The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1877-04-02
EASTER.
OBSERVANCE OF THE DAWN OUR
CHURCHES.
The FLORAL Decorations, Music and Ser

Under the rule laid down by the Council Of
Nice, Easter fell this year upon the first day of
April and yesterday the Christian church cele-
DRAFTED the resurrection of the Saviour The
! gloom and sorrow Of the Lenten season gave
place to joy and gladness, as the words came
! from the Sepulchre to the believers, HE is not
here, he is risen." The day was as joyous as
the event which it commemorated. The morn
| ing sun rose bright and clear and the sir was
warm and spring-like. The churches were
thronged with worshippers, and in nearly all of
them services appropriate to the day were held.
Indeed, it is somewhat curious to note how
prevalent the custom of Esster observance has
become. Not many years ago outside the Ro-
| man and Anglican churches the day was suf-
fered to pass unnoticed. Now hardly clergy.
man who does not give it some token of recog.
ignition, hardly choir which does chant its
anthem to risen Redeemer, hardly sacred
desk which does not bear the mathematical
flowers of spring. With each recurring year
the custom is extending itself, and in the ear
future the whole Christian world will sing in
unison on Easter morn, "Christ the Lord is
risen to-day"
FIRST PARISH.
The floral display at the First Parish church
was very beautiful and characterized by ex-
quisite taste. From the brackets on the gall
lerv wall small baskets of choice flowers and
trailing vines were hung. The alcove 10 the
rear of the sacred desk was edged about with
evergreen, studded with great callas, while a
cluster of callas knotted the meeting bands.
Upon the desk were vases filled with rare
xotics. Its body was quite hidden in masses
of evergreen, from which many blossoms
peeped out. The altar table was covered with
memorial offerings, in accordance with the
beautiful custom which obtains in this
church. The offerings were naturally even
more numerous than in former years, time
constantly widening the circle of mournars in
the parish. Conspicuous among the offerings,
all of which were very beautiful, was the vase
of callas in memory of DR.. Nichols. The
colors of the flowers were chiefly white and
red, the emblematc colors of purity and pas
sion, though one exquisite basket of roses Of
all hues was conspicuous upon stand. In the
organ loft bouquets were placed before the seat
of each member of the choir
The reading was the twentieth chapter of the
gospel of John. DR.. Hill selected his text
from the same gospel.-chapter K, verse H.
Therefore doth my Father love me, because 1
lay down my life, that might take it again."
His central theme was the Resurrection, its
promise and its lessons In the course of the
sermon he referred to the reading, and stated
as the probable reason why Jesus was cruci-
fed. that it was the most conspicuous mode of
execution under the Roman law, so eonspicu-
GUS that the fact of the execution could be
denied by none. So when Jesus rose from the
dead he went into his own country, where he
was known of all men, and was there seen for
many days. Thus the two great central facts
of the Christian religion, the Crucifxion and
the Resurrection, were of so public nature,
and SO strongly sustained by human evidence,
that there is no room for reasonable skep-
ticism.
At three o'clock the annual joint Easter
observance by the First Parish and Preble
Chapel Sunday schools was held at the First
Parish church, under charge of the superin-
tendents of the schools. 1t consisted of sing
ing and responses by the schools, the singing of
the Preble Chapel school being under the
direction of Mr.. E. A. Jordan, the efficient
and devoted instructor of the school in music
Remarks appropriate to the occasion were
made by Rev. DR.. Hill ard Mr. E. S. Williams
of the Preble Chapel school read beautiful
Easter oem. The penny contribution of the
First Parish school to the "Poor's Purse of
Preble Chapel, amounting to over eight dollars,
was presented by Mr.. Burgess with apt re-
marks to Mr. Phelan, whs made a fitting
response. Bouquets were presented to the
officers of the Preble Chapel school and a
small bouquet to each pupil. A fine basket of
flowers was given to Mr.. and Mrs. Phelan as
token of appreciation of their devoted and
untiring labors in the ministry at large. The
exercises were very pleasant and the schools
appeared admirably.
The music at this church, under the direction
of Mr.. Kotzschmar, was of very high order.
The following is a list Of the music at the
morning and evening services:
MORNING.
Easter Anthem Lift up your stately heads.
Hymn. -. Resurrection and ascension of Christ
Hosanna to the Prince of Light.
Hymn Rise crowned with light imperial Salem Use
Chant ...,Christ our Passover is sacrihsee for us
vEsPER SERVICE.
Hymn-.Angels roll the stone away. ..by Greatorix
laser Ahtnem ~ ;HanKs
ITlSdRlQu hodges
lie Deum. Observation-Disclosures. Kotzschmar
Closing Hymn--sing we the song Of the redeemed,
Worthy the Lamb for sinners slain
Coronation.
ST PAUL's CHURCH.
The services at St. Panls were marked by
the usual special features of the great feast
The Easter anthem was sung to three chants,
artistically arranged for it, in place OF the
venite; the proper features and lessons of the
day were read, and in the commemoration
services the proper preface before the Trisagion
was said. In other respects the services were
like those of other Sundays, except, perhaps,
in the greater devotion which the commemora-
ton of the day always produces.
The sermon was on the text, Romans vi, II,
one of the verses of the Easter anthem, ard,
of course, treated of the great theme brought
before all minds by the day ITSELF The floral
decorations 10 the chancels consisted of large
cross of red and white flowers on the super
altar, fanked by vases of choice flowers. I'm
der the cross hung basket of vines and flow
ers From each of the chancel windows hung
Towering plant. Around the foot of the pull
pit was bank of of flowers In pots, compris
Ing azaleas, geraniums and fuchsias The fair
linen cloth of the altar, which covered it on
top, and front and sides, was beautifully COW
cred in front with smilax and red flowers. Tn
tablet in memory of the FIRST rector of the par
ish was decorated with smilax and flowers. On
the reading desk was an elegantly embroidered
frontal of white silk, with the words, 81 be-
lieve in the Resurrection" 1t was made by
lady who. more than fifty years ago. was
Sunday school scholar in old st. Paups church,
the original parish The font was covered
with wreath of leaves and flowers circling
the top, from which hung smilax and other
vines. Several Of the windows were appropri-
ated for memorials of deceased friends, and
were Ornamented with nlants and fIowers One