The Portland daily press., 1874-04-06

are bursting FORTH the streams are let loose
from their icy letters and go coursng 10 tns
sea. We are all familiar with these signs Oh
spring, yet each of them is as great a miracle
as that the dead shall rise again. Neither can
be explained. vet both are true. The resurrec.
ton of Jesus is the seal of his authority. and
the great central point of our religion. AS a
commemoration of that resurrection, Easter
must ever be a festival of great interest to
all.
The preacher then proceeded to give simple
recital of the incidents attending the passion
and the resurrection of Jesus. He closed by
exhortng his hearers to Look forward joyfully
to the resurrection from the death of the body,
and to the life that is everlasting.
| ST. DoMINICK's.
The services at this church were very impress
sive. Tue high altar was profusely decorated
aud the music was particularly fine, consisting
of Schmidt's Mass in E fat Credo from
Stearn's Mass in D, and Haec Dies by Kapp.
One of the Sisters of Mercy presided at the
organ. The pastor, Father Wallace, read for
the morning lesson part OF the 10Th chapter of
|
the resurrection of Christ, from that chapter.
He pictured the darkness of the crucifxion
day, and in contrast spoke of the brightness of
the day when Christ arose. To-day all is joy
and gadness, because of that Savior who is
risen. All nature partakes of that joy and the
sun hastens to usher in the day with morn
ing of splendor. We should rise with our Saw
ior from the graves of our sins. Dying, He
has thrown open the gates of Heaven. For
every mortal sin W, commit we cruelty Christ
again-not on the cross, but by offending his
| love. His resurrection has given us new
| Christ. Seize then the feeting moments as
| they pass, and let them bear your virtues to
| the throne of God. The pastor then enjoined
them to remember the lessons of Lent and to
atone for past sins by confessing them, and by
attending confession during this paschal sea-
son.
ST. STEPHENS.
| The floral offerings at this church were less
elaborate and profuse than in several others,
but in excellent taste, and sufficient to symbol
ize the event which the day commemorated.
| A floral cross on the memorial window OF James
o, Brown was very elegant. The musical ser
vices consisted of an Easter Carol, Spring
Loving Sunshine" music written by Mr.. E. q.
Wentworth, the organist; loves chant in G
major, 'Christ onr Passover J. R. Thomas
| Gloria Patri: Kotzschmar's TIE Deum in F.;
selections from Haydn; Gloria Tibi; hymn 81,
Haydn; hymn &c. Mozart; chant, "Gloria in
Excelsis"
The sermon by the rector, Rev. A. Dalton,
was an exposition and application Of the sec
ond Psalm to the triumph of Christ over all
his foes. The points were, That the very means
his enemies resorted to for his overthrow proved
the occasion of his greatest victory. His res
direction gave new life to the world, and was
greater event than the Creation. From this
day, the last enemy of man was destroyed,
the forgiveness of sins was preached in His
name, the spirit of adoption was impaired, and
the children of men became the Sons of Goo.
Christ became the true light of the world, and
His kingdom is destined to revolutionize and
fill the earth.
In the afternoon the Easter anniversary of
the Sunday School was held. The floral en-
blems of the several classes were very beautiful
and the reports represented tt 9 school as in
| fouri hing condition. The chief feature was
the singing of the Easter Carols, two of
which were written for the occasion with music
by the organist. One by Miss Mary F. Deer
ing, we append:
The Day of Promise.
Let our joyful Easter song
Hail this Resurrection Day;
Oil OF JOY for mourning long,
Beauty now where ashes lay!
Greater love hath no man known,
Greater vict'ry ne'er won;
Love that hallewed Christmas Day,
Victory hall'wing Easter Morn.
Dark'ning Ger Christ's weary way
Lay the shadow of the Cross;
Wreath'd in flowers it stands to-day;
Christ hath su ffered all our loss.
Daisies lie beneath the snow,
Leaves are waiting for the word,
Flowers are folded yet to bloom
And the promise clear is heard.
Blessed promise of the day!
Blessed promise of the WOrdi
], the life, the truth, the way,
Jesus Christ, thy risen Lord!
FIRST PARISH CHURCH
The decorations at this church were quite
elaborate. The flowers were very rare and
| choice The arch in the rear of the pulpit was
| framed of evergreens surmounted by beauti-
| fully shaped cros The gas brackets on either
side were trimmed with ivy The beautiful
custom of placing upon the communion table
wreaths and crosses in memory of the de-
| ceased of the parish, which has obtained SO
| extensively at this church in years past, was
! observed quite as generally as usual yesterday,
and many floral tributes symbolic of the resur-
rection numbered the space in front of the sa
cred desk. A magnificent garland IF tea roses
reached across the pulpit at the top and bot
tom, and in the centre was suspended beauti
full anchor-cross in memory of DR.. Davies. A
basket of choice flowers hung from the pulpit
| lamps. The communion table displayed two
splendid crosses, one in memory of Mrs W. Fl.
Clapp. composed of azaleas, tea roses and ca
melias and one in memory of Mr.and Mrs. John
P. Boyd. In the centre was vase of magni
ficent Gala lilies in memory of Rev. DR.. Mich
OILS. Stretched across the table was a wreath
| of evergreen with Gala lilies entwiued, giving
fine effect. On either side of the communion
table were arranged large Numbers of small ia
bles containing memorial wreaths and crosses to
which were attached the pames of Mrs. j. N.
Winslow, j. F. Miller and David Stillings, the
| deceased sexton. There was also beautiful
| one furnished by Mrs. Fessenden in memory of
child. A large number of wreaths, crosses
| and baskets had no names attached. In front
of the table was large English ivy trained in
| to cross and large basket of choice flowers
and buds, to be presented to Mr.. and Mrs. Phe-
Ian. Over the centre aisle was wreath of ev-
ergreen suspended from the gallery. A large
and beautifully framed wreath of green was
twined around the front of the organ and
beautiful hand bouquets adorned each side of
the .organists seats. In the centre ofjthe organ
was finely arranged Tyre compressed of flow
ers of many colors. 1t was the browning glory
of the decorations. The view on entering the
house was very fine.
| In afternoon a children's service was
| holden, the Sabbath schools of the First Parish
and Preble chapel uniting. The exercises be-
gan by the reading of the service, 81 am the
resurrection and the life" by the pastor Sing
ing by the children of the Preble street chapel,
directed by Mr.. Jordan, was followed by the
reading of scripture, and by prayer. An Easter
hymn was then sung, the singing being direct
ed by Mrs. Wetherbee. A simple and appro-
pirate discourse to the children on the life
beyond was delivered by the pastor. The year
ly offering of the First Parish School was pre-
sented to Rev. Mr.. Phelan by DR.. Hill. Mr.
Phelan responded very happily. The Easter
| carol muSic nv KOtzSchmar than cunp Inv