A FIXED EASTER.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPEC? ATM."
S IR, —With Lord Desborough's grievance we must unani- mously sympathize, but I venture to think that his proposed remedy would involve more difficulties than he realizes. At a moment when Christians of manifold denominations are anxiously setting their faces towards this hope of Reunion, it would seem rather disastrous in such a matter as the Crowning Christian Festival to initiate a fresh dividing line between the Church of England and the rest of Latin Christendom, for I fear there can be little chance of the Pope following the lead of England any more than has been done by the patriarchs of the Orthodox Church of the East. I deprecate, therefore, the prospect of seeing Europe, not to speak of America, presenting the spectacle of three divergent uses. Very many years ago I tried in vain to persuade a High Church M.P. to move in the House that the Parliamentary spring recess should be fixed regardless of Easter. Take the second week in April for the proposed date. This would often include our very variable Good Friday and Easter Day, but
in any case if Parliament was sitting in Holy Week a week- end adjournment would be practicable. Apart from the many and great inconveniences mentioned in your article, surely all busy people desirous of spending the Holy Week devoutly would be strongly in favour of putting an end to the present enormous rush over land and sea which is now universal at that solemn season. I assume, of course, that the date decided on by Parliament would be immediately and thankfully adopted by legal authorities, universities, schools, colleges, &c., to the great relief of all concerned, and with no danger of exciting religious objections or splits.—I am, Sir, &c., L. C. F. O.
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