The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-04-05
EASTER SUNDAY.
The Resurrection Prophecy and
Fuldlment.
Celebration of the Day in
New York.
MUSIC IN THE CHURCHES

This festival is the true Christian Pasch, and Is
called In the Engllsh-Sax0n language Easter Dav,
which signifies the least OF April. The English
Saxons called that month Easter, from their
goddess OF that name. In the beginning OF the
Church the jewish converts In some places kept
this soemnity on the fourteenth day ITSELF the
same on which the Jews celebrated their Passover.
The apostles had the con descenson TO allow them
this liberty, TO show the Jews that the Gospel OF
Christ did not condemn the Mosaic law, which IL
had made void 1ua!ng 1T. But the Christian
Paschal feast was in general appointed by the
apostles 10 be kept on the sunday that followed
the fourteenth day OF the moon OF March. The
Roman and all other churches OF the converted
Gentiles observed this rue. The contrary custom
was only tolerated for some time, that the syna-
go9ue might be buried with honor as ST. Augustin
said OF the legal ceremonies in general.
The Church's condescension In toleratlng In con-
verted Jews the use OF several ceremonies OF their
law continued till about the time Of The destruc-
tt0n oil the city and Temple In the year seventy
about forty years alter the death OF Christ. From
that time the practice of the Jewish ceremonies
has ever been condemned as superstitlous.
The Feast OF Easter s the regulator or all the
other great movable feasts OF the year. and has
always been celebrated in the Church with the
greatest s0emnity as the first among the five
principal feasts OF the Christian religion. The ad-
ministratlon OF the most holy sacraments OF Bap.
tism and the Eucharist IS performed on it with the
utmost soemnity, and the Catholic Church COM
mands all her children to receive Communion on
it, threatening otherwise to cut them OF from her
communion, SO that disobedence TO this precept
is . kind>of voluntary accommodation in the
eyes OF Catholics
This" says ST. Gregory Nazianzen, sis the fes-
tival Of festivals ami the solemnty OF soemuities.
lar above oil the other feasts IN the year. even
Of Christ himself, as the sun cuisines the stars.n
The mystery OF Christs resurrection, which is
celebrated on this great festival, was loretod In
many ways by the ancient prophets. Osee pro-
claimed that Christ, the new Samson would
throw himself upon death as upon his prev and
would vanquish and tear In pieces that furious
lion. II will redeem them ,the lsraelitesl from
death. o death viii be thy DEATH 0 he'll! i
will be thy bite!n or, according to the Hebrew, II
VIII tear thee with my teeth" Which text st.
where Is thy vcloryo The same prophet said in
another place. "He Will revive US alter Two days
1--we Inv IN in his sight, " $3.50 = ~ -
David clearly spoke Of Chris.'s resurrection
when, in the person OF the Saviour, he ald:-.'My
! flesh shall rest In hope, because thou wilt not
leave my soul IN hell, neither Wit thou suffer thy
Holy One TO see CorruptiOn.n
During the course OF His missionary career on
earth Christ frequently ioretod His resurrection.
Alter the glorious scene on Mount Tabor, where
three disciples VINO had attended Him :-"Tell the
vision to no man until the son Of man be risen
again from the dead" On another occasion He
sad to His disciples :-"But after am risen will
60 before you into talilee." Again, when He FORE
told HIS su1erings and death lie added :-"And the
third day He shall rise again.
The mystery which the Christian world to-day
commentaries is the most momenious fact in the
demption Of man; for, II the resurrection OF Jesus
Christ mas not taken place vain has been the Chris
ttan faith, unfOunded its hope and worse than vain
the preaching of Christianity.
Ohristians maintain that no fact in history stands
ON more Y llsputable testimony than the resur
reCtion. OF 4lrsr from the tomb. Christ was seer
by Mary Me- salene and the other Mary by the
two disciples gong to Emmaus. and BY Peter
alone. "Christ was seen by Cepaas and after tha
& by the eleven" Il Cor, XIV. 81 He was seen b,
the other apostles in the absence Of Tn0mas who
afterwards put MS finger INTO the place OF the
Jesus was seen by the eleven on the mountain
in Galilee, and at the same time by 500 brethren
The disciples saw Him at the sea OF Tberias, ami
lastly He was seen by the apostles In Jerusalem
before He led them cut into Bethanla ana assembled
1t is utterly impossible that such numbers O
trustworthy witnesses could have been deceived
or could have conspired TO deceive Others.
To-day. i'll every catholic church throughout the
world, ''Glorias" and "AlIeuias will be Joyfully
sung in honor OF this great festival; but in no par
OF the world will such unshackled homage be pate
to the fundamental mystery OF mans redemption
as in this favored land. Preparations on scale O
unusual magnincence have been made to celetrat,
Francis Xavier's and other Catholic churches. Ii
ST. Stephens the foral, the artistic aud the must
cal worlds will be made to contribute to the prOpe
observance OF the festival, while the glorious lau
dations OF Christs triumph over death VIII b.
spoken by the Rev. DR.. McGlynn.
Easter Music In the Churches.
The festival of the Resurrection Is general
observed by all Christian Churches with more tna
ordinary soemnity. To-day the leading churcne
in this city celebrate Easter with unusual gran
deur. We subjoin the principal programmes:--
ST. PATRICK's CATHEDRAL.
At the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Mott stree
choir OF thirtyhve voices VIII render the follow
ing Programmed
in A; .Aislua Lsmb!lotte
rsn sssn srs S% aoss cheru0n
The solo singers, with Mr.. Fl. Schmitz az con
ductor, Will be Miss sullivan, soprano; Miss hal
lard, alto: Mr.. Bersln, tenor, and Mr.. Urchs basso
Mr.. Gustavus schmitz Is the organlst and director
The Moral decorations at this church will be Of tn
ST. AIMS ROMAN CATHOLIC cHuRpH.
MT. Louis Dachauers choir wi sing to-da,
Dachauer's Second Mass" and Dachauers "ven
Mile. Henrietta Corradi, Mile. Octavie Courier ant
At Trinity church elaborate preparations hav,
been made. as usual, for the Easter Sunday ser
wees. me floral decorations, which are always re
markably appropriate and beauti al, are pre-
church on Saturday. There will be four services
on Easter day at Trinity beginning at sever
O'Clock in the morning with early communion
Morning. prayers, with the Liiany, will b,
held at niue O'Clock and the regular
morning service will begin at hali-pas
ten o'clock The evening service will begin at tour
The music, as usual, will be under the direction
Mr. A. II. Messiter, the chief organist, and the iul
orchestra Ql tprty-two pieces which assists at thu
Christmas services in Trinity, win also partlcipat
In the services on Easter Day. The following u
the musical programme for the haltpast ter
O'Clock service - - .. - wv.
,Processonai Hymn. 100 trfymns A and Ny, -; an
them, How ExceIlcnt Thy name, o Lord Handel
Chancos anthem from Psalms 0s lbs and I6 70 prais
ne LqTa W angels Of Hisye that excel In strength
Dsi Maza MASH So5art '1iors a Excess rs
N.Y.. 80. Evening -yroce ssionaI Hymn, ioI hymn
ana NJ, proper psalms lis, ia, lis; ''Cantate
Deus Mnereatyrn Atwood in u; anthem "Messiah;'
u know that MY Redecmer lveth," Handel; Reces
4 sonai hymn, llo Hymns and NJ. -
TRINITY CHAPEL.
Thnrn viii "a q rra 4 oil aaiaA