The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1888-04-05
THE FESTIVAL OF EASTER.
Appropriately Observed in the Churches
Of Sewberry.

Those branches of the Christian
Church which recognize and celebrate
the festivals and keep the fasts of the
ecclesiastical year-notably the Cath
olic, Lutheran, Episcopal and, to some
extent, the Methodist, observed the
services of Passion week, which culml-
mated with the festival of Easter, III
unison with the Church of Christen-
dom at large. Appropriate Easter SER
vices We're also held in the Baptist,
Presbyterian and Associate Reformed
Presbyterian Churches.
The Church having watched zone
hour with-its great Head on Holy
Thursday night in the garden OF Geth-
semane, while he prayed with 4 break
ing heart, as the etful gent light Of the
Easter moon revealed His sweet, sad
face in an "agony Of bloody sweat" 1t
followed him.aS he stood alone, without
counsel, support or expressed sympa-
thy, before the mocking Court OF Pl-
late, for having incurred the mortal
enmity of the Sanhedrim and the
proud, self-righteous Pharisees; and it
sang its sad miserere in the hour of his
cruel crucitiNion on Good Friday.
But the Church has dried its tears Of
sympathy and comes forth bright and
Joyous On Easter Sabbath morning, for
its ''hope is born in balm.'
From the midst of an armed band of
"sixty" stalwart soldiers, set as a watch,
he presents himself to his brethren in
the glorious light Of the resurrection!
And as the sun goes forth from its
pearl-portaled palace to drive the
darkness away, and lift the world to
life and light and liberty, 50 likewise
did the Sun of Righteousness arise with
the gifts Of health and healing for all on
that beautiful Easter morning; more
radiant and fragrant in tender memo
ries of mercy, gentleness and peace i'll
the midst of sorrow and suffering than
all the lovely flowers that the Father
had created to "worship Him in the
beauty of holinessw
Hence the bride adorned herself in
beautiful robes to await the Bride
groom's coming.
If we celebrate the important occa-
sions Of this evanishing life, how much
the more should we celebrate not only
the nativity of the most princely Of
men and the most illustrious of suffer
es-the Son of Man-but in 4 special
manner his resurrection from the dead,
for upon this the hope and perpetuity
of the Church depends.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
Was handsomely decorated. "The
sides of the gallery were festooned with
Il very neat fringe of pine which
showed the work of patient and artis-
tic hands. \ white cross, on one side of
the pulpit and several calla lilies on the
other, rose out Of a mass of grey moss,
surrounded with pot plants of rich
colors, making a most pleasing effect.
On the walls We're the notices, "Christ
is Risen Indeed" and "Joy to the
World"
The most elaborate portion of the de-
coration was reserved for the alcove in
rear of the pulp t, which extends twen-
ty feet from the pulpit platform to the
ceiling. At the top of this space, on a
pure white banner. draped at one side,
was the greeting: "Alleluia.n Beneath
this motto rare plants were arranged
against back ground of grey moss with
most handsome effect, the whole form
ing another background for the motto
in gilt, "Love's redeeming work is
done" About the pulpit and chan
Gel many rare flowers We're arranged,
which presented a handsome appear
ance."
The pastor, Rev. w. c. Schaefter,
preached an excellent sermon tc large
congregation from Rev. l:l7-1S. The
subject of the text was Christ's own ac-
count of his resurrection and triumph
over death.
The one unavoidable and inevitable
fate of man had been conquered by
Christ. His disciples could see him but
could not take hold of him and under
stand these things. They wondered at
his mystical and mysterious ways. Sub
lime self-description Of the risen Christ
the living, one eternal and unbroken
presence-ore eternal now-the I Am,
including all other lives in itself-un-
changeable as eternity.
The holy communion was admin
istered to the large congregation. The
wstor was assisted in the communion
by Revs. A. G.. .Voigt and Holmes
Dysinger. The services in their entire
ty were harmonious and impressive
The music was excellent.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
The Methodist church was also
handsomely but not so elaborately
decorated. Around the pulpit and altar
We're arranged in nice effect, quite d
number of beautiful flowers. In rear OF
the pulpit was this motto in beautiful
gilt letters: "Sing We to the Lord fol
he hath triumphed gloriously."
Rev. J. L. Stokes, the pastor, de
livered the mornings discourse from
Matt. 27::2:22: "What shall I do, then
with Jesus, which is called Christ"
The claims Of Christ are before Us to-
day us they were before PLATE when he
asked the question Of the text. And he
| had to decide. SO must we decide. He
is the risen and living Saviour to-day.
Last Sunday was the occasion for the