Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1933. A FIXED EASTER

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18064, 15 April 1933, Page 6

Poverty Bay Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING GISBORNE, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1933. A FIXED EASTER

Most people find it difficult to understand why the two outstanding festivals, Christmas and Easter should differ in this respect Hint one 1 is fixed and the other moveable. Both ' relate to events of the greatest historical and sociological as well as religious significance, and whilst in the case of Christmas there has been universal adoption ot a calendar date, which whilst it may or may not be' historically or astronomically accurate, is unvarying, Easter occurs at

timo 'within a range of 35 days

and to the average person its date fixation is a somewhat abstruse process, though in reality simple enough but calling for a calculation involving the vernal equinox and tho new moon. The date is of practical concern to more than church people, for business interests arc largely involved, and regularity and certainty in regard to periods of time occupied by business arc matters of considerable importance. Whilst it may be desirable for the purpose of maintaining and extending religious sentiment to have the anniversary commemoration of what was undoubtedly the greatest event in history as near as possible chronologically to the actual time of happening, it does seem i to us that not much would he lost \ in the way of reverence or sincerity ; in the celebration by having an East or at the same period every year, and this is a matter that those people who arc engaged in the promotion of calendar reform should certainly include in their propaganda. Past attempts to give fixity to haster have been attended with a good deal of ecclesiastical controversy and bitterness, but the world lias moved forward since then and there is greater tendency to harmony and friendly co-operation now than ever before. When tho world moved leisurely, when its commerco was niter-related less closely, a varying Easter did not so greatly matter. But in this modern era the world likes to work on a regular routine, and the annual recurrence of vagueness in regard to the observance of a substantial break in business is calculated to cause quite a considerable amount of inconvenience. On various occasions within recent years Chambers of Commerce and Industrial Associations have indicated the advantages that would attend upon tho Easter date being made more rigid. So cogent was the mass argument that the League of Nations, in its role of universal adjustor, four years ago set up a committee to inquire exhaustively into the general question of reform of the calendar. That question has numberless phases, and tho fixing of tho Easter date is conceded to be a phase almost exclusively the concern and, indeed, tho prerogative of the churches. To the churches, therefore, the committee appointed by the League made appeal. Tho Holy Sec, in reply to a question as to its attitude, said that any changes in regard to the fixing of Easter would meet with no objections on the point of dogma, but it would not be prepared to consider tiro question of change except on the advice of an Oecumenical Council. .It is understood that the Holy See is calling a Council this year to deal with tho matter. Tho Orthodox Eastern Church said it was prepared to pronounce in favor of the stabilisation of Easter if all Christian churches were in agreement. Two years ago the Convocation of the Anglican Church decided that there was no dogmatic reason why the •church should oppose a fixed date, but tho church could not consent to tho proposed change unless it was accepted by the other Christian communions. Other Christian bodies consulted re plied that they were ready to fall in with the change. Governments and civil bodies also expressed themselves in favor of the reform. It would appear, therefore, .that the prospects are favorable for a calendar revision which will give Easter its permanent specific date for observance. When the Church councils have decided, legislative action will need to be taken in the various Parliaments of tho world, but with the recommendation of the League and public approval, this should not be a difficult or dilatory matter. If at the same time calendar reform were niado to embrace a year of 13 periods of four weeks, with tho first day of each month falling on a Sunday, a further great gain in the simplification of business and social life would be attained.