PROPOSED FIXED EASTER. (Hansard, 25 March 1924)

§ LORD DESBOROUGH

My Lords, I wish to ask His Majesty's Government what steps arc being taken by the League of Nations to deal with the question of securing a fixed date for Easter. This is a question on which I have already 1033 addressed your Lordships, and on one occasion I went so far as to introduce a Bill. I much regret that the most rev. Primate is not in his place now, but he has expressed to me his regret that ho could not be present at this late hour and say a few words on the subject. When he last spoke the most rev. Primate wished for some expression of a public demand for a fixed date for Easter. At this time last year.I went to Rome to attend the International Congress of Chambers of Commerce, which unanimously passed a resolution in favour of a fixed date for Easter. Fortified by that resolution, I saw the two Cardinals who are chiefly interested in the matter, and after a good deal of negotiation with the Holy See it was settled that the matter should be referred to the League of Nations.

I should like to ask the Lord President of the Council whether he can give me any information as to what progress has been made on this important matter by the League of Nations. I understand that a Committee has been appointed on which the Œcumenical Patriarch is represented, as well as the Pope and the Archbishop of Canterbury. I believe this Committee has been formed and I shall be glad to know what progress they have made. One very important point is whether the question of a fixed Sunday for Easter will be made dependent or not upon the negotiations which are now going on with reference to calendar reform. It is perfectly obvious that if it is to depend on the reform of the calendar it will take a considerable time to bring about this much needed reform, but if not, then there are no insuperable difficulties to its being done.

I am happy to think that the representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury has made a public pronouncement on this subject, in which ho adopted my suggestion of the second Sunday in April as the most convenient date for Easter Sunday, for the three reasons which I have often given to the House—namely, (1), that it is the nearest Sunday to the now generally recognised date of the event which it commemorates, the Crucifixion of Our Lord; (2), because the mean date of one hundred Easters is April 8.3, which is another very good reason; and (3), which is also to some people a very excellent reason, that it 1034 divides the Christian year very equally, and would be convenient for the great holidays of the people.

§ LORD PARMOOR

My Lords, we all know the great interest that the noble Lord, Lord Desborough, has taken in this question. I will not follow him this evening into the various suggestions—and, I dare say, very valuable suggestions—which he has made from time to time, because his Question simply asks what steps are being taken by the League of Nations regarding this matter of fixing Easter, and it is on that point that I have obtained information as accurately as I can, though I am afraid it may not be entirely satisfactory to the noble Lord.

The question of the fixed Easter, together with the larger question of the reform of the calendar, has been considered in an exploratory manner by the Technical and Advisory Committee for Communications and Transit of the League. This does not mean that the question of a fixed Easter is to wait generally upon the larger question of the reform of the calendar, but both questions have been referred to the same body. This body has the assistance of persons designated by the Holy See, the Œcumenical Patriarch and the Archbishop of Canterbury. The Papal representative took part in a personal capacity only, and the same is true of the representatives of the other Churches. As a result of this preliminary inquiry the Communications and Transit Committee have appointed a special committee to continue the discussion in order to carry the matter further. I think the noble Lord would desire that this should be done. They have asked members of the League, that is to say, the various countries of which the League is composed, for their views', without prejudice, on the subject, with special reference to the documents which the committee of inquiry is to take as the starting point of its consideration of the question—namely, the scheme prepared by the International Astronomical Union in May, 1022, and the recommendations of the International Chamber of Commerce of June, 1921. I think that is in accord with the views of the noble Lord.

His Majesty's Government have not yet replied to the request for their views. The Home Office have expressed the view that facilities for legislation should not 1035 be afforded unless and until the promoters of any Bills can produce evidence of (1), the concurrence of all the Christian Churches; (2), the concurrence of, at any rate, the principal civilised countries; and (3), the existence of a public opinion, especially in industrial quarters, favourable to reform. The Board of Trade, whose views were also invited, have not yet expressed them, though they have been reminded of the matter more than once. For that reason I cannot tell the noble Lord what their views are. Ho will see, however, that the matter is going on before the League of Nations and that steps are being 1036 taken, and I believe we are at one both as regards the basis upon which these matters should be considered and as to the necessity of getting the assent or consent to which I have referred before it is finally determined. I might add my own view upon the matter. I am sure I sympathise with the noble Lord and wish him every success.