Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1879-04-16
Easter Services.

tne sun snOne throughout the entire DAY, lenulng
his influence TO gladden. the hearts OF mankind
while celebrating the joyful fact, announced on
the resurrection morn" Christ ia Risen" II
was decidedly the best day OF the year thus far,
and everything combined 10 make the celebration
Of Chrsts rising from the grave fitting one. In
Montpelier the day was appropriately observed
by the churches, at all Of which, with one cxcep-
ton, Easter services were held. Below we give
report of these services.
At BETHANY CHURCH
there was an elegant display OF flowers Of all de-
scriptions, --geraniums, callas, fuchsas, etc.
tasty arranged in pyramldal form In front Of
and around the pulpit. Suspended before the or
gan was handsome hanging basket. More flow
ers were displayed here, perhaps, than at any
other church, and many people visited the church
during the day to see this beautiful bouquet OF
plants-aboundingi in fragrant blossom and charm
ing foliage. The ladies under whose manage
ment these decorations were made are entitled to
much praise for the superb display.
Rev. Mr. Hncks preached from Romans XIV II
and 20-"If Christ be not raised your faith is
vain" " But now is Christ risen from the dead
BY way Of introduction, he pointed out that the
succession Of the abiding joy Of Easter to the tenn
porary Of Good Friday is quite in accordance
with the common course Of life. Some knowledge
of the bitterness OF the death which Christ sub
mitted to precedes feeling of the power Of the
risen Christ. In larger view of life, embracing
the future as well as the present, there is the
same preliminary connection OF period of
temporary darkness with one of continuous joy.
Relatively speaking, our whole earthly life is a
passion week. In the brighter and eternal morn
which ua
will seem, by way of contrast, but shadow,
though II will be seen to be the necessary shadow
through which we must pass to come into Gods
perfect day.
1t was no wonder that this Christian anniver-
| sary, which is the portal Of earth's highest joy,
and the portal OF joy yet to be revealed. in com
parson with which the joy of earth itself is but
season OF gloom, should be dear to the Christian
| heart of all ages. In the middle of the second
century the churches of Asia Minor appealed to
the authority OF the Apostle John in confirmation
OF the date on which they observed the festival
| There is thus good reason for surprising that the
beloved apostle held this anniversary peculiarly
dear. And certainly from the early date indicated
onward has the Christian church ever held this
day in great though sometimes perverted esteem.
| Surviving the iconoclasm of the Reformation,
| and the corruption which made the Reformation
necessary, it now rises as Of old above the horizon
Of the universal church as the "Queen Of days, !"
ruling in the darkness Of this lower life with
a reflection of the splendor it has caught from the
light of that perfect day yet to be revealed,
wherein there is no more night.
| We may rejoice that in spite of the outward
divisions OF Christendom there is yet unanimity
| in observing the day of Christ's resurrection.
Such unanimity we may take to be under God $
providence the one visible and perhaps only
necessary mark Of the unity OF the invisible church.
| Certainly the one article Of necessary saving
belief laid down by the Apostle Paul is the be-
lief in the heart that God hath raised Jesus Christ
from the dead. And while men yany strive to
express the unity of the church Of God by the
extension Of the episcopate, or by the formation
of Evangelical Alliances, may it not be that, all I'M
consciously to them, God has caused them to ex-
press that unity by spontaneously uniting to give
honor to that day which marks the rising again
of his dear Son, given for their common saliva
| ton? Certainly II the belief in that fact is the
one common belief which they must hold, II
| would seem as il the common expression OF that
belief were the one essential symbol OF their COM
mon unity.
The observance of this day does good service
in reminding us what is the unassailabe founda-
ton of our faith. The Apostle Paul, with his un
erring OF logical perspective, saw it, and un
der the guidance of inspiration, pointed out it
massive proportions for all future time to build
upon.
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