The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-09
Easter Notes.

beautiful and quiet inland city. There
is no question why it should have been
! otherwise, for was it not just such a
lovely Sunday morning that dawned up
on the world more than 1900 years ago,
and scattered its pearls Of dew Oh the
springtide fiowers?"
/ Easter eve saw the affairs and pulplts
| of the Reformed and Presbyterian
churches adorned with beautiful flowers
in honor Of the now risen Redeemer-
On that first Easter morning 1t was
Mary Magdalene, Joanna wife OF Gnu
"a. Salome mother of Zebedee' sons,
Mary wife of Cleopas). and Mary OF
Bethany. who visited the tomb OF Christ
to annOint His body, but all the more
they became uncOnSciOusly the heraldS
of His resurrection. Like those meek
and lovely women. christian mothers
and daughters in this city, on this later
Easter morning, retOuched their floral
offerings SO fifty made on Easter eve to
the honor of our risen Lord.
In Grace Chapel an Easter service
was held. and i'll connection the holy
communion was celebrated. Rev. IF.
Stauffer, pastor of this reformed church
mission, took as a text. John Xxx: 10.
Theme-The Resurrection of the Lord.
The Chapel was well filled with devOut
hearers. After the sermon the SOlem-
nifty Of the occasion centered around
the altar. in the midst of the floral
offerings were exposed the emblemS of
the Holy Eucharist. Thirteen persons
were added to the membership of the
church. Truly, God is in the midst of
this young and hopeful mission.
The Presbyterian church was well
filled at the morning service. Eleven
persons were added to the congregation.
Appropriate services and the holy COM
muniOn were administered by the pas
tor, Rev. Mccarthy. TO all present it
was day with the Lord. Excellent
Easter services of this church were rem
dered by the Sunday School under the
direction of W. p. Seeds, Esq, its w0r-
thy superintendent. The floral offering
was abundant and artistic i'll design
A strictly christian programme for the
evening was rendered. without single
occurrence to mar the pleasure Of the
large audience assembled. A chorus
entitled Easter Bells introduced the
services and was followed with the in
vocation and prayer by the pastor.
Then in order. followed antiphOnal read
ingS of the Scriptural account of the
resurrection, together with Rotations
relating to the same subject. We have
only space to refer in particular to one
recitation entitled The Story of The Res
direction. 1t seemed to us that the soul
of the fair reader was radiant with love
for her risen Lord, and especially so
when she repeated the words-''It will
be heard on earth, when women first,
then men, shall go up and down the
highways, their faces radiant with hope
and life and joy, crying to all they meet,
rejoice ye sons of earth, He is risen.
He is riSen! - The whole service show
ed that each one engaged therein real
lied the sOlemnity of the occasion, and
that their hearts were filled with the
Joy of the resurrection. Therefore, 1t
was Sabbath evening well spent.
SIGMA.
On last Sunday the EpiscOpalianS of
this city held the first Easter services
in their new church, which was most
beautifully decorated for the occasion.
Blooming plants filled the windows and
were grouped OH stands. Choice bo-
quetS and a floral cross and anchor
adorned the altar. \ lovely rose bush
stood on the lecturn and a magnificent
Gala lily as the center piece OF cross
of green. A white dove with Outspread
wings lowered so naturally over the
chancel, one could hardly believe life
were very interesting, and closed with
the holy communion. The new chancel
rail was used for the first time. The
rail is walnut, with standards of bTOnz-
ed iron, something entirely new in this
city, and isvery churchlvin appearance.
The Sunday School services in the af-
tenoon opened by the school entering
the church, two by two, singing the
professional hymn, 1--WE are marching,
marching gladly, on this glorious EaS-
ter day" They carried handsome new
banner, the design a cross and crown,
and the words, SOLDIERS of the Cross"
in gold on white satin ground, lined
with red satin and trimmed with gold
fringe. The Lenten offerings of each
class was presented in a basket of flow
ers. and is to be devoted to buying a
font. The exercises closed with the
distribution of eggs and cards. 1.-The
Little Cleaners" consisting of twelve
of the smallest girls in the school, re-
ceived eggs decorated in manipulating,
with their name and bunch of wheat
heads. &c The Sunday School of st.
Johns church is credit to the little
band of teachers. who have labOred so
faithfully for its welfare.
After a series of excellent sermons,
preached by Rev. DR.. Bowers during
Passion Week, the Easter services were
appropriately solemnized on Sunday
morning by the administration Of the
communion at Trinity Lutheran church.
\ short and eloquent discourse from the
| text, He whom you now seek is risen,
held the attention of a large and appre-
ciative congregation. The church and
pulpit were beautifully DECORATED with
blooming plants and flowers by the la
dies. and an Easter anthem was given by
the choir. Eight members were adj
mitted to membership-three on pro-
| fession of faith. five by letter. In the
evening all the available space was
filled at an early hour, to hear one of
the finest of the many fine sermons
preached by the Doctor since his resi-
dence in Abilene.
The concert exercises at the Baptist
church consisted of songs, recitatiOns,
Scripture readings and an address full
of interest and fine rhetoric by c. c. Bit
ting. The classes taking part did ex-
ceedinglv well. filling the hearts of