Smyrna times., 1883-03-28
Easter.

Sunday was a pleasant enough Easter
day as to the temperature, though the
fields were covered with snow and to
the eye bore still the aspect of Winter.
This church festivity usually comes
after the advent of bursting buds and
singing birds who have ventured a re-
turn from the more genial climes of
the sunny South, but the season came
soener this year than it has before in
the century, and will not again till
1894. While some were enjoying the
pleasure of a sleighride the young
folks were busy with dying eggs for
the coming event of the morrow.
Sunday was the softest of the cold
days of frosty temperature that had
prevailed since the preceding Mon
day, unusually cold for so late in
March. The churches were conse-
quently well attended. The Episco-
pal Church was very tastefully but not
SO elaborately decorated as usual. In
side the chancel were two collections
of pot flowers mainly Gala lilies,
heil0trope and geraniums in full bloom,
while the baptismal font held bouquet
of most fragrant flowers, carnation
| pinks and annunciatiOn lilies. On the
wall in the rear of the pulpit was the
inscription in ornate letters arranged
in half circle, "Now is Christ risen
from the dead and become the first
fruits of them that slept" Over the
front door was in similar but larger
letters, "Hosanna to the son of David
-hosanna in the highest" The choil
sang the choice selections of music we
published last week, and after an inter
esting sermon the rector, VIM. B
Gordon, administered the holy Euchar
ist to the members who remained.
The Methodist Church was simplN
but tastefully dressed with flowers. bu
no inscriptions of scriptural texts.
circular stand Of rich blooming plant.
graced the pulpit front while at eitheI
side was stand of Gala lilies and anna
ryleis. Hanging baskets from the pul
pit gas brackets completed the adorn
ments. The choir opened the service
with voluntary, a new anthem
Hail the day that saw him rise" anC
after an appropriate discourse iron
the pastor, Rev. ]. d. Rigg, they san,
wake the song of Jubilee" while tb'
congregation was retiring. The sam
choir sang as the evening voluntary
I'VE shall see him as he is" composed
by Tenney, who was also the author O
the morning voluntary. The Afternoon
session of the M. f. Sunday School wa
devoted to review of the lessons o
, the Quarter, of the various question
asked but one failing of a response,
number OF them with papers amount
ing to neat little essays. The Who'll
was so well done as to merit q compli
, ment from the Superintendent. Tn
monthly missionary collection amount
ed to between S22 and $23, which wa
. good, as the corresponding months, (th
iirst OF the Conference year, are usuall
the smallest.
Z The Easter Sunday School AnniveI
/ sary at st. Peters Church was the cen
{ tire of attraction for the young peOpl
of the town, and the church was ovel
l run as it usually is on Easter Sunda
) evening. The services were interes
+, ing in the usual exercises, of whic
singing formed the larger part, bu
' there was an absence of the forme
spectacular class missionary offering
g banners, &c. The amount of the mi,
sionary money contributed was $51 8.
Q The exercise closed with a short an
! appropriate address by the rector.
= AZ the Presbyterian Church the da
!. had no significance over other davs q,
0 cept that the Rev Mr.. Umsted preacl
D ed an appreciative discourse on IN
resurrection of Christ.