Easter come again, the dogwood blossoms with
the season, and seems to bear out the promise of
life renewed.
Tulips and daffodils are often used in Easter
greeting card designs, and once again we can
trace the legendary meanings of these flowers. In
medieval times, the tulip was believed to symbol
ize the Resurrection, and we can easily see an
early-day correlation to the occasion of Easter and
the blossoming of the tulips. The daffodil was
early likened to the trumpet, the musical instru
ment most often mentioned in the Bible.
Violets are a symbol of steadfastness, and in
today’s greeting card designs violets and other
flowers are pictured adorning the cross. It is said
that early Christians added flowers to their draw
ings of crosses on the walls of the catacombs thus
seeking to lighten memory of the cross as an in
strument of the Saviour’s death.
The egg, symbol of Life, has an important place
in Easter card designs and customs, and Legend
tells us that eggs are laid by the Easter rabbit on
Easter eve. So it is that little girls and boys leave
"nests” or baskets that they will find filled with
colored eggs on Easter morning. The chicks, duck
lings and bunnies who frolic about on Easter cards
have appeared as beloved greeting card designs for
many years, and are symbolical of the renewal of
life in the Springtime.
Easter takes its English name from the Anglo-
Saxon Eostre, goddess of Spring, whose festival
was held every April. The word "paschal” (per
taining to Passover or Easter) derives from the
French word "Pasques” for Easter, which in the
beginning came through the Latin from the He
brew name of Passover, the time of the sacrifice of
the lamb. The Jewish Passover comes at about the
same time as the Christian Easter, and is also a
time for rejoicing.
In the beginning there was much disagreement
as to the actual date of Easter, but the First Nicene
Council, A. D. 325, finally decreed that Easter
should fall on’ the first Sunday after the first full
moon or after' March 21. The earliest possible
date on which Easter may occur is March 22, the
latest, April 25.
This year Easter is early. On March twenty-
fifth the world and her people will be dressed in
Spring’s finery to herald the joyous Resurrection.
In legends and in flowers the Easter story is told—
and on Easter Sunday people from all walks of life
will throng their churches to sing hymns of praise
for the Saviour’s Rebirth. The happiness of the
world is told in the stories, the prayers, the an
thems, and the greetings of Eastertide.
FORGOTTEN MAN
OF MERCY
Becoming appalled with the bloodshed during
the War in Italy, a young Swiss banker named
Henri Dunant published in 1862 a booklet, giving
a shocking account of the distress of the wounded
left to perish on the battlefield for lack of medical
care. He urged the need for some permanent
organization for securing volunteers to aid the
wounded during times of strife. It was his hope
that military leaders in all countries would agree
on a sacred international plan for care of the
wounded.
Dunant’s ideas found fertile soil in the hearts
of several Europeans, so delegates of nearly every
country were asked to meet at Geneva to discuss
these ideas. A commission, which later became
known as the Comite International de la Croix-
Ronge (International Committee of the Red
Cross), was formed to study methods of aiding
the wounded in War.
This commission drew up a draft agreement
providing for national committees to assist Army
medical service by creating volunteer aid corps.
Also, an international meeting was called at Ge
neva from October 26-29, 1863, at which meet
ing there were laid down the fundamental princi
pals of the Red Cross.
But Henri Dunant had put too much time, en
ergy and money into his crusade. His ideas had
taken root, but his health was failing and his busi
ness was gone. He disappeared into the slums of
Paris, and soon he w^as forgotten.
Some 30 years later, a newspaper reported visit
ed a home for the aged in an Alpine village. While
there, he interviewed Henri Dunant, then an old
man, and wrote a story that made front page
history.
Nations all over the world honored him, one
Empress bestowed a life pension, he was awarded
prizes, and societies of all nations appointed him
to honorary membership. In 1901 he shared in the
first Nobel Peace Prize.
Honor, fame and fortune came late in life for
Henri Dunant as the result of a newspaperman
discovering him in a home for the aged and writ
ing these words; "The founder of the Red Cross
is alive and in need.”
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