Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1884-04-18
THE EASTER FESTIVAL.
BEAUTIFUL DAY, AND A GENERAL oDsERvANc
IN THE BRATTLKDoRo CHURCHES.


IN THE BRATTLKDoRo CHURCHES.
more perfect and beautiful Easter day
than that which was given to the dwellers in
this New England region last Sunday could
not be asked for or imagined. The sun shone
bright, the air was mild, the early birds sang
their carols never so joyously, there was eve
ryvhere promise Of awakening life and in
all nature there seemed to be q subtle har-
mony with the spirit of the great festival
which the church celebrated. In most of
the Brattleboro churches there were special
celebrations, and in all Of them sermon,
hymns or music in some way illustrated the
spirit of the day. In all of the churches the
attendance was large.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
At st. Michaels Episcopal church three
services were held, with full musical pro-
grams as announced last week. The floral
decorations were profuse and beautiful The
altar was bordered with cut flowers in the
centre WAS cross Of flowers, and at either
end we're vases of white tulips. Inside the
altar rail and about the chRncel Towering and
foliage plants were tastefully arranged
Prominent in the floral decorations were
stands of beautiful snnunciation lilies, the
gift of thoughtful friends from abroad At
the 1920 service Mr. Collins preached from
Ps xXxIv., 81 20 taste, and see how gra-
cious the Lord is blessed is the man that
trusteth in him" The lenton season, the
speaker said is a type of the universal law that
struggle and earnest striving must como before
victory and final enjoyment. The fasting
and self denial OF Lent are necessary TO the
full enjoyment of the Easter rejoicing, and
herein is an illustration of the teaching of
the church in all ages that before the crown
must come the cross, before enjoyment the
struggle. The text was to be viewed in the
light of an invitation. Under the figures OF
the two most acute senses the psalmist ap.
plies certain spiritual tests Invitation i'm
plies two things-ability on the part of him
who gives the invitation to confer the offered
blessing, and the need of him who is invited
TO receive the thing offered. Whatever may
be our spiritual joys here they are necessarily
restricted-they are only tasted, they cannot
be fully enjoyed. The browning act of Gods
graciousness, the best gift he has given u.s. is
the knowledge we have Of the resurrection
which the Easter festival celebrates. In its
highest and noblest meaning the text sets
forth the eucharistic idea that the favor OF
the Lord can never be 80 fully tasted or seen
as in the celebration of the Lords supper
There is a mysterious connection between the
reception of this Holy Sacrament and our
own resurrection, as illustrated in the re-
markable words once spoken by Jesus: HE
that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood
hath eternal life aud will raise him up at
the last day." At the o'clock service there
was Evening Prayer with an address by the
rector, the children sang their carols, the rite
of baptism was administered, and there was
distribution of Easter eggs and flowers.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
At st. Michaels Roman Catholic church
the floral display was unusually fine. Flow
ering plants were massed upon both the al
tars, and upon the lower shelves Of the main
nj Ia uUar Of nt,kH A .
the high mass at 1870 the Rev. Father Cum
ningham preached upon the resurrection
from the gospel for the day. Both at this
service and at the evening Vespers and Bene-
diction the church was crowded with deyout
and interested worshipers.
THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
At the Unitarian church it was the happy
thought Of those having the decorations in
charge to make large stands of pussy will
lows, fanking q bouquet of beautiful cut
flowers, the centre piece of the floral display
an arrangement which was peculiarly sug.
gestive of the springtime and of the first
flush of renewed life which was stirring in all
the world outside. The service, especially
arranged and printed for the Easter festival,
consisted of special selections by tho choir,
with carols by the children and responsive
readings by minister and congregation Both
music and readings caught the real spirit of
the day and were effectively given. To the
members of the Sunday school, who Joined
in the service, there was q distribution OF
flowers and cards. The sermon by Mr..
Crothers was upon the spiritual basis of our
faith in Immortality. The two kinds of evil
dence, he said, by which the faith in immor-
tality is upheld are symbolized in two nara
tives of the resurrection. Thomas would
not believe till he had thrust his hand into
the wounds of the risen body. The two dis.
eiples who found mysterious fellowship with
their Lord on the Emmaus road, were con-
tent with the testimony of their own hearts,
which "burned within them" as thew com.
muned with him. Many, to-day, rest all
their hope of Immortality on some tangible
evidence Such evidence is supposed to be
found in the historic testimony to the bodily
resurrection of Jesus. But we cannot apnlv
the tests which Thomas demanded or which
any scientific man would demand before he
gave credence TO similar statements in regard
to any other wonder. And 80 with the sim.
liar arguments drawn from the phenomena
of spiritualism. The very attempt at scien-
tine demonstration reveals the fact that, as
yet, we have not the material for science.
The vision Of immortality must, of necessity
ty, have much of vagueness about it. This
does not prove that the future life is in IT,
self, less real than the present life. The dis
tant hills seem like clouds, but they are as
solid as those on which we stand. The mis-
tiness lies in tho distance which intervenes.
We are conscious of immortality as the awak
ening earth responds to the coming of sum.
mer. We come to believe in eternal life
through our fellowship with the pure and
true. There have been those whose lives
were but promise Of fuller life. No one
who knew them could believe that death
could destroy them. In the present life were
germs which only eternity could fully deyel.
op. So Jesus brought life and Immortality
TO light for his disciples. They could not be-
lieve that the victory of death was final, and
neither can we. The more we come into
fellowship with his spirit the more are we