Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-04-10
"cHRIsT IS RISEN"
observance Of the Easter Festival at the
Augusta Churches.
Feans OF 0ladness Proclaiminp the
Victory over Death.
fragrant Flowers Fill the Sanctuaries
with Their Perfume.
0rowds OF Devout worshipper. Attend
the Services.

Easter Sunday dawned one of the lovelies,
OF April mornings. Everything about i,
seemed to hint Of natures resurrection. Tho
sunshine was warm, the sky clear. and the
south wind whispered the tidings that the ve,n.l
season was at hand. In the afternoon and
evening, however, clouds filled the heavens
ana snow fell from the sky The festival char.
acter OF the day was generally observed in
Augusta. Easter now marks an enocb in tho
year. The churches were thronged with wor-
Shippers and at all of them reference
was made to the occasion by floral decora.
tons, music and appropriate sermons. The
people seemed to catch the gladness of the
day. Elegant toilettes were donned for the
nrst time; new suits were worn. and almost
everyone made Easter the line of demarca.
ton between sombre winter and blithesome
spring. Even those usually the most imper.
vious felt an exulting bound when the music
swelled forth in triumphant peals and the
sunshine flooded the sanctuary with its glorv
Joy comes, grief goes. we know not how;
Everything Is happy now,
everything 10 upward striving:
us as easy now for the heart to be true
IA, As ior grass to be green or skies to be blue
SINE natural way of living"
ST. Marks CHURCH (ErIscopAL.)
AT all three of the services this church was
thronged, but the attendance was especially
large at the full service with Celebration at
1880 The church was flooded with the DER
fume OF flowers, and the atmosphere was al
most heavy with fragrance The most ex-
aaf axraz 1,a,~l al - II.
OF the floral decorations, making very effec-
tive display. The reliable at the foot of the
cross was covered with bank of flowers of
different varieties. Inside the chancel was
an immense vase of snowy callas, geraniums
and gorgeous tulips, peeping out of wilder
ness OF emerald leaves and vines. few
potted plants added variety. On the walls. to
the right and left of the chancel. were great
clusters of tulips, making very rich display.
bouquet of geraniums hung against the
pipes OF the organ. Reposing on the baptis-
NAL font was broken wreath of Easter lilies
and roses in memory of George Herbert Da, is,
so recently wOrshipper at ST. Marks and a
candidate for the holy ministry. Underneath
the wreath was a vase of lilies and rosebuds,
while the font itself was half concealed by the
flowing drapery of smilax. On the pulpit was
a cross of Easter lilies and roses with a
STOuuu VI sinlldA, also III memory OF Mr..
Davis. wreath of beautiful geraniums
lilies and roses graced the lectern. The
mural tablet in honor of Bishop Armitage
was draped with smilax and lilies. The
music was very choice, the choir of boys be-
ing reinforced by an orchestra of seven pieces
from the National Soldiers Home, led bv
Prof. l. w. Wales. Miss Lucy A. Putnam,
the accomplished organist of St. Marks
played in a highly finished style. The music
opened with professional, Christ the
Lord,is Risen Again, which was sung by the
surpliced choir as they marched up the aisle,
under beautiful white banner on which was
emblazoned the trophy of the cross. The
effect was very beautiful. The Easter an
them by Cramer was leading number. The
usual festival hymns were sung. After the
sermon one of the attractive features of the
music was carol of James A. johnson, AT
the Early Easter Morn" which exhibited
much variety and high excellence in musical
composition The Recessional was the
famous old hymn "IIark, the sound of Holy
Voices" which formed very fine climax for
the musical services. Rev. Mr. Cpjohn
preached most excellent Easter discourse,
dwelling upon the Importance and significance
to Christian of the Resurrection.
METHODIST CHURCH.
Appropriate services were held. The altar
was vuite profusely decorated with pots Of
plants, fuchsias and geraniums, in front and
on either side. The services consisted of
a voluntary by the choir. anthem ''Christ
has Risen" reading of 23d Psalm, singing
of Resurrection hymn by congregation,
reading of 2Sth chapter of Matthew, singing
ofhymn, King of Glory prayer pastor. Rev.
Mr. Sanderson preached very effective and
interesting sermon from the text Matt. XVIII.
%, g.: Come, see the place where the Lord
law" The following closing appeal was made
to the congregation aye men ana women,
We children and youth, go forth, then, from
Gods house this day of gladness, and con.
stantlv rejoice that eternal life Is assured
up,o xou through the crucfied and risen
Lord. Some day. it is true, our feet must
pass into the Valley. But WIN
what greater joy and satisfaction can we go
forth OF our God-appointed tasks when we
know that we sow for those fields beyond us
over which no lev breath shall pass, and
whose fruit evermore shall drop into the lap OF
God To the temple of prayer you have
kindly brought these beautiful plants and
flowers. You watched over them in their
voung life. and through the winter months
carefully nourished them. And to-day they
adorn Gods house, and fill it with fragrance.
I trust, dear friends, that we shall all enter
some day the temple quit "ithou' "'""e'
eternal in the heavens. Let US follow Jesus
in spirit and labor, and We shall find it. And
when we enter there we shall discover that
even that temple has been adorned ana
made more beautiful by the fair flowers OF
Divine grace that spring perennial from the
n.t;ept labor of the children of God.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
Ar the First Baptist church the pastor Rev
Mr.. Tildsn. preached vesy thoughtful ser
mon ON the resurrection. The empty tomb
and tie living Lord are subjects calculated to
r., Q ms from the forms of materiailsm ana
teach MS there are real things above TINS
world The resurrection of Christ Is the
has;s of all future life 1t is the heart ana
central point of redemption. lie called a,'en-
,;on 70 the fact of the resurrection tue empty
,omb and the risen Lord. The resurrection
w.s the greatest miracle ever performed oy
our Lord He recited the incidents connee'.
ID ,ber,w it'll to show that the resurrection 0.
Christ was one of the indisputable things 0.
history. We learn by the empty TOMB 'ha'
our souls have an earthly setting thst our
n.tures have q material part. The truths .,
redemption were illustrated by the persons.
nresence of our Lord. The empty tomo -
H.