Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-14
EASTER IN THE CHURCHES
THE FESTIVAL OF THE LORDS
RESTRRECIION.

ffE4SN
No. - xas Cb-erved in savannah
Elaborate Floral Decorations and
Grand NTusic-The Scenes in Some Of
the Leading Churches-Sundav School
Festivals and Anniversaries.
Easter morn opened dark and forbid
ding. The heavy rain Of the day before,
with its gloomy prospect. almost dis
PEELED the happy anticipatiOns Of Easter
tide, but the heavy clouds gave no rain,
and as the church bells rang
out the hour Of morning service
the streets We're filed with
crowds Of worshipers. The congrega-
tions throughout the city were all large.
and the event. which closes the solemn
fast season and gives glad assurance Oh
immortality. could scarcely be more al-
pr0priatelv observed.
The world itself keeps Easter has
come To be a Ur0verb and its truth was
verified rs the crowded churches yester-
dav. The traditional sack cloth and ashes
III tie centennial time were laid aside
and the DAY ~ peace and good viii az
farded tine long awaited opportunity To
bring before the public gaze aud admira-
tion the usual display Of Easter
Inerv. which. however. was very limited.
Affairs. pulpits and meeting rooms We're
decorated with beautiful flowers. and JOY
Gus carols assembled in thankfulness for
the redemption of the world.
CHRIST CHURCH.
s very large congregation assembled al
Christ Church az IL O'Clock. the hour OF
morning service. IT. the absence vi the
rector. the services We're conducted by
Rev. Charles Wright Freeland. deacon in
charge 0f 81. Matthew'S Chapel. and Rev.
John J. Andrew. rector Of II Stephens
Church. Sickness in The family Of Rev.
Thomas Boone prevented his attendance.
The floral decorations We're most pleas
ing and harmonious. What might have
been a lack in prOfuSiOn was fully made
up bY The careful arrangement and
blending VI the bright Easter offer
Ing-. Ia front OF the cnaucel was the
beautiful floral In MemOriam %
Miss Sarah Alice Gordon. A pillar Of red
geTanium. two feet in height, rested upon
base OF white roses, upon which, in con-
trasting cOlOrs Of red. and in gothic char
acters We're the initials -. y. c. sur
mounting the pillar was a lvre Of pure
white roses. ON the right Of the chancel.
and suspended from the tablet sacred
70 the memory Of Rev. Abial Carter,
was z cross If white roses and spirHa.
dead Christian wOman-Miss Jane Young.
u whose heneyOlence and many Chris
tisu zrace- the church and It's institu-
tiGn- owe So much. On the opposite side
was similar s-In MemOriam'
70 Miss Louise Bullock. All the
furniture within tie chancel
was decked in the most tasteful floral
-aruiture. the lecturn in white roses and
the baptismal font in red lilies, with
MA I #Fof
spOtless white Of the communion table
was mammoth cross Of white flowers
with base Of green ivy, beneath which
were the words ''Christ is Risen.' in pUT-
pie characters and about which ever
green was tWined.
The choir of over fifty voices rendered
musical service that was almost unap-
prOachable The training Of so many
voices 10 sing in unison was no light task,
and the choir master, Professor Atkinson.
has every cause to be proud Of Yesterday s
proof Of his labOrs. The following pro
gramme was rendered:
Professional.
Easter anthem.
TIE deum -----. .---.-..... ---.---.-- Hopkins
JuIlIate -..-.--. Tours No. 3.
hyrle ----..---- -----.-- ---......---- Tours
Niceue creed ID monotone.
III rmu JOB.
Odertory- HaIleluiah chorus from the Mes
-iah. by .--.-.... .--- Handel.
Doxology ......-.. "OId Hundred. Is
In the communion service the following
was rendered:
-anctus.-... ..... GOunOd.
Hymn POI.
Gloria in EXccl9I3 Tours No. ..
Nunc Dimittis--.. .-..--.... ... .GregOrian.
Rev. Mr.. Freeland delivered master
IS sermon from the text. sSHe is not here.
for ne is risen, as he said; come see the
place where the Lord lay''-Matthew
xviii. o. Rev. Mr.. Andrew administered
the sacrament at the conclusion Of the
sermon.
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
The gothic interior Of St. Johns, with
the altar and chancel, decorated with
masses of fragrant flowers, presented a
beautiful sight. The chancel rail was
twined with evergreens and roses. The
font was surm0uuted by pyramid Of rich
offerings, upon which was the design of a
harp skillfully wrought; and at the foot
Of the lecturn and pulpit were banks
Of roses. The tablets over
the altar We're covered with a white field
above which. upon a scroll, was the in
scriptiOn, Christ the Lord is Risen To-
day" Across the super-altar was the
word, ''Alleluia," wrought in white roses.
Just within the chancel were two memo
rials, one a beautiful floral crown, pre-
scented by Mrs. c. \. ReitZe, and the other
a cross. by Mrs. Dancy. Reared upon
the altar was a large floral cross, and at
its base the communion service rested.
The decorations, while not profuse
were exceedingly appropriate. At the
morning service the rector, Rev. Charles
II. Strong, delivered an eloquent and
able discourse from the text: Jesus
said unto her, am the resurrection and
the life; he that believeth in me, though
he were dead, yet shall he live; and who
sOeyer liyeth and belieyeth in me shall
never die. Believest thou this:' St..
John XII, 2j:26.
The Holy Communion was celebrated
and the choir rendered the following pro-
gramme of music, arranged and adapted
for the great festival occasion:
Voluntary --.--.--.-... ..-.---.-... --..- Reuk
Professional hymn-"sing Alleluia,
FORTH" -.....-..........-... Holden
Venite-.sChrist. our Passover, .Danks
GlorIas-NOs. ] and MOsenthall and Mozart
TIE Deum-" Mcrchodante" .--.-....-... Mora
JuUiiate ..--..---. ----- VI. Ward
Hymn ANGELS roll the rock away
Hymn .....-......- ."Christ is risen to-day
OIert0ry- 'Resurrection'' Mrs. Haines
No evening services were held. The
only service during the day, other than the
regular morning service, was the Sunday
school at O'Clock. The Easter festival
Of the school will be held tomorrow night.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH.
The services at the Evangelical Luther
an Church Of the Ascension were unusu-
ally impressive. and the floral display,
which is one of the principal features Of
the Lutheran Church services on Easter
day, was elaborate and beautiful.
The ritual services were followed by
the rgcFpfiGu gf eleven paudi-
dates for membership into the
church. two Of whom appeared by letter.
Two were admitted by baptism and seven
by confirmation. Rev DR.. Bowman
preached an able sermon appropriate to
the day, and the solemn ceremonies of
confirmation from the text, And that He
was buried. and that He rose again the
third day according to the Scriptures"
u Corinthians. XIV. chapter, 4th verse J,
taking for his theme the resurrection Of
Christ and the power Of his resurrection
in establishing and sustaining the church,
after which the holy communion was adj
ministered to 300 persons.
The floral decorations were confined
chiefly to the space within the chancel
rail, and were more elaborate and ex-
tended than have been seen for years.
From the railing up to the chancel win
dow extended a solid bank Of flowers.
completely filling the space and barely
leaving room for the communion table,
which stood almost imbedded among
roses and evergreens. Two beautiful
crosses stood at the base Of the bank. and
further up a large memorial wreath of
white roses contained the words
''In MemOriam, ID. A. Spring.
Above the memorial a large floral
cross six feet in height extended from the
base of the window nearly to its arch.
Above the cross golden crown was sus-
pended underneath the word "GlOry." in
scribed in gilt letters on the wall. The
chancel rail was trimmed with moss and
rnses. and the haptismal font was filled