Daily Kennebec journal., 1884-04-14
EASTER SABBATH.
In Oommemoration Of the Rising OF
Our Lord.
Flowers Adorn and Music Makes Joyous
His Sanctuaries.
The Pastors Deliver Appropriate Easter
Sermons.

4
! Sermons.
Yesterday was Easter Sabbath, the day
when all christendom with joyful heart. and
nttTng ceremonies, commemorate the resur-
rection of our Lord. Ii was a beautiful
spring day, in strong contrast with Easter of
last year when winter still reigned andi the
face OF earth was covered with ice and snow
Yesterday nearly every vestige of the cold
season had disappeared. The earth was bare.
the icy mantle Of the rivers and streams had
melted away, tbs birds caroled, the sun.
veiled for many days. shown forth with
warmth and energy. In places vegetation
could be found starting into life and giving
evidence Of the vernal loveliuess that Is to
follow. This change, this awakening from
gloomy winter into the beauty and promise
of spring and final blossoming into summer,
is Of itself strikingly typical of the resurrec-
tion. The beauty of the day and the sacred
ness OF the festival drew out large numbers
of church goers and full congregations pre-
vailed. Easter flowers, emblematical of all
that Is chaste, pure and beautiful, bloomed
in the sanctuaries and the triumphant strains
Of Easter music, freighted with joy and ex-
hultation, fell upon the ear of the worshipor.
The pastors generally delivered Easter
sermons.
AT THE EPISCOPAL.
Easter services were fully attended at St
Marks. The interior of the church was red
olent with the heavy perfume of Easter bios.
SONS. Although more simple, perhaps, than
In former years, the floral decorations were
ofthat rich and solid character which is most
acceptable to the senses. At the foot of
the pulpit rested bank of geraniums, mig
nonettes, white carnations and marguerites
on field of geranium leaves and smilax.
Mounted on the apex of the bank were two
mammoth callas. On the foot lay a mag
ni6cient wreath of japan and Gala lilies. Sus
pended from the lec.ern in front was a fra
grant wreath Of variegated flowers, consisting
largely of Easter lilies, geraniums and vel
low rose buds. The memorial tablet of
Bishop Armitage was embowered in sprigs of
smilax clambering up from a handsome bo-
quet of tulips, ca-nation pinks. hyacinths,
geraniums. Beneath the memorial window
and on the rerodas stood a great vase of pure
white Japan lilies, hanked by vases of gor-
geous yellow and white tulips. The retable
could hardly be seen for blossoms On i,
rested bank of evergreen, thickly starred
with pink rose buds, full blown roses and
scarlet geraniums, Easter lilies, fuchsias
pinks and hycinths. From the cross waved
graceful ferns from the midst of profusion
of climbing smilax. On the right of the altar
and on the face of the rerdoros hung snowy
wreath Of Easter lilies, pinks and rose buds
of ivy and white rose buds. A
mammoth fuschsia in full bloom occupied q
position on the floor in the vicinity of the
altar. Several of the wreaths were of a
memorial character.
The pastor took for his text Psalm cx %
..In the day of their powef shall the people
offer thee free will offering, with an holy
Worship. The dew of thy birth is of the
womb of the morning" The subject of the
sermon was ''Chri,t's present power in the
world as the acknowledged king and Lord of
countless hosts" All this was ioretold in
the remarkable psalm from which the preach
er took his text. This sway of Christ's over
the millions that never saw him is something
unique and wonderful 1t was this fact that
compelled the frat Napoleon to confess thai
Christ was God. Alexander and Caser and
Charlemague. he said, moved men, and SO
have l. The great conquerers themselves
were men, and am a man. But Jesus
Christ was not mere man. He is God
This is the truth to which resurrection tssti-
fes Christ's resurrection s the best authen-
ticated event in all history.
The music was of the usual high order OF
excellence. aud was under the manageme nj
of Mr.. Fred Rowse. The programme was as
fallows:
Professional, "Let the Song be Begun y
Venite, 1.-The Grand Chant.
Proper Psalms. Hayes. Barnby and Crotch
lie ID um, Matthews
Jubiate, stephens
Inroit. Christ being raised from the Dead" Elvey
kyrie, Tours
Gloria Gloria Tibi, Paxton
Onertory, Gilbert.
Sanctus, Hodges.
Communion Hymn, Sebastian Bach.
Gloria in Excelsis, Hodges.
The evening service consisted of full
song with carols and an address by the rec
tor.
AT THE UNIvERsALIsT.
A very large congregation attended at this
church. Flowers in profusion decked the
platform. desk, walls and singing gallery,
making very fine appearance. Upon the
platform was beautiful cross of white roses,
handsomely draped with white tar
letan, and entwined with smilax, in
memory of Rev. DR.. Quinby. The music was
of a superior character, even for this church,
which always has excellent music. The
morning service opened with the anthem,
'.Christ is Rsen,' from Rossi's Vespers.
After the scripture reading the choir sang,
"Sweetly the Birds are Singing" by Danks.
The selections were appropriate to the oc-
casion, and were rendered in an admirable
manner. The text of the pastor is found in
Luke XIV, 80: ibid not our hearts burn
within us while he talked with US by the
way. and while he opened to us the script
ure''? Nearly twenty centuries have passed
since the resurrection of Christ. That event
is to-day celebrated all over the world. 1t
has grown in Importance with the spread of
christianity and the growth of intelligence
and culture. The first words of the Savior
upon meeting his disciples after his rising
from the grave were words of cheer. This
is significant of Easter. 1t is a season of
hope. 1t teaches that those who have passed
the river of death are not dead but living
The grave is but gateway to life in better
condition. in which all will finally be recon