Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-04-21
BY REV. j. II. ECoB.

"Callas from seventy-fve cents to dollar apiece,
rOsebuds from fifteen to thirty cents, viOets penny
apiece" says the daily paper just before Easter
Those churches that had pyramids of 400 and 600
bouquets, besides anchors, crosses, harps, mounds,
&c. &c." must have paid down handsomely for
their pretty show. Then, too it is so nice to have
brass band concealed somewhere to reply to the or
Services in the temple and it is so beautiful every
body is surprised. They stare all round the
church, and wonder where the lovely music comes
from why, little girl asked if it was the angels
You know, at the beautiful Easter time, when the
dances in the sky, and all the eggs cOlored
and the churches are trimmed like spring bonnets. it
should come down and join in the singing Some
churches, being little skeptical about the angels
and being unable to get a brass band, do the next
best thing. and hang bird cages all about among the
flowers. When the minister begins to
preach about the resurrection, all the birds begin to
sing and it is so touching. 1t seems just as if they
knew what he preaching about. Then, too, ali
the ladies wear their new spring bonnets Just cover
ed with flowers. 1t makes the church look like a
garden, and the poor mners are SO happy, for they
can't seventy-fve cents or dollar for one little
flower, the dollhouse men can. AT any rate, they
don't dare charge such absurd prices Besides. it is
nice to such lots of people out to church. In
Boston you couldn't get into some of the churches
where they had the finest displays. If you wanted
to see the flowers, you just had get in line as you
used to into the Centennial when you buy theatre
tickets. And some people went to as many as twelve
or fifteen churches between ten O'Clock and four
always wish were q Catholic or Episcopalian a
Universast or Unitarian Just for Easter. They
to enter into it with such gusto, and take SO
much pains, and the young people seem so interest
ed-though never could see why the Untarians
should celebrate Easter for they don't believe in any
resurrection, nor in Christ either, very much. At
least, Matthew Arnold says so, and does does Mr..
Savage At any rate they have perfectly lovely dis
plays, and their music is simply perfect.
thusastic over Easter Why he orthodox churches
Of Maine must have spent several thousand dollars
for floral decorations, and that is doing pretty WELL
when the Maine Missionary Society is in debt and is
making such fuss all the time for money. | won
heads that make the eSSre
pleasant and interest the young people, and attract
the masses, is just good an Investment and must
be just as pious In US as to be sending dry, poky
home missionaries of into the backwoOds to tell the
farmers what awful sinners they I am glad to
see our churches waking up to these modern ideas,
churches do, and having responsive services, the
ministers wearing gowns. observing Christmas and
little girls wear white dresses and speak pieces. and
present bouquet to the pastor. with an original
poem, &C., &C., &C., ad naWseam.
Tome, brethren. let us have symposium. and
been waiting for warning voice from the fathers.
have seen here and there among the religious pa
extravaganza in this thing but is 1t not time We be-
gan to speak our minds? service of heather ori
gin, adopted by Rome that mother of ecclesiastical
millinery and fumIhery in service involv
ing large expense to say nothing of disgusting pa
rade, without historical basis, without spiritual sig
nifcance without scriptura sanction, in direct hos
tility to the tradition and cutus of churches
IS 1t not time We rose up like men and demanded
its credentials? At any rate. brethren let us stand
by the Maine Missionary Society till callas and
buds and violcts come down peg. OF course q hun
dred and apoogists for Easter will cry as with
the voice of one man. Didn't Mary break 4 box OF
very precious ointment on the head OF Jesus, and
didn't Judas complain of this waste, and didn't Jesus
commend the extravagant gift? Therefore cant
we buy callas at dollar apiece?" Scripture for
everything. Come as Mary did once in q lifetime
come for her reasons; come with her SPIRIT come
to Jesus under Just such unique circumstances then
let Judas hold his peace. But, for one, am Willing
to become the Judas of this Easter business, and
hand in my annual growl not only "why this waste
but why this unseemly show In the house Of God.