The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL, 18, 1908. EASTER DAY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 374, 18 April 1908, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, APRIL, 1 8, 1908. EASTER DAY.

Easter Day is the day of all days, the feast of all feasts and the Queen of all Festivals among Christians. It breaks upon the world in a flood of glory, thrilling every heart with ecstatic joy, dazzling humanity with the gigantic truth that there is a new life in union with a Risen Glorified Saviour, Men of all creeds and schools of thought catch something of the light of Eastertide, its rays untold something of the mystery of immortality. Enquiring humanity is able to ponetnate through the gloom and darkness of a material world and soar in the realms above, and gaze for a moment on the fringe of the Spiritual World. It is but a glance : but the memory of the beatific vision is the impetus of greater zeal and encouragement. The word Easter is derived from Eostre, the name of a Saxon goddess, whose festival was celebrated in the spring, and after whom April was called ‘ ‘Eostur monath.” Eostre, like East, comes from a root signifying to shine, and the name was not unfittingly transferred to that sacred season which is the springtide of fresh hope, light and joy to the world. Easter Day is a moveable Feast—it always falls on the first Sunday after the full moon, which happens upon or next after the 21st day of March, and if the full moon happens upon a Sunday, then Easter Day is the Sunday after. Eastertide is strictly a religious festival and the fact which it commemorates is the hope and life oflChristian men and women. The Resurrection of Christ is the keystone of the Christian creed, so much so that St. Paul says: “If Christ be not raised our faith is vain,” so the day on which this stupendous event is celebrated ranks above all other Festivals. It is a Feast of Joy, an outpouring of religious enthusiasm, for the greatest victory ever won for humanity. On this day the bells of Heaven ring out and carry their message to the utmost ends of the earth: “The Eord is risen indeed.”