The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-04-22

tspers and gas jets High above the altar
Just below the crucifx in the form of a semi
circle in letters of fame were the word
"Gloria In Excelsis Deo,' and midway
between the cruci6x and the floor of the
chancel the word sRessurrexi."
Pontifcal high mass was celebrated at 1913
a. m. Rev. Father Bradley being celebrant,
Father Ryan deacon and Father Charles
Doherty sub-deacon. The great church wal
filled to repletion, many being strangers
Rev. Father Bradley, in the absence of tn,
Rt. Rev. Bishop, preached the sermon, from
the text Mark 1911. Like all his discourses
it was model of its kind, clear, cogent ant
eloquent. He began his sermon by directing
the attention Of his auditors to the appearance
of the church. During the holy season OF Len
the church was draped in mourning. To day
she casts it aside, and dons her brightest robes.
To-day the "Gloria in Excelsis' is heard il
her temples. On Easter Sunday the Catholic
church com mem crates the resurrection of hel
divine founder. Why does she rejoice more
to-day than on Good Friday when Christ was
crucified? We rejoice because the resurrection
of cur Divine Saviour confirms his suffering
an passion. There is no miracle of the SOL
of God which confirms his divinity SO mnch as
His resurrection. His other miracles were
wrought by the apostles. But to restore ones
self to life, was alone peculiar to the divinity
During his life he continually remiHded the
Jews of his future resurrection as proof oil
his divinity. No miracle of his has been
batted against with such force by the IN.
believers and infidels 10 all ages as the miracle
of the resurrection. But it has stood the
storm of time. 1t will forever shine forth
clear and bright as the true Characteristic of
the divinity. Is it strange then that the
church of God commentaries with such
splendor this great miracle? That church
can alone prove her divine origin. To that
church He confded his divine sacrameuts as
channels of grace. The Catholic church should
then rejoice on this commemoration of the
resurrection of her divine founder. Oar duty
on this day is to rejoice with Him, to pour
forth our thanks for his many favors, and to
make ourselves worthy Of being called His
children.
Tho music was all that refined taste could
desire.
CONGRESS SQUARE.
At the First Universalist church the pastor,
the Rev. Mr.. Gibbs, took as the text for his ser
mon the second verse of the fourteenth chap
ter of the gospel according to St. John: Gin
my Fathers house are many mansions, if it
were not so would have told you. 1 go to
prepare place for you" The subject of the
discourse was the resurrection, special stress
being put upon the justice and goodness of
God in preparing an eternal home for his child
rem after this life is ended The preacher ex-
horted his hearers to fit themselves for COM
partnership with the purest souls, and threw
out the suggestion that this earth is one of the
mansions 10 our Fathers house, place where
we may fit ourselves for greater happiness.
The reading lesson was the twenty fourth chap
ter of Luke, wherein the circumstances of the
resurrection are set forth.
The decorations with flowers were very beau
tiful. Though the display was not SO extern
sive as in past years the effect was if anything
finer. All the space about the altar was COW
red'with evergreen and flowers. The for
wardness of the season, which has made Easter
for the first time in many years true spring
festival, permitted the substitution of the May
flower for the evergreen in much of the deco
ration, and from the brackets on the borders of
tho alcove there depended great baskets of the
wild flowers. Behind the desk were crosses of
evergreen and callas and many stands and
vases of rare flowers Upon the altar table
we've the memorial offerings, crosses and Tyres,
fashioned of bud and blossoms, roses, azalias,
voiets, heaths and callas. The only new me-
mortal offering was beautiful cross of roses
and azalas, exquisitey fashioned, in memory
of Mrs. Helen Dennison. There were the u.s.
ual decorations about the organ loft.
ST. LUKE's CATHEDRAL
celebration of the Holy Communion at a. m.
by Canon Hayes. A goodly number were pres
ent at this early hour.
At 109 a. nl the cathedral was crowded with
a large congregation. The usual choral services
were held and after morning prayer confirma-
tion was administered to quite large class of
candidates, mostly young people, by the Bish-
op. The sermon was delivered by the Bishop
upon the text from Matthew viii, %: "And
Jesus said unto him; follow me, and let the
dead bury their dead" AT the conclusion of
the sermon the celebration of the sacrament
followed.
In the afternoon the services were mainly
for the Sunday school and a number !of child
rem were baptized by the Bishop.
AT p. m. the choral evening service was
held and the Bishop again preached from Ro-
mans v, TO-: 'For if when we were enemies
we we're reconcied to God by the death of His
son; much more, being reconced, we shall be
saved by his life."
The floral decorations were simple and beau
tifal. appropriate to the joyful festival of
Easter, and were the handiwork of the young
ladies Of the parish. The musical portion of
the services was elaborate, and we'll and heart
lily rendered, and evnced careful training and
culture on the part of the choristers. The day
was one much enjoyed and oog to be remem-
bered by the worshipers at ST. Luke's
PARK STREET CHURCH.
The decorations at this church were of the
usual high order. Nothing was put in to fill
up but every wreath or cross added to the fine
effect produced. In the front of the desk was
raised mound covered with evergreen which
was spriakled in with red and white roses
Upon the top was a beautiful white memorial
Tyre composed of azaias, white roses, heath
and other delicate white flowers. On the front
of the mound was another memento of thu
dead, large white cross which reminded the
congregation Of the death of one of the purest
of men, prominent member of this society.
Near the desk were large vases of callas.
Further to the right was harp composed
wholly of white flowers and cross and
anchor combined. To the left there was
large basket of rare rose bud and wreath of
blue and white flowers At the left of the
pulpit very beautiful bouquet in memory of
Annie G. Follausbee. These flowers were
without an exception memorial offerings.
The music rendered by the church choir was
very fine. In addition to tbs hymns the choir
rendered Abbott's and Mozart's Easter anthems
with fine effect
The pastor, Rev. c. W. Buck, preached an
Easter sermon taking his text from 1st Cotin-
thans Is: 20. "But now is Christ risen from
the dead and became the first fruits of them
that slept"
ST. STEPHENS CHURCH.
The floral decoration at this church were, as
usual, simple and tasteful. The memorial
windows were adorned with wreaths and cross.
es, and there were baskets of flowers as memo
rails of deceased friends. The font was beau
tifully dressed with Mayfowers. The sermon