The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-04-06
EASTER
It's Observance in the Churche.

HIS Observance i'm the Churches
Although Easter came rather earlier this
year than is desirable for our climate, still
there was little reason to complain on the
score OF weather, for the sun shoEe bright af-
ter the early snow squall, and the skies were
cloudless most of the day. The temperature
also was agreeable. the mercury rising to the
htties, and gentle wind blowing from the
West.
CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH.
NO elaborate display was made at this church
but on the front Of the pl atform lilies in bio ON
and other plants were tastefully arranged with
vases of flowers on the altar and a large cross
in the rear of the pulpit. Rev. Mr.. Crosley took
for his text, Mark xvi, 6: "And he saith unto
them, be not affighted; ye seek Jesus of NaZ-
areth, which was cFucified; He is risen; He is
not here. Behold the place where they laid
him" This is what we term Easter Sunday
day OF memorium, celebrating the event of
Christ's resurrection from the dead. The word
Easter happens to occur but once in the Bible
IN the present translation, and that is ia the
Acts OF the Apostles xii, H. Elsewhere the
same word is rendered Passover, and it is now,
also, rendered Passover in the new translation
The word Easter is of Saxon origin, and was
the name of Saxon goddess, worshipped in
the month of April, it representing the SPRING
time, the budding season. The Asiatic church.
es, as they came over to Christianity, took up
the same custom as means of celebrating the
resurrection Of our Lord and Saviour
The resurrection of Christ is an important
event, not only in the church. but in the histo-
ry of the world as well. Not alone wonderful
but peculiarly important, and touches more or
interest of humanity. As Paul says ''If
Christ be rot risen, then is our preaching vain
our faith is vain, and We are yet in our sins, -
That is, We are deceived, we are the most de-
l1ded people that ever lived, the worst delu-
sion that ever settled down over humanitv ia
this thing. II Christ did not arise from the
dead, what revolution must take place some-
time IN the future. The apostolic preaching
was based upon the idea of Christ's resurrec-
tion, fully and entirely. The apostolic faith
was grounded in the conviction that Christ
lad risen from the dead. The subject of the
preaching throughout was Jesus and the resur-
rection; and so the apostle was led to declare
that II in this life only we have hope in Christ
we are OF all men most miserable. Tako away
this hope, blotit out of the world today, and
how soon darkness would cover the earth, and
gross darkness the people.
This great hope Of future life resting upon
the conviction that Christ rose from the dead,
has been the stay and the support of our Chris
tisn system for nearly nineteen centuries. 1t
has been the chief source of all our hopes and
all our most lasting joys.
Christ, OF couIse. did not create Immortality
He did not make it possible for men to be
raised up. He simply wss an instrumentality
to bring to light the glorious future that lies
before us all. 1t was through Him life and
Immortality were brought to light they were
made visible by His presence, and hy His
power. On that first day of the week the
women that visited His sepulchre discovered
the greatest of all truths. 1t proved to be- the
greatest OF all discoveries that has ever been
M a a No Il
no invention to be compared to it; it is the
revelation OF great truth, that human soul
huDgers for and thirsts Tor. This discovery
makes 1t clear that those who have gone out Of
our presence are not in the tomb whsre We
have laid their mortal forms. They are not
here, they have risen. We are, then, not only
celebrating the, resurrection of Christ, but at
the same time we are recognizing the resur rec
tion OF all mankind; we are celebrating the
discovery OF great truth in its highest form
The common theory that is held to-day is
that the dead will be raised up at some future
time; that there will be great day of the
resurrection. Now, you don't find this theory
advocated by cur Saviour; we find He was not
IN the grave, He was raised up. Christ saws
the dead are raised up, not that they are to be
raised up. We lind that Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob were living and were raised up in the
days of Noses And so there is an order in the
resurrection; we are raised up as we seem to
die. That which we call death is the begin
ming of this new unfolding life, amid the sun
light OF better world than this; so we ara not
TO look down for our departed, we are not to
look in the tomb. they are not there So we
believe not only in Immortality, but we believe
Christ has revealed 1t, that he has SO helped us
to understand it, that We should not be mis-
taken with regard to it at this time, We are
not only to keep this truth alive in our hearts
that Christi has risen, but that we are to be-
lleye and to have part in that same resurrec-
tion of His. We are to live because He lived,
and as He lives we shall live also. But there
are in our midst, all around us, great many
donDters; some very serious misgiyings with
regard to this. There are many doubling
Thomases on every hand. This question is
still a debatable one with great many in our
midst; admit this.
The question arises, did Christ rise from the
dead, s there nothing beyond the dark cor
tines OF the grave? These are important uues-
tions, and with those that ara doubling with
regard TO 1t, as yet, it is a very serious matter
to SETTLE Now there are few theories against
this that has sustained the Christian church
through these ages. Why, the resurrection
is all around US. You are looking upon eua-
blems OF resurrection all around this altar. The
very fact of these plants and these flowers is
the strongest evidence of a future life that we
nave ever before us today, so for as our eyes
are concerned But back of our earthly vision
there are eyes to see with and ears to hear
with. These immortal spirits of ours must live
IN higher forms and advantages after death, as
these are now living after they have once died.
So then we have the truth right around us, that
there is hereafter, that there is something be-
yond. So our friends are not in the ground /:
lney are IN the atmosphere of divine love and
OF divine grace. So at the grave of every one
OF our loved ones there are two angles stand
ing always, the angels of love and hope, hover
ing about every grave, and assuring us that
there is something beyond, and that Christ is
not dead, bat liveth and reigneth, and work
ing in all the earth to save and to redeem us
from all our sins.
Then we have but to realize that the resur-
rection is going on, the resurrection is pro-
gresslng The resurrection begins with life;
begins and continues forever. We are ali
rising up now; every struggling soul for light
and kno1ledge and wisdom and grace is being
resurrected every day. Let US go into that
same influence, that influence of love that
hits these flowers into what they are, and we
ourselves shall bloom in the fruit of noble
lives well spent in the service Of our humani-
ty So then, we can be raised up higher and
higher every day.
At the close of the sermon, while the con-
gregation were singing, eleven came forward
and united themselves with the church. Three
others who had handed in their names we're
anable to be present on account Of sickness.
The ordinance OF the Lords Supper was then
observed. In the evening the Sunday school
gave an interesting Easter concert to q very
large audience.
CoNGRR SQUARE,
Beyond all doubt the interior arrangements
and the permanent Improvements which were
added to this beautiful church during the last
season, has made it an easy task to decorate
the same. When is added to this, the exquiS-
ite TASTE skill and judgment that was dis