The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-04-14
SUNDAY SERVICES.
The Observance of Easter.

as the weather was concerned, could have D.
any possibility had place in the calendar TO
an Easter Sunday than yesterday. The SKY
was clouded; all day there was falling ram
snow or sleet the streets and sidewalks "ei,
covered with mixture of dirt anu siosh'
and so slippery that walking was uiiconiiof''''
| BILE. Within the churches, however, al was
briobt and beautiful, and the glad carols OF
| Eostar ond the sweet flowers which typifed
and o,orified the day, filled the several edifces
With nerfume and song Music and flowers
were the aids of the service, and the resources
| of the florist and the taste aud skill of the
| musicians were fully taxed
CONGRESS SQUARE (UNIvERsALIsr1
At this church the floral display was probab.
| ly the finest and most elaborate of any in the
city, and the effect produced, especially in the
| evening, when the gas was lighted, was very
| me. Ihe elegant interior of the church pre-
sented tho usual magnificent appearance and
was pleasing and imposing. A heavy festoon
| o evergreen was tastefully arranged over the
entire arch, which dropped in graceful folds
| down to the floor. Suspended directly from the
centre of the arch and over the altar was the
"star of Bethlehem" some four feet in dame
Il
composed of evergreen, Gala lilies and white
rose buds. On the altar were two large pyra-
l midal white bouquets and suspended from each
side was two cunning little baskets hlied win
| the choicest of flowers, smiax and other fine
| vines trailing below. In the recess back OF the
altar were two beautiful crosses filled with
white buds, while on the right and outside
of the arch was the motto very distinctly work.
ed in evergreen,-"The Saviour Hath Risen
aod on the left.-"And Man Shall Not Die"
Under each sentence was an elegant Greek
cross, beautiful in design and finished in ever
green The recess and platform around the
alter were completely filled with pots of Gala
lilies and choice plants in full bloom, sufficient
In number to resemble miniature garden, and
which filled the church with their delicious
perfume. Running from the point of the arch
to each side was an invisible wire, from which
were suspended baskets filled with magnificent
white roses, smilax, passion vines and other
beautiful flowers. In front of the altar was o
large, elegant anchor-the emblem of Faith,
presenting the idea of being rooted and ground
ed in hope-tlled with fine evergreen and
covered with white roses, heath, myrtle, ger
aniums and other choice flowers. From the
gas lights were suspended baskets of ivy,
while magnificent floral harp was placed in
front OF the organ. Elegant vases on each end
of the platform were filled with rare flowers
and running vines. On the communion table
were elegant bouquets and wreaths, a beautiful
bouquet in memory of the late Leonard Billings
and an elegant wreath in memoriam of the late
Miss Mary A. Butler, who was for long time
n taachar in fba Sunday School Tho disa.
greeable weather which prevailed yesterday
seemed to have no effect in diminishing the at
tendance at this church, a larger number being
present than any Sunday for month past.
All present felt fully repaid for venturing out
on such discouraging day, in the privilege
they had of listening to the very eloquent
sermon by the pastor, Rev. w. E. Gibbs, who
commenced his discourse by saying:
will take my text this morning, from my
surroundings They speak to us to-day, and
express our praise, our joy and our hope These
beautiful flowers are themselves teachers, in
structing us concerning the creative skill of
the great Architect, and of our dependence up
of gladness and growth. How charmingly they
adorn the house of God, and with what pleas
ure our eyes linger upon their beauty. After
the long, cold winter, how refreshing to see
SUCH eVlucUCeS u lll6, dUu 10 IedllZe soon
the whole face of nature shall he wreathed in
like graceful and gladstone charms. Surely,
none can refuse to praise God, "for His good
ness and for His wonderful works to the child
rem of men," Looking upon these attractive
and delightful witnesses of our Fathers love,
our hearts must be dead and cold indeed, if
they can find nothing to rejoice in, and nothing
to hope for in that affection of God. He who
thus clothes the grass Of the field which is so
soon cut down and withereth, shall He not
much more clothe you? Oh, how weak is hui
man faith in Divine power, that men can look
upon such beauty, and yet be afraid to trust
to God, to call forth from every life something
from earth the rich loneliness of which her life
is capable, is but testimony of His design to
educe from humanity the best that inheres to
their souls. Why else are such grand POSSIBLE
tiles given us? We cannot suppose He will |
allow any to remain defective when only His
will is necessary to make them faultless. Were
this life all, we should have good cause to de- |
spair. But the life here is but the beginning,
the budding with many, the promise to bud
feet fruit still further on, in hfes continuous
chain of evolution. The fruit that in early sum.
mer is hard and sour melowed by the autumnal
sun becomes rich in juicy sweetness. So may
souls, that here but partially develope their
powers, under the influence of the heavenly
radience and sunshine, become mellowed to |
perfect obedience, aud sweet with loves SUBJ
missiye trust. When the dark river is over
passed, God still leads the soul, seeks to evolve
its good, and continues his endeavor until the
cerements are broken open, under the influence
of loves sunshine, and the leaf breaks forth,
the blossoms fill the air with fragrance, and
fruit, at last, rewards the patient providence of
God: Not in moment, not in day.. but in
the fullness of time, everything is ready, and
the perfect result for which Jesus came is at
tanned. God is not glorifed by failure. Hence
when His effort ceases, it will be because the
end has come, when, every enemy subdued
shall be all in all. These flowers teach us how
to praise our maker. Though but for day
they bloom, yet they make use of every ray of
sunshine, and of every drop of moisture, to
evolve the perfect bloom. They answer, with
most accurate fidelity, the purpose for which |
God created them. So ought our lives to ans |
wer the purpose of God as to fill with content
and pleasure the hearts of the angelic host as
they look on us. However brief the existence |
here, human souls should make wise use of every |
opportunity and privilege which will aid them |
in developing the beauty and power which love |
has made possible, and in which God glory is |
advanced as well as human good.
Nor are the flowers our only teachers here to-
day. These symbols clothed in evergreen,
these crosses, anchors harps, all have voices
now to tell us of self-saeritce, hope and thanks
giving. With what power Of inspiration they
recall to our memories, Him whose life and
death they symbolic The cross, rich in the
lesson of self-sacrice, is fifty decked with ever
green and adorned with lilies and roses Looking
on it here, men learn that he who lives most
out of himself, lives nearest to the Father, in
that self-denying love, furnishes the strongest
ties to bind in closest union the Creator and His
creatures. Well may we welcome the cross,
and glory in it, and taking to our hearts the
teaching of self-denying love, should learn to
give expression to its power and loneliness So
the anchor, symbol of hope, fifty plays a part
in the Easter decorations Men need its teach
ing. We have no right to clothe life in gloom,
and drench it with tears. Despite our grev- |
ances God is better than such thought would |
represent Him. The same breath that gathers |
can scatter the clouds, the hand that separates
US can bring us together again. "Hope thou in
God" And amidst our grievngs, let there be |
music too. The hymn Of grateful thanksgiv- |
ing, the song of hopeful Joy, the psalm of trust,
the glad melody of love- Beside the cross |
stands the harp strike its chords, and through |
the air there sweeps the harmony of Heaven |
Angels join the triumphant song,
"Jesus hath cheered the dark valley of sorrow;
And babe us immortal to heaven ascend"
And the motto, ''The Saviour hath risen, and |
Man shall not de- how it, fills out the lesson |
of the day. The hearts of men find strength |
in the faith thus taught. The burden of grief |
is lightened by the hopes in Christ's resurrec-
ton confirmed. The way of shadows has been |
illumined by the Light of Life" This day |
brinos tn uS AGAIN the DrOnliSe which in ,JeSnS |