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anniversary of the Resurrection day, they claim that no observance at all should be had, and thus they tear from the Calendar that bright day which was the joy of the early Church. We are of those who would see all that is good, all that tends to develop gentle Christian feelings in the child, retained of the customs of our ancestors. Therefore we welcome Easter-day; we want it celebrated as the bright pearl in the Christian year which shines brighter and clearer than all the days that precede or follow it. Let the Church observe it, Her ministers dwell upon the glorious rising from the tomb of the God-man, Her members partake of the Eucharistic Feast which Her Head has bequeathed as a priceless legacy, and her children's hearts be glad with the good things of this life which are theirs, only because Christ lives. Let the bells ring out joyous peals, the choirs chant the glorious psalms of the sweet singer of Israel, and every one engage in godly merriment. Let the churches be decked with the evergreen and the bright spring flowers clothe the altar and the font and the desk; all these are our blessings because of Him, who this day rose from the dead.

Forget not even the time honored customs of the people. Let the Easter-egg,-types of the resurrection-be put in the hands of the children, but do not forget to tell them of the signification which these carried to the early Christians. All should be bright; all should have a living echo to the Hallelujahs, which now resound from church to church over the christianized world, and the song on earth will then be but a faint foreshadowing of that song of Moses and the Lamb, which it will be our joy to sing in the New Jerusalem above. Bury in the dark grave of the past, all angry passions and unkind thoughts, and for this day at least let peace and good will reign within our hearts.

In the arrangement of the Church-Calendar, it will be seen that Easter determines the location of all the moveable feasts and fasts of the year. Of course there must have been some reason for making it a moveable day, so different from Christmas which is celebrated all the world over on the same day. It was certain that the Resurrection took place about the Vernal Equinox and immediately after a full moon. Some of the early Churches celebrated it at the full moons, that is the day of the Passover, instead of the Sunday after. The Council of Nice laid down the principles which should determine its celebration, and these, with such changes as the rectification of the Calendar has necessitated, are in force with the Christian Church at the present day. Easter is the Sunday next following the first full moon after the 21st of March in each year; should "the full moon happen upon a Sunday, Easter day is the Sunday after." Following these rules we always have Easter after what is known as the Paschal full moon. We do not celebrate this day as a continuation of the Passover, but in honor of Him who made all things new, doing away with the types and ceremonies of the old. Seventeen Sundays are located by the location of Easter day. This is so well described by Prof. De Morgan that we quote his words: "Easter Sunday has always the

six Sundays in Lent immediately preceding, and the five Sundays after Easter immediately following. Of these, the nearest to Easter before and after, are Palm Sunday, and Low Sunday (Dominica in albis); the farthest before and after, are Quadragesima (first in Lent), and Rogation Sunday (fifth after Easter. Preceding all these are in reverse order, Quinquagesima, Sexagesima, Septuagesima; and following them in direct order, are the Sunday after Ascension, Whit-Sunday and Trinity Sunday. So that Easter Sunday, as it takes its course through the Almanac, draws after it, as it were, nine Sundays, and pushes eight before it, all at fixed denominations."

Occupying so important a portion in the division of the year, it was evidently intended that we should give it that special attention which this fact invites. Let us glance at the relation it holds to the seventeen Sundays through the lessons imparted in them by the orders of the Church.

The first Sunday in the Calendar dependent on Easter is that known as Septuagesima, the name indicating seventy days as intervening between it and Easter. The joyous Advent and Christmas season is now over. The Church has exulted over the gladtidings of the Incarnation, and now she prepares to consider the sufferings and death of the incarnate God. Repentance is carefully enjoined upon her members. They pray in the Collect, that "we who are justly punished for our offences, may be mercifully delivered by Thy goodness," and they read in the Gospel how, even as the house-holder paid those whom he hired last for his vineyard as much as those engaged first, the kingdom of Heaven has rich gifts for all-the last as well as the first; while St. Paul teaches them how they must temper themselves so as to gain the prize.

Then comes Sexagesima with its Collect that God would "look mercifully on our low estate, and cause His grace to triumph in our weakness, that we may arise and follow those who by their faith and patience already inherit the promises." The Gospel gives us the parable of the sower, in which we are taught how to hear the Word of God. The Epistle contains St. Paul's account of his sufferings, how he gloried in them all, even in his infirmities so "that the power of Christ might rest upon him."

In the

Quinquagesima-the last Sunday before Lent,-brings us nearer the season appropriated for special fasting and prayer. Collect we pray for "the most excellent gift of charity." The Saviour in the Gospel announces the character of his sufferings and death, and the Epistle contains St. Paul's glowing description of charity. Ash Wednesday notes the beginning of Lent, forty days, omitting the Sundays, from Easter. All the lessons and Collects during this season have some reference to the need of spiritual, strength, to prominent points in the life of Christ, and to repentance. The Lenten season is specially devoted, however, to the consideration of the sufferings and death of the Saviour. These are particularly considered in the Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, so called since it commemorates Christ's triumphal entry

into Jerusalem, when "a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; and others cut down branches from the trees and strewed them in the way." "This Holy Week was selected by the Christian Roman Emperors as the period for pardoning prisoners, to imitate,' according to St. Chrysostom, as far as might be, the divine goodness which, at this time, freed mankind from the dominion of sin.' It was considered a week of especial solemnity, and the words of Chrysostom will give us an idea of the importance attached by the early Church to it; in this week, the long war was brought to a close, death was quenched, the curse removed, the tyrannous empire of the devil overthrown, his goods plundered, God and man reconciled; heaven becomes accessible, men and angels were joined together; what had been dissevered was united; the partition wall broken down, the barrier taken away; the God of Peace made peace between the things above and the things on earth.""

The great sacrifice was offered up for us, once for all, on Good Friday. This was the great Fast-day in the Church. The narrative of the crucifixion is read and we pray that Christ may see of travail of His soul and be satisfied. The solemnity of this day is felt to be the fit close of the long Lenten season. On Easter Eve, the mystery of Christ's descent into Hades-the place of departed spirits-is brought before the Church.

And then on Easter Sunday-oh joy incomparable!—a risen Saviour in whom we can trust and surely hope for our own salvation. Aye bring your choicest decoration to the Church; let every art or device that can show joy be employed. The old custom of sending the flowers used in the Church decoration to the sick, so that they could participate in the general expression of our joy, was so beautiful a thing that we must lament its having been lost with many other simple but touching customs of antiquity. The Communion of the Lord's Supper is joyously participated in by true believers, who will allow only the most providential reasons for absence from the Feast on this High Day.

Then comes the five Sundays before Ascension Day-the celebration of Christ's Ascension into Heaven, where He sitteth at the right hand of the Father. In two Sundays more we have Whit-Sunday -the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Ghost; and on the next or Trinity Sunday, we hold in remembrance the mystery of the Trinity, thus completing that portion of the Calendar which is controlled by the Great Feast.

We cannot conclude these stray thoughts on Easter without quoting those beautiful lines of the Christian poet on the First Easter "It happen'd on a solemn even-tide, Soon after He that was our surety died, Two bosom friends, each pensively inclin'd, The scene of all those sorrows left behind, Sought their own village, buried, as they went, In musings worthy of the great event: They spake of Him they lov'd, of Him whose life, Though blameless, had incurr'd perpetual strife,

Whose deeds had left, in spite of hostile arts,
A deep memorial graven on their hearts.

The recollection, like a vein of ore,

The farther trac'd enriched them still the more ;
They thought Him, and they justly thought Him, One
Sent to do more than He appear'd to have done,
To exalt a people and to make them high
Above all else, and wonder'd He should die.
Ere yet they brought their journey to an end,
A stranger join'd them, courteous as a friend,
And ask'd them, with a kind engaging air,
What their affliction was, and begged a share.
Informed, He gathered up the broken thread,
And, truth and wisdom gracing all He said,
Explained, illustrated, and search'd so well,
The tender theme on which they chose to dwell,
That reaching home, the night, they said, is near,
We must not now be parted, sojourn here.-
The new acquaintance soon became a guest,
And made so welcome at their simple feast.
He blessed the bread, but vanish'd at the word,
And left them both exclaiming, 'Twas the Lord!
Did not our hearts feel all He deign'd to say?
Did they not burn within us by the way?"

A SCORE OF IMPOLITE THINGS,

IN WHICH YOUNNG PERSONS RENDER THEMSELVES DISAGREEA Sle.

1. Loud and boisterous laughter.

2. Reading when others are talking.

3. Reading aloud in company without being asked.

4. Talking when others are reading.

5. Spitting about the house, smoking or chewing.

6. Cutting finger-nails in company.

7. Leaving a church before public worship is closed.

8. Whispering or laughing in the house of God.

9. Gazing rudely at strangers.

10. Leaving a stranger without a seat.

11. A want of respect and reverence for seniors.

12. Correcting older persons than yourself, especially parents.

13. Receiving a present without an expression of gratitude. 14 Making yourself the hero of your own story.

15. Laughing at the mistakes of others.

16. Joking of others in company.

17. Commencing talking before others have finished speaking. 18. Answering questions that have been put to others.

19. Commencing to eat as soon as you get to the table; and, 20. In not listening to what one is saying in company-unless you desire to show open contempt for the speaker. A well-bred

person will not make an observation whilst another of the company is addressing himself to it.

EASTER HYMN.

BY Z.

Shout! oh shout! the victory's won,
Christ is risen! His work is done.
Sin, death, hell shall reign no more,
Bow ye saints, the King adore.

Hail the happy, glorious day,
End of Death, the tyrant's sway,
End of earth's long waiting night,
End of Satan's power and might.

Bruised is the serpent's head,
By the blessed Lamb who bled.
He bled, He died, He met our foes,
And conquering all, in power arose.

Hail! all hail! the glorious day,
The sting of death has passed away;
Life out of death, Heaven out of hell,
Sing loud His praise, the good news tell.

Christ is risen! Hail the king!
Saints your festive offerings bring;
Slaves no more to death and sin,

The eternal day is ushered in.

Lo, the king has burst the tomb,
Scattered and dispelled its gloom,
Turned its night to brightest day,
Driven all its fear away.

Hail your Prophet! Saints on earth,
He who gives you second birth;
Sing His glory, chant His praise
On through everlasting days.

Hail your Priest! The risen One,

God's eternal, only Son ;
He atoned for all your guilt

With His blood so freely spilt.

Hail your King! Behold His might,

Bursting through the grave's dark night,
He shall reign o'er every saint,

Rule the mighty, cheer the faint.

Hail your Prophet, Priest and King!

All your worship to Him bring;

Glory, honor to His name

All ye saints in songs proclaim.

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