The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-04-14

ana Importance. Without that triumph
ant and surpassing incident, the rest of the
leading and impressive narratives would
miss its full effect AMI be deprived of its
really vital quality \ religion might be
founded, doubtless, upon the mere say
ings and doings of Jesus from Bethlehem
to Calvary, leaving his fate a blank from
the hour when he was laid in Joseph's
pleasant garden but 1t would be incom-
pletc and unsatisfying religion The
rising again from the dead IS the supreme
point, and all the others center there.
Easter has its name from the Goddess
Ostara or Estra, and many of the popular
rites Of Easter are those Of the Saxons,
retained from the times and usages Of her
worship, This being a Spring festival
and flowers springing up after winters
death, being SO beautiful a type Of the
resurrection they are largely employed in
decorating churches on Easter Sunday
Here, in Rock Island. the memorable
event WAS appropriately celebrated by all
religious denominations. The people were
out in large numbers, and excellent ser
mons We're preached All the houses of
worship were very beautifully decorated
with flowers aHd plants. The choirs
furnished special music for the occusion,
and great interest was taken in the ser
vices Following is review of the ser
vices at the different churches,
MASONIC TEMPLE.
The services Of the Knights Templar on
Easter Sunday, are always of the most in
tcresting character At three o'clock yes
trrlay afternoon the beautiful temple Of
the Masonic order was filled 10 overflow
inc with select audience, composed
largely Of the families of the Knights
A. the services were about to commence
the Knights appeared in their brilliant
uniforms, Eminent Commander CIcave-
land leading. What beams so brightly"
was sung by the commandery quaFtette.
composed Of Sirs J. Frank Robinson,
William Don, SewaII Dodge. Stephen J
Collins. and s T. Bowlby, organst
The Rev. G, r Pearce delivered a
most interesting sermon, taking for his
text The stone which the builders re
jected, became the headstone of the cor
ner, The floral decorations were very
choice. hut not very extensive. There
were two Passion and one Maltese cross
and triangle very much admired. The
choir also sang an Easter anthem, and at
the conclusion the well known beautiful
hymn, Nearer My God to Thee" the
Knights kneeling during its rendition.
FIRST METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
The services at the First Methodist
Episcopal church yesterday were of a very
solemn nature. The attendance was
large. The music by the choir, with Miss
Carrie jackson as orgauist, under the
supervision of Mr. Z. W. Spencer, the
musical director, was Of very high order
and delighted every one who heard it.
The pulpit was handsomely, as well IS
profusely decorated with hot house flow
ers. Rev Pearce, the pastor, took for
his text the topic OF the resurrection Of
Christ. The reverend gentleman started
out with the fact that today the whole
world is looking at one grave Eighteen
hundred years ago the people had cried
cruelty him, cruelty him-bis Hood be
upon all car postcrity's hands. But to
day all was changed From the Atlantic
to the Pacific oceans. from pole TO pole, in
every land where the sun shone the people
had heard Of Christ. They knew that he
died for thcm-that he was nailed to cross,
that he died there, that he was entombcd
and after three days, had risen again
Blessed be the name of the Lord" said
the speaker. He lives. again that we,
through his atoning blood, may have
eternal life" We would like to give the
reverend gentcmans speech in full, but
onr limited space Will not permit US to dc
so. The sermon was a good one, abound
ing i'll eloquence. One had only to hcar
il to have appreciated it.
TRINITY CHURCH
This sacred elitice was filed with wor
shippers at ali of yesterdays services
Since the new pastor, Rev r. F. Sweet
has occupied the pulpit, the congregation
are becoming more interested and con
tinual increase in the attendance is no.
ticed The church looked very beautiful
yesterday, made 50 by the pro fuse ant
rare assortment of flowers, and an elegan
new altar cloth and other hangings O
white, embroidered with old gold IL
pastor preached very able sermons bot
morning and evening, and the choir exc
4 cuted some very fine music.
In the afternoon at three o'clock,
children's service was held There wer
no less than three hundred little one
present at this service, which consisted o
prayer and praise and the singing o
Easter carols. After the services Easte
gifts were distributed to all
On invitation of the rector, the teachers
the choir, and members of the bible class
were invited to the residence of Mrs. W
H. Whitman, where coffee and cake wer
partaken of.
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
The attendance at the Central Presby
D terrain church was unusually large. TIL
r altar was decorated with the Tosiest an