Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
The Observance OF Easter.


Barre, who preached an excellent Easter sermon.
The floral decorations were abundant and choice -
their beauty being greatly enhanced by box OF
rare cut flowers sent for the occasion by Mrs.
Whitney, whose love thus found appropriate ex-
preston in the hour OF her mortal suffering.
BETHANY CHuRcH-At Bethany church, Mr..
Hincks preached from John XII: 25 am the res
direction and the life. lie called attention to the
close connection Of these statements as CORES
ponding to the close connection OF the facts.
Mans true life forfeited by the fall and restored
| to him by Christ, Is In Its completeness yet to
come; and the fulness Of that life the resurrection
ushers in This life is indestructible; and In the
midst Of present bereavement by directing our
faith to the giver Of 1t we secure a calm, deep
down in our souls which is not disturbed by the
pillows which toss ts surface. All hall The
Easter morningl Brightest Of days that have
dawned upon a stricken earth There is a life,
thou teest us, over which death doth not cast It's
baleful shadow. There Is rising Of ignoble dust
| to glory, beauty and vigor, which shall never
more see corruption. We greet thee with flow
ers, as is BETTING thy joyous character. But thy
finest decoration Is that Of which flowers are but
the pershable symbol, the hope which blossoms
and sheds fragrance In stricken fearful human
hearts. The sermon further considered the dis
| tinction between immortality and the resurrec.
| ton, and some thoughts concerning the resurrec-
ton body.
CHRIST CHURCH Easter Day was celebrated at
Christ church much as usual. The altar, lecturn
and pulpit were dressed in white and gold. Be.
hind the altar was white screen over which ivy
was traied. Handsome bouquets added their
fragrance and beauty. Hanging baskets Of trail
ing plants were hung in many places from the
gas fixtures and huge stand Of callas and Easter
lilies occupied the center OF the chancel. In front
OF the chair was white cloth, over which ivies
and vines were gracefully Topped, and near by
stood three-tier stand Of pot plants in bloom.
Behind the baptismal font WAS a rustic stand con-
tanning splendid green and white ivy. The ap-
pearance OF the whole was very tasteful and
| beautiful Though lacking the sweet voice Of the
| tenor Mr. +. W. Bancroft, the choir,-Mr. II.
Gleason, basso; Miss Mary A. Phinney, alto; and
Miss Josie Roleau, rendered the musical portion
OF the service admirably. particularly the Easter
anthem, "Christ our Passover Mr.. II. II.
Scribner presided at the organ with his usual ar.
tstic skill and good taste. The church was filled
morning and evening so completely that it was
sermon was preached by the rector Rev. Howard
F. Hill, from Job xix: 1921. "For I know
that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand
at the latter day upon the earth; and though af
ter my skin, worms destroy this body. yet in my
flesh shall see God; whom shall see for myself
and mine eyes shall behold, and not another
though my veins be consumed within me- The
| attendance at holy communion was very large.
The evening sermon was from st. Matthew xviii:
II, 10, IA and 10, on the alleged theft Of oui
Lords body. 1t is noteworthy fact, that great
as is the joy over this grand feast OF ife Easter
day, the crown and glory Of the Christian year,
the recent Affections and prevailing sickness OF
the village cast feeling of sadness over this con-
| gregation and all others in the place, to which
| fact tender allusion was made by the rector In
| remarks PREDATORY to his morning sermon. The
Sunday-school held its festival In the afternoon
| at which time five children and infants were bap
tized. Carols were sung, scripture read and
prayer offered. On the previous evening ter
| adult persons were baptized.
IN OTHER LOCALITIES.
WEST RANDoLpH.-Easter Sunday was OBJ
served at the Christian and Baptist churches. Tn,
| floral offering at the Christian church was espe
cially beautiful.
WATERBURY SermOns appropriate to Easter
day were preached by the Revs Mr.. Wheeler
| and Cooper in their respective churches Tht
floral decorations were tasteful and attractive.
CHEIsEA.-Specal Faster services were held a
| the churches which were decorated with flower,
in honor Of the day. The floral display at thu
| Congregational house was especially noticeable
BARRE.-Easter services were held at all tn,
| churches on Sunday and they were beautiful,
decorated. There were exercises in the evening
at the Unlversalist church by the pupils OF tn,
Sabbath-school, consisting Of music, recitations
and readings.
NORTH THErFoRD.-Easter Sunday was cele
brated at this place. There were between hfteer
and twenty pots of blooming plants and othe
flowers which were arranged very neatly arount
the pulpit. Rev. W. r. Davenport delivered
very interesting sermon. The words were from
First Corinthians xv:T
| WILLIAMSBURG. - Easter passed pleasantly
with the Congregationalists. Pastor Schofelt
labored to bring home TO his hearers the CRANE
lessons Of the day. The music, under the direc
ton Of John Lynde, Jr., WAS fine, and the hous,
was beautifully adorned with flowers. The Sun
day-school concert in the evening was well at
tended and successful
| ELY.-Easter Sunday was observed by the
Catholics, who decorated their church in a taste
full manner cross and two bouquets made VI
mostly OF large white roses came from the green
| house OF Mr.. Dow in STAFFORD and were very
beautiful. The Catholics have one advantag,
| over other denominations and it Is not a small
one. Their priests are mostly men Of thorough
education, gentlemanly in manner and zealoui
for their church. They can but have an infuenc,
over their people.
CABoT.-Easter Sunday was duly observed a
the Congregational church. The floral arrange
ment was the finest we ever saw in this town
At the foot and encircling the stand were pots OF
geraniums and a fine Gala lily,--sll forming al
most a swamp Of flowers In front of the desl
was cross reaching to the top OF the Bible desk
At the right and left of the speaker were beauti
fully grouped large lot Of plants and flowers, al
Of which formed a very pleasant and rich scent
for the eye. The organ and chandelier also re
ceived their full share of decoration for the
| ing exercises. After fine voluntary upon tn,
organ the beautiful hymn and anthem, Chris
the Lord is Risen today" was beautifully rem
| dered by the choir. The sermon was one of Mr.
Adams usual able efforts, as the following brie
synopsis will show: The text was taken from
|. Corinthians xv. 20, and the theme "Christ, oul
First Fruits" After abiding to the strong preju
dice which existed in the minds Of those to whom
the gospel was preached, the speaker proceeded
to show that the apostles boldly encountered thii
| prejudice and made this doctrine central one IL
their preaching. This was the central truth be
cause II II were not true faith itself were II
vain. "Ye are yet In your sins" But II it vert
true 1t is most glorious truth 10 the believer Ii
Christ. " But now is Christ risen from the dead?'
The intimate relation between Christ and hi
church was noted he being the first fruits in the
resurrection OF the general harvest which was Il
follow. As he went before Israel In the flesh, IL
the pillar of cloud and Of fire. 30 now he goes be
fore his followers in his resurrection leading thu
| way, as II were, to the true land OF rest Tn,
Christians hope OF immortality cometh through 1
belief in the resurrection OF Christ from the dead
The heather had no hope Their hopeless grie
when IL came was as "a flower bud crushed will
all OF its fragrance in it," but belief In th
truth OF Christi resurrection gives assurance tina
the believer will be raised to newness OF life ant
shall live again, as the waving Of the sheaf o
first fruits became the earnest of the general har
vest soon to be garnered. Referring to the beau
tiiul floral displays OF the occasion the speake
closed In these words; " As we look upon thes
lovely flowers, of various hues and differing fra
grances, we may recall that 1t is but a short tim
since they were encased as germs in the seeds
and those seeds were buried In the earth, ant