brief day is passed an eternal day aj willI will will- dawn I |