Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 April 1874 — The Passover. [ARTICLE]

The Passover.

The Jewish people b?gan the public celebration of the TEaster-J festival season last Thursday. Among the orthodox faith this pe- • riod embraces eight days, extended ! from seven because of the uncertainty of the ealander, —but among the Reformed Jews it embraces but seven, the first and last of which ' are observed in the places of worsk ip. In order that the distinction and some of the causes of the di- 1 vergence of the new' faith from the ' old may be made clear, it may be stated that most of the Israelites of this country are of-the Reformed body, which had its starting point in Prusia, and has for its aims an accomodation to the spirit of the Mosaic law while conforming to changed conditions of life and dietary laws, which differ in different countries. The Reformed Church holds that the custom of observing ; this season did not originate at the ] time of the. Passover, but has been a common custom. among all the nations of the eaith, springing out of the change of seasons. Ostra, from which Easter is derived, was the Goddess of Spring, and her adv ent was observed by -various symbols signifying that a new life had begun. From the Teutonic race the egg, which is a germ of new life, became a symbol ofthe season, and the Romans held to the same custom as the Jews and observed it by eating unleaven c d bread, standing with staff in hand and sandals upon their feet, representing by this sign that the pilgrimage of another year is at hand. The Jews are commanded on the 14 th day of Nassin—the Chaldean name for the first festival of the year—to bring the Passah Lamb as a sacrifice, the blood of which is sprinkled on the door posts and lintels; this also became the sign of the Passover, and the hurried flight of the Children of Isreal out of the land of Egypt. The eating of unleavened bread and bitter herbs in the' attitude mentioned, and the slaughter of the Paschal Lamb are therefore looked upon as formal ceremonies by the Reformcd Church, and not as essential commands. The orthodox faith believe in -the vigorous practice of the custom, and all their preparations are made to this end. The animal is slaughtered in the special way, it is then investigated. to see if it is imperfect in any respect, alter which the benediction is pronounced upon it. No unclean hand, is allowed to prepare the unionvened bread or touch the lamb. The distinction of belief in regard to the ceremonial is briefly summed up in the statement that the old faith held strictly to the form, while the

new faith believes more especially in the spirit of the observances. — ■ In regard to spiritual significance, it is celebrated because the redemption of Israel is expected, or rather) because ever since the destruction of the’Temple the Redeemer has been expected to return again and deliver them; and here the Reformed. Church again differs in not expecting the Messiah to return to earth, but yet believing that God will be the Redeemer, and that Israel is the only martyr for the redemption of men, the messianic, hope being the central hope of each, but differing as to the nature of the manifestations. The Reformed Church, however, celebrates the season by many peculiar observances. Oh the evening preceding it, it is the general custom for the father of the family to draw his flock around him and relaterthe history of his people, their bondage, slavery, and redemption, and after this the unleavened bread is eaten and wine, which signifies joyfulness, is drankThey also partake of some new. plant of spring,-—the bitter herb, — and the meat and Easter-egg are laid on the table.— Chicago Tribune. Crude soda to the amount of 128,000 tons is used in the United States annually, in the manufacture of j glass, soap, and other articles of , general consumption. • This is ob-I tained in the far West—6oo miles I ■from Omaha and 40 miles North of the Union Pacific that locality, the soda is found in all comiitions. Onedepo si t of the > carbonate is many acres in extent, six feet in thickness, under which is an alkaline liquid. This mass contains 20 per cent, more of carbonate of soda than the crude article now manufactured. “ The city of Valparaiso owes about 100,000. i