Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1882-04-18
PORTLAND LETTER.
Prom our Regular Correspondent
PORTLAND, April Is, lSS9

PORTLAND, April -, lSS2.
And DO recommend 10 the Christian peO-
pie OF our state 10 keep their annual fist. re-
Train from labor, business, amu>ements, and,
in their homes and houses OF public worship,
humble themselves before Him whose mercy
endurctn forever.
The excellence Of the above extract from
our Governors Fast Proclamation Is iudis-
putable How fitting for the children Of
the Pilgrims, who, not so very long sgo,
ordained this fast, 20 keep the day IS rec
commended. Places OF business were closed,
all or a part OF the day, churches were OPP
ened for morning aud evening worship.
places OF amusement-were crowded AZ
matinee aud evening performances. Pa
thence AZ City Hall; the MaScottc AZ The
Theatre. Are the Christian people OF
our State" then 20 very few: Public sen
timent approves or these things would not
be Al Frce-St church Rev. Mr.. McWhin-
HE preached Oh the sGh i-ct OF the " Script
Jural doctrine OF marriage AMI divorce
The Baptist AMI Congregational Societies
united. First Parish aud Park->t. Units
rian united ia = service 81 the First Parish
church Rev Mr.. A,ser, pastor % PArk-st,
preaching The sermon. CheStnut-St Meth
odist Anniversary Concert i'm the evening.
CongreSs-St -. Lawrerce-st, Wi,isiOn
and Gospel Temperance Mission held ser
vices Of PRAYER. The dsy. Ike all our
days. was cold aud raw. &c The wind i
in the east all the time this Sprius. Even
Easter was no exception. The sun shOny
part OF the time, snd the streets were
crowded aud the churches packed, a.. day
20 see the beautiful flowers. Sermons ap-
propriate 20 the day were preached Ia all
the churches and music OF high order OF
excellence was rendered by their reSpcc-
tive chOirs. ~ Iligh-st., Easter Carols
were sung by The children al the evening
Easter Concert. The fora, decorations were
very elaborate in many churches while all
made some display OF these beautiful gifts
OF our loving Father. The memorials were
numerous and in refined taste. Pure white
sEaliss and japonicsS with pale-tinted rose
buds, delicate Smi,sX, aud Swcc:-SCented
English yiOlets arranged in pillars, crosses,
crowns, anchors, stars, harps, broken col
umns. IS well a. baskets and vases OF rare
anu tokens ofloy.ug remembrance.
At First Parish the display WAS noiiceahly
elegant. \ bank OF evergreen and callss
surmOuuted the pulpit. The communion
table was covered with tributes 20 The de-
parted 10 the centre OF the table was an
exquisite emblem contributed % ouJ dead
poet Lonsfelow nv Lis sister. Mrs. Pierce.
Two long glossy palm leaves were crossed
and between them lay q msgrilcen. passion
flower iu full bloom. This church, High
81. and ConsresS-Square made the most
lavish display. At High -. there was a
bank Of brilliant flowers extending from
the communion table 20 the altar top. A
vase Of callas and one OF easter lilies sur
mounted this. In addition, there were
many choice memorials. At Congress
square the eve was caught, on entering, by
large white cross at the rear OF the plat
form. The cross was wreathed with pure
white flowers and covered with SmilaX, a.
was the triple base upon which II stood.
Through the delicate tracery Of the vines.
the letters l. II. :. and the words, Jesus,
Savior OF Men," were plainly visible. A
wreath OF bright flowers was festoOned
across the pulpit arch caught up in the
centre by a large cluster OF callas. The
desk had been removed and upon essels
aud brackets a separate collection OF how-
ertributes were grouped. Wulistou, Casco-
st, Park-st and the New Jerusalem church
es were very prettily and tastefully decora-
ted much more being done in that direc-
ton than in former years. Lack o! space
lorbids particular mention.
The following facts may be OF interest.
Ii IS generally known that the Easter Fes-
tiysl falls on the first Sunday following the
nrst full moon after the 20th of Mar. II fell
on April in ISL as this year. The next
time it tails on April will be in 1914 In
1886 Il viii be on April 2j, its latest posi-
BILE date, The first time it has occurred
since the introduction Of the new style in
1862. Amer an interval of 81 years it will
again fall on the 18th, then again after les
wears have passed away. Further than
that we have little care, fer long before
that date all who now look upon this fair
earth will have passed
Beneath that low green tent
Whose curtain never outward swings
H. : \