The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-04-17
EASTER.
THE CITY OF THE HILLSPAYS HON.
AGE TO THE RISEN SON
OF GOD.
Dame Nature Assumes Her
Best Attire to Welcome the
FeStal Day.
And Songs and Prayers Rise
HeaVenward From Many
Assembled Souls.

CAN things young and fair and sweet
Come the Easter morn to greet
Bird and bro ok and child rejoice.
In the Easter gladness-
In the light that follows death
Joy that follows sadness"
"Out of the blackness of night sprung the
| glory of morn.
Easter Sunday dawned hazily, grad
ually frightening and warming until
the sun burst through all mists and
clouds like the butterfly from the
crystals, and spread like a blessing
over our fair city, quickening the
green of the hills until all nature
laughed aloud as if new born.
AS if beckoned out of their homes by
a voice crying, "come." all Austin
went forth to worship, and Austin
might be called a city of churches.
The church membership percentage
is perhaps larger here than in any
other town of its size in the United
States. Never was an easter Sunday
more royalty crowned with flowers
than this-nature offerings for Gods
altars-lavish as such offerings should
be.
At the Episcopal church the services
were grand and imposing deco
rations lovely beyond Words-the
easter lily lifting its rare, pale beauty
above the altar. The sunlight fell
through stained windows with kind
of glory over the vast multitude of
people congregated for service. Great
numbers failed to find seats, and
greater numbers could not gain adj
mittance.
The subject of the morning service
was-"The Son of Righteousness shall
Arise with Healing in His Wings"
The voice of the pastor, vigorous and
impressive, rang throughout the
church, clear as trumpet in the holy
bush.
The singing was glorious. Mrs. l..
M. Croker has need to be proud of
her work, and Austin of the musical
culture in her midst.
The finest music rendered was the
"Te Deum," in which Miss Anna
Boardman, an exquisite little singer,
gave solo that reminded one almost
of the singing angels.
The Voluntary" Gill the Font
with Roses" was the best rendered
music. in which Mrs. Wooten-ouI
song bird-gave the "Obligato so
grandly. The next best was the
"Offertory," "The Singing of Birds
containing three solos, rendered by
Mrs. Wooten, Mrs. Mitchell and Miss
Bessie Steiner; each solo was beauti-
fully rendered.
The sopranos were MrSI.G. Wooten,
Mrs. r. F. Mitchell, Miss Bessie Stein
er and Miss Anna Boardman. The
alto. Miss Lille Walker. The tenors,
Mr.. II. H. Edwards and Mr.. j. Bur-
land. The bass, Mr.. G. M. Galloway
and Mr.. E. Hollis.
Mrs. Croker, as organist, was as
sisted by Prof. Klotz. Their Volun-
tary was grandly rendered; it seemed
TO soar upward to the rich blueness of
the heavens, more like wave Of in
SEPARATION than that of mere world
ly practice.
Mr.. Galloway, so popular and well
known, is worthy Of full mention.
The offerings amounted to one hun
dred and Twenty-Five dollars, and will
90 to the new church building fund.
The holy communion was admins
ter ed to over one hundred communi-
is.
The sermon to the children, at their
afternoon festival services, was
preached from the words: Bound in
the bundle of life with the Lord thy
(Iod"-the subject a comparison be-
tween flowers and life. just as no
two flowers are alike, so are no two
children alike, except one great like
ness, in that God made all, and all
must wither and die at last, until the
roe,,rroofiou of life ia 9ffainP6
The services at the Catholic church
are also worthy of note. The altar
was one wreath of beautiful
easter roses and lilies, and the
music fine. The choir consisted of
Miss Lene Kirshvinck as urganist,
and Misses Mary O'Brien, Annie
Kirshvinck and Kate Simms; MessrS
John Kirshvinck, Joseph Kuhn and
Joseph Fisher. Low mass at 7:3O,
over two hundred communicates be-
ing present. The children's choir sang
beautifully some of their choicest
easter hymns, their pretty baby voices
ga Joyful message bore <--
At 1920 the choir rendered excellent
service in execution of the grand high
mass.
Evening services were held at 3
o'clock.
The little church was filled to its
utmost capacity at each service.
The new Methodist church was
wreathed in flowers. Over the pulpit
arch were the words, "He is risen,"
in evergreen and white roses. Mrs.
J.. J. Lane, musician in its truest
sense, and of whom Austin
has right to be proud, con-
Quoted the music, which was
rendered with fine effect. Miss Mer-
cier sang solo, "Come, thou fount,"
with her usual artistic grace. Miss
Kinney rendered the solos, Christ,
the Lord, is risen," and "My dear
Redeemer, very finely. Mr.. Bowen's
tenor solos were given with spirited
expression. Misses Ireland and Stacy,
and Messrs. Stacy, Hotchkiss and
Findley assisted admirably in the
hymns and choruses. Rev. DIR. VIM.
Shapard, by invitation of the pastor,
preached in the forenoon, and DR..
w. A. Seat at night. The discourses
were both good, but that of DR.. Shap-
ard was particularly excellent as a
mastery exposition of the doctrine of
faith. He is one of the ablest di-
vines in the country.
Among other interesting features
of the day were the lectures on tenn
perance by Mrs. Laura G. Fixen, at
the Baptist church in the forenoon,
and the Methodist Central church at
night. Those who had the good for
tune to hear them were delighted.
There were Easter services in all the
remaining churches in the city, well
conducted and fully attended.
At the A. M. E. church, of which
Rev. A. Grant is the pastor, the ser
vices were quite interesting, especially
in business way. The church is not
finished, and ED. Grant, as his congre-
CATION call him, had assembled his
people en- masse to help pay for it.
Some prominent white citizens, in
Guiding some ladies and a representa-
tive of THE STATESMAN, were invited
to be present to see how the colored
people conduct their services. The
bishop of Louisiana and Texas, Rev.
r. III. Cain, and two other colored
dignitaries, Rev. ]. q. Embry, of San
Antonio and Rev. B. w. Roberts, of
Waco, were also present to wake up
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