The Portland daily press., 1869-03-29
Raster sunday.

Raster Sunday.
A more beautiful day could hardly have been |
imagined, at this season of the year. and in
this Northern clime for the festival of the res
direction. The heavy rain of the past week, |
and the warm sun of Saturday, had almost |
dispersed the snow and ice from our principal |
streets, and the sidewalks were crowded with
church geers and pleasure seekers.
ST. LUKE's CATHEDRAL.
The floral decorations at this church were on
very extensive scale. The altar was covered
with magnificent altar-cloth of white corded
silk, embroidered with emblems in gold thread
and colored silks, manufactured in England.
and presented to the society, by Miss Folsom
of New York. The upper part of the altar.
was bed of evergreen and roses, which sup
ported an elegant cross, composed of the same.
Below the rose window was the crown. sur
mounted with the cross, in evergreen and small
white flowers. A long line of green, filed with
choice flowers, stretched from one side to the
other of the chancel, and above the Bisbon,s
chair was the mitre formed of like material
In front OF the altar stood large basket filled
with the rarest exotics, from which depended
trailing vines that swept the floor The front
of the organ was mass of evergreen. and the
chancelrails were cushioned with roses entwined
in evergreen. On the reading desk and field.
stool, or litany desk, were correspondingly ele-
CANT cloths to that of the altar and forming
part Of the same set. Back of the reading
desk was splendid cross some three feet in
length, composed of evergreen, twining vines
and roses, and surmounted by choice wreath.
IT, (rox,k - +1n o1xa
basket of flowers
The services were appropriate to the day and
included the music mentioned in our Satur-
days issue, which was finely rendered by the
choristers, accompanied by the organ, and a
sermon on the resurrection by Bishop Neely
The Cathedral was thronged to its utmost ca
| pacity.
ST. DoMNIcs.
| When we reached this church, at early SER
vice, the crowd of worshippers extended out
on to the sidewalk so that we barely caught
| glimpse of the altar, which was decorated with
all the splendor of the Romish Church, and
displayed some half dozen boquets Of choice
flowers, while the shrine of the Blessed Virgin
was almost smothered in elegant floral offer
ings, among which may be mentioned the Gala
lilies whose cups were filed with pinks, a very
pretty idea At half-past ten Farmers cele-
brated Mass was sung, and at the offertory
Lambillottss "H@c guam fecit''
ST. STEPHENS.
| In the afternoon we looked in at St. Steph-
ems The font presented beautiful appear
anee, filled with the choicest flowers and trail
ing vines, which gave to the whole affair par
| ticularly graceful appearance. There was also
an elegant cross before the reading desk and
on the ledge OF the great stained glass win
dow, in the rear of the chancel, were two
others. A very touching feature of the occa-
sion were the floral offerings brought by the
children and placed upon the alter. The
morning service was very interesting, we are
informed: A fine sermon appropriate to the
day was delivered by Rev. Mr.. Dalton and the
"Te Deum' in +, by jackson, was sung and
also "Gloria" by the same composer Ow-
ing to the illness of the leading soprano, her
place was very ably filed by another.
PARK STREET.
Rev. Mr.. Buck preached very able sermon
| to his congregation in the morning on the fa-
mlliar topic of the day, and the choir were
very happy in their musical selections. The
display Of flowers was very tasteful one. In
'front.' of the pulpit stood an immense cross
composed Of white and tea roses, and wreathed
gracefully with ivy. The communion table
was bed of green, in which were entwined
numberless choice flowers of all colors A
large basket of the rarest that could be pro-
cured stood in the centre of the table, flanked
on the right by cross of white rose buds
and on the left by cross of azaleas. Pots of
shrubs were placed on either side, the general
effect of the whole being charming.
CONGRESS SQUARE UNIvERsALIsr,
At this church the services were but slightly
varied from their usual order. An Easter an
them was sung by the choir, and the subject of
the sermon was the triumph of Immortality
of Life over Death. The floral decorations Of
the church were extremely beautiful-lavish
in profusion, and arranged with exquisite taste.
The pulpit recess was transformed into Aow-
cry grotto. The arched entrance to the alcove
was festooned with garlands; and from the
pendant between the arches hung a basket
filed with delicate blossoms and long droop-
ing tendrils. In the rear of the pulpit, visible |
above thickst of ivy and blossoming olean-
ders was cross composed of evergreens and |
large Gala lilies, and surmounted by crown |
of flowers, with the motto "Christ is risen"
Similar crosses, surmounted by stars, adorned |
the sides Of the alcove. Upon the pulpit, |
around its base and covering the communion |
table, were gathered every description Of fra |
grant and lovely growth which the season
affords, the white rose and the Gala lily, the |
especial flower of Easter, predominating. |
Many of the wreaths, bouquets, &c., wsro me- |
mortal offerings to friends who have died dur |
ing the year. The following Easter hymn,
written by the pastor, was sung to appropriate |
music:
Deck the Cross with flowers to-dayi
Sweeter ofering there is none
. Which our willing hands can lay
On the Cross Of Gods own son.
Once that Cross in sorrow stood,
Cginson-sprinkled with His blood
Now it is the Victor's pride;
Christ is risen, is glorifed
Hail with music's gladsome breath
Easter, spring-time of the year!
That which broke the chill Of dealh
Should dispel our wintry fear
Lord whom women early meet
Lord, whom fishers wondering greet!
Lord, with pierced hands and sidei
Thou art risen and glorifed!
Best and dearest pass away;
Yet within our souls shall be
Smiles, not tears, since can say,
Thou hast taken them to Thee.
For the path that sunk in gloom
Led them through Thine open tomb
Where the narrow doors grow wide
To the Risen and Glorifed.
Ours is still the Cross to bear
Ours the loss ffe's falseho ds make
Tolls and troubles ours to share
Still, for the Redeemer's sake,
Help u.s. Fafher Heaven is near
Hope is bright and duty clear,
When we see Thy throne beside
$hrist arisen and glorifed.
sb AL f swEDENBoRGIAN.
Easter Sunday was recognized by this Soci-
ETY. by services which had reference to the day,
and by the administering the rite of baptism
to eleven persons. very elegant bouquet
was placed upon the reading desk.
FIRST PARISH
The afternoon celebration by the children of
the parish Sunday School, and those of Preble
Chapel, filed the church to overfowing. The
Easter Carol, composed by lady of the Socie-
ty and set to music by Kotzschmar, was sung
by the First Parish children and replied to by