St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-14
Py,y,nouth Church.

Plymouth Church..
The floral display in this church was never
more lavish and tasteful than yesterday. The
pulpit platform was banked with potted
plants of varrigated colors, white predomina-
ting, in front of the pulpit itself was an elab-
crate floral design, and on either side
were tall standing baskets filled with outflow
ers. Against the organ front was large
elaborate cross of red flowers, encircled by a
wreath of callas. Against the window
of the east transeptW was a unique white cross,
with the words ''He still liYeth' which was
fringed with flowers. The whole effect was
pleasing and impressive, and gave rich
appearance to the pulpit end of the church
The morning congregation filed to the full
the building, and the musical service accor-
ding to published order of yesterday, was eX
ceptionally fine. DR.. Dana spoke from the
words'' IF ye then be risen," Col. 3, 1. The SER
mon was practical, and delivered with great
force "This is day, said the preacher, for
strong cheerful resoluti ons, for we get on
this occasion a new view of the range of our
life, the grandeur Of duty doing. The ques-
ton of questions amid our Easter rejoicings
is are we risen men. That is the worlds
greatest need at this hour, and this Easter
ought to bring it to us with fresh urgency.
Paul's strong realistic language shows how
closely he identified himself with Christ, and so
he describes himself as buried in baptism,
as crucified with the Lord and risen with
Him.
1 Are we risen out of sin and unbelief. There
are times of contrtion in all mems lives, a
dissatisfaction with what they are and then
comes to them purposes to rise into better
life. The appeal of Easter makes its secret
impress on many consciously wrong lived
person, and the day and its theme awakens
in them yearnings to lead different career.
The former self is abandoned and the new
the proofs that Easter has wrought within
some hearts, and the risen Christ been to
them provocative and help to new life.
2. Are we risen up into sympathy with
Christ. He has not apprehended history's
meaning and the trend Of the worlds cur
rents of thought who has not come into
sympathy with the risen Lord. Gods plans
are the really great things in this earth.
Lyman Beecher once said, ''the greatest
thing is not theology or controversy, but
soul saving.n What immeasurable value
Christ has put on the soul of man by his
efforts to redeem it at such a cost to himself.
Man is the object of Gods search of love.
He aims to redeem society from its sins,
and they live wisely and effectively who aim
to work along the lines of His providence
and grace. Not money-making nor selfish
achievements are the best that man is
capable of. To be rcformers, benefactors,
servants of their kind, and devoted to
elevating social and civic standards, alone,
makes him a colaborer of Christ, mans i'm
mortality is a mere mockery, unless he con
socrates his life to some grand and holy pur-
pose.
3. Are we risen up into service for God
and man! For the joy set before him Christ
endured the cross. Paul aimed to become
all things to all men, if by any means he
might save some. We are all of us, capable
of far finer, broader service than we suspect.
This we are impressively taught when God
rouses up some humble man, unlocks his
buried gifts, and makes him a noble servant
of his times and kind. None are so happy
or mighty as those that work unselfshly for
the betterment Of man.
VIC hdNC uouHulCoo CdpdClGlcS anu luulIl-
piled opportunities and he heeds Casters
message who rises up with purposes which
commit him to new and braver life. Look
at those abroad in the world toiling for hui
man good, making the note of their service,
"Christ rose," and man too through him
can rise to a better life. He only deceives
himself who thinks he can be or do moth
ing more. All the joy bells of this Easter
Sabbath, the perfume exhaling from the
flowers that adorn this sanctuary, the pealing
organs and anthems of uplifting joy, are
appeals to man to make more of this life, to
invest it in forms of enduring good, and
make it tributary to human advancement.
SABBATH SCHOOL SERVICE.
Plymouth church was crowded to overflow
ing last evening, with seats in the aisles, on
occasion of the Sabbath schools Easter SER
vice. The services included responsive read
ing of an Easter psalm by the whole school
and of passages of scripture appropriate to
the day by the several classes, all of which
were excellently done. Great interest was
shown in all the exercises and both school
and congregation were gratifed and benefited
by them.