The Portland daily press., 1880-03-29
EASTER.
It's Observance in the Churches.


numbers and the various sacred edifces were
filled with de- out worshippers singing the
praises of their Redeemer. At the evening
service, the snow had ceased falling, and
many were enabled to attend who were con-
fined to their houses the early part of the day
Below will be found full description Of the
decorations.
ST. LAWRENCE STREET CHURCH.
The lady members of this society remem-
bered Easter, and by their contributions OF
pots of blooming plants, callas, &c., caused
the altar and chancel to present charming
appearance.
The pastor, Rev. A. H. Wright, delivered a
discourse in the afternoon appropriate to the
occasion, taking his text from Romans viii:
11-"If the spirit OF him that raised up Jesus
from the dead dwells in you, He that raised up
Christ from the dead shall also quicken your
mortal bodies b y His spirit that dwelleth in
you"
In the evening the customary Easter Sab
bath school concert took place, which was
largely attended and of a most interesting
character.
CONGRESS STREET NJ. E. CHURCH.
There were no decorations at this church, as
it was not until late hour Saturday night
that the pastor, Rev. A. S. Ladd, decided to
preach an Easter sermon. Mr.. Ladd has been
preaching a course of doctrinal sermons to his
people, and he decided to deliver sermon
yesterday upon the Resurrection" which,
had it taken its regular order in the course,
would not have been delivered for several
Sabbaths to come. His text was from John
XII: % to 26 inclusive-"Jesus saith unto her,
Thy brother shall rise again." &c. The
speaker conveyed the idea of literal resur-
rection of the body, saying the Gospel cares
for the body as well as the soul; Christ in all
His teachings gave literal meaning to the
word resurrection, and he confirmed Martha's
faith in her doctrine of resurrection of the
body by raising her brother from the dead.
Christ also confirmed the faith of the Phar-
sees, who held such belief, and clinched the
doctrine by His own resurrection. The great
theme of Apostolic doctrine was Christ and
the resurrection.
In the afternoon the usual Sabbath services
were held, the pastor again slightly abiding
to the day in his sermon, the text of which
was taken from John xiv: 18-''I will not
leave you comfortless; will come to YOU
INDIA STREET CHURCH.
The decorations at this church though not of
an elaborate character, were very fine In the
rear of the pastors chair was a large cross,
around which was the motto "Faith' in gold
letters; over the desk was the Scriptural pas
sage, Il am the resurrection" while in front
and on either side the desk stood pots of bloom
ing plants Gala lilies, sc.
Several memorials were also noticed, one
particularly oticeable-composed of white
azaleas, iaponicas and tea roses wrought into
an anchor-to Henry A. and Louie M. Gray
also beautiful pillow-composed of white
pinks, daisies. rosebuds and everlastngs with
the name Georgia in purple flowers along
the centre-to Mrs. Georgia Sheppard also
baskets of beautiful flowers to Mrs. Ella F.
Laughlin ar d Miss Alice Milliken.
The afternoon services were conducted BY
the pastor, Rev. G. A. Hayden, and were of
the usual order with the exception of the
discourse, that being appropriate to the day.
The text was from Cor. XVI fit is sown
natural body, it is raised spiritual body.
There is a natural body, and there is a spirit
ual body" Space will not allow an extended
notice of this eloquent sermon.
ST. PAUL's CHURCH.
The decorations at this cosy church were in
good taste and quite artistica lily arranged. The
super-altar was graced with two handsome
vases OF. flowers, the altar cross was bound with
a wreath of red and white roses, and GALA
lilies ornamented the credence. The prayer
desks, pulpit and lectern were handsomely
trimmed and surrounded by profuson of
green, relieved by white flowers. The font
was decorated with calla-lilies, smilax, roses
and geraniums. Memorial windows to Lau-
renee Gray Root, Hon. Philip Greedy, Willie
Skanks, Miss Lizzie Dow and Franklin
Moody, late Senior Warden, were appropriate
ly trimmed by beautiful flowers and notices.
The music. already published in the PRESS,
was elaborate, and We would especially note
the tenor solo in the TIE Deum, the bass solo in
the Anthem, and the duo in the Jubilate, for
soprano and alto, as being particularly well
rendered as to expression. Rev. G. J. Ketch-
UNI, the rector, delivered an able address from
John Xxx, IT, "Then the same day at evening,
being the first day of the week, when the doors
were shut where the disciples were assembled
for fear of the Jews, Jesus stood in the midst
Easter offerings were large.
CATHEDRAL OF IMMACULATE CONCEPTION.
The services at the Cathedral of the Inmac-
ulate Conception were, as customary on Easter,
grand and imposing. Masses were celebra ed
at the Cathedral at and o'clock in the
morning. The principal service of the day
was Pontifcal High Mass, celebrated at 80.
Bishop Healey was celebrant, Father Lnehan
deacon, Father James Doherty sub-deacon,
and Father Bradley master of ceremonies
Bishop Healey preached an eloquent and in
structive sermon from the gospel Of the day
The altar bazed with innumerahle lights,
and really presented brilliant spectacle. I'M
mediately under the suspended body of the
Redeemer were the words, in gas jets, "Gloria
in Excelsis Deo," and just below, "Resurrexi."
The music, under the efficient management
of Mr.. German, was all that refined taste could
desire.
PAYsON MEMORIAL CHURCH.
The afternoon service at this church was in
RECOGNITION of the event of which the day was
the anniversary. Rev. Mr.. Dickinson preached
discourse admirable in thought and delivery,
from the words found in the twelfth chapter
of the gospel of st. John, and twenty-fourth
verse, "Verily, verify, l say unto you except a
corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it
abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth
much fruit" The preacher showed that our
world was one of progression. Its organic
structure had reached its present state by a
series of successive stages. Its civilization
also had been progressive and its advancement
had often been preceded by period of dark
ness and apparent retrogression. The corn of
wheat had fallen into the ground and died.
The Roman empire went down in darkness,
but the germ of its civilization was preserved
through the Middle Ages, and from it has
sprung the civilization of modern Europe.
The analogy is sustained in the case Of, the in
dividual man. His first enjoyments are of the
animal kind. Gradually his intellectual fac.
ulties are developed and the world of thought
with all its wealth of pleasure is unfolded to
him. So with his spiritual life 1t is one OF
progression and the death of the body is essen.
tial to its highest development. The lessons
which the text suggested were enforced by ap.
propriate illustrations and arguments. The