SOLUTION AT LAST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 117, 31 January 1940, Page 4

SOLUTION AT LAST

THE EASTER CONTROVERSY GOOD FRIDAY—THE 22nd We are indebted to the Rev. Gaulton for the latest and no doubt th,e correct explanation to the recent controversy on the dates to be ob-» served for Easter. Prior to his sermon last Sunday the Rev. Caulton mentioned that he understood there was some confusion and therefore proffered the solution. In the ordinary course of events; Easter is always the first Sunday after the 21st of March, upon which the full moon occurs. 1£ the fult moon is on Sunday then the following Sunday would be observed. In New Zealand In 1940, the full moon, occurs at 7 a.m. on Sunday 24th# so Easter should be on the 31st. But' $ in England the full moon takes place at 7 p.m. on Saturday evening, mak ing Easter Sunday March 24th. The variation is of course occasioned. by the variation of the times in the two hemispheres. In order therefore to keep a uniform date for the great Christian festival, New Zealand is*recognising Sunday, March 24th. It is interesting to note that Easter is actually a date, appropriated! by the Early Church to replace a Druidic festival which for centuries had been observed, in the FrancosBritish lands. As far as is known the true date of the Crucifixion can- . not be discovered and, it is easy to jfe l |j understand the desire of the early church to replace a heathen cere- ' monial with the greatest co-memora-tion of the Divine sacrifice. j

All over the Country. The BEACON goes to a at Christchurch and .recently an inquiry was received from Wellington in response to an advertisement, Now the paper is to go further afield as? 2 local girls attending, a well-known girls* school in Auckland have decided that they must keep in touck with Bay of Plenty affairs.