Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-04-18
Inc Glorious Festival Of Our Lords
Resurrection.
10 General Observance in August,
and Vicinity.
Nature Smiles in Unison with the Hannv
Day.

Iheir notes let all things blend.
For Christ the Lord hath risen.
Joy that hath no end.'
For nearly two thousand years Easter hell
nave been ringing, and each year the mps;,
grows and its circle extends over wider fe,a.
The great festival is now celebrated h,
Christians Of every denomination. Even tn,
harshest creeds are relaxing their severity
ana on Easter morn the churches vie will
each other in the rich display of flowers anf
music in honor Of the Resurrection. Anf
why should they not? 1t is the yrea
pivot on which Christianity swings
Buddha died and was burned: Mobammef
died and was buried, and the faithful make
pilgrimages to his tomb Socrates sleep,
amid the ruins of Athens Swedenborg rest.
in his grave, after his vanished dreams
they all had their views and visions of i'm.
mortality, and pictured their conceptions O,
the future life. But they had no power over
DEATH They turned to dust like common
clay. But He whom the world Yesterday
hailed with its jubilant anthems had power
to lay down His life and to take it again.
His tomb, indeed, is seen, but it is empty.
Easter was properly and originally
heather festival. which was appropriated BY
the Church and applied to the Resurrection.
The Spring Equinox was observed among
the ancient nations of the East as the begin
ming Of the new year, and among all nations
as season Of great rejoicing in honor of the
Sungod, and of his return to clothe the earth
with verdure, and fill the heart of man with
gladness. 1t is impossible to realize now-a-
days how close resemblance the rites adopt
ed by the church in honor of Chrisfs resur-
rection bore to those practiced by the Greeks
and many other nations in honor of solar
deity under the name of Adonis, Dionysius
etc. The Specification of the word Easter is
rising, and the latest authorities give it as
derived from Ostera, the goddess of spring.
whose festival was held in the month of April.
But the glory Of Easter lies not in the past
but in the future, when the palm lands and
pine lands shall sing together, and the East
shall say, "Christ is risen,'' end the West,
"Christ is risen indeed" Sing, then, the
sweetest songs in the temple 'the strain up
raise Of JOY and praise" by Gaudes-calcus.
That catches the fragrant spirit of the spring
time the grand Te Deum by Ambrose and
Augustine, that had its birth in Milan when
the gardens were bursting into bloom on
Easter day; the easter anthem" which eel
ebrates that dawn of immortal hope when
first humanity crossed the crystal gates of
light" Crown the affairs of the sanctuary
and the affairs of home with Easter flowers.
Irvine the arbutus, the crocus, the Gala lilly
about the cross.
ST. MARKS (EPIscoPAL.)
This church was thronged with worshipers
at every service. The attendance was espec-
tally large at the full service with Celebration
at 1890. The atmosphere of the church was
redolent with Easter gladness. There was
blossomng out of rich toilettes, new bonnets,
and new suits all over the large congregation.
Nearly everyone had an Easter bouquet The
sunbeams poured in rainbow rays through the
stained windows, filling the interior with a
light that chastened the shadows and bathed
rich garb and poor alike in violet and gold
aureoles. Rev. Mr.. UPjohn preached an ex-
cellent Easter discourse from Revelation ::
ISL am he that liveth and was dead; and
behold, am alive forevermore, Amen; and
have the keys of hell and of death The
special collection of the morning was for the
music; and the plates brimmed over with
silver dollars, halves and quarters, gold pieces.
bright new bank notes, and envelopes con-
tanning offerings. st. Marks was beautifully
decorated both around the altar and outside
the cbancel rail. The memorial tablet to
Bishop Armitage was draped with smilax,
and at its base was a luxuriant bouquet Of
callas. red and white rosebuds, and
t-ssb green vines. Beneath the great
colored window emblazoned with the figure
of St. Mark, erected - in memory OF
Gen. Seth Williams, was the legend, christ
il Risen" The altar was covered with ne"
altar cloth, richly embroidered by the Church
Sisterbood of ST. John Baptist in New York
CITY, presented to the parish by some OF the
lady commu nicants Of ST. Marks. About the
reredos were wreaths and vases of flowers. A
hank Of roses and smilax reposed upon the re-
,.b,e ot the foot of the cross. This was
a,rred on either side by vases of exotics.
Along the chancel rail were pots of luxuriant
foliaceous plants. wreath OF roseouuS,
evergreen. carnations, pinks and lilies graced
the lec,urn. The preaching desk was half con-
cealed bv the wealth of flowers around IL.
From the baptismal font rose pyramid Oh
.,.w.xhi,e callas in the full glory OF
choir .t,orescence. Beneath the beautii"'
blossoms was tangle of loveliness-roses,
v;res beliotrope, carnations, grasses anu
,,xa,, tropical flowers massed together IN
hsw;ideripe beauty By the side OF the font
80 handsome oak font-cover with brass
mountiuc., the gift of the Sunday sch0o''
rh. music was we'll rendered. Inc prln-
.;n,, number was an Easter anthem oy
rr.ncois Cramer. The usual festival hya'"'
we're sung and communion music was gwen
h. . nor,iou of the choir. The Togus 'rches'f.
Of seven pieces, under the direction OF rroi'
w.,e. was used for additional accomplish, !,
men, and played in their highly nais"eu