The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1889-04-26
NUMBER 3e.
He is RISEN.
THE QUEEN OF FESTIVALS OBSERVED

Talked AbOut-A Day of Joyous Exercises.
A more perfect Easter day could not have
been desired than that which dawned upon
us Sunday. The air, clear and balmv. the
grass and trees putting on their newness of
life and beautiful spring robes, and over all
the sun with its delicious warmth brighten
ing all things and cheering every heart.
Every one must have felt the inspiration,
: and in the throngs flockng to the various
places of worship to celebrate the resurrec-
: tion day, happy faces were the rule. Special
e preparations had been made for the suitable
$ observance of the day at most of the
= churches. appropriate sermons, sweet music
= and delightful exercises by the children be-
/ ing included in the programs.
e Flowers, which are most beautiful emblems
i of the resurrection which the dav celebrates.
were used in profusion to deck the churches,
4 and boutonnleres and punches of blossoms
It were worn by large numbers of the crowds
= who filled the churches.
Il The custom of the new gowns and bonnets
e at Easter time also has the sanction of long
$ usage, as an old superstition used to prevail
n that unless a new article of dress be worn on
g Easter person would be unfortunate through
e the year. In "Poor Robins Almanac" a
| couplet used to run as follows:
t ''At Easter let your clothes be new,
Or else be sure you it will rue
The Easter services at the Congregational
cnurch were marked by large audiences,
oeautllul mowers, excellent music and n
hearty and interested spirit. The floral dec
oratlons which were IN charge of the Flower
committee OF the Endeavor society consisted
chiefly OF Easter lilies and profusion of
marguerites, with hydrangers at the ends of
the pulpit platform; with general hiding of
all the stands, vases and flower pots III fresh
green laurel leaves, and with tasteful and
elaborate cross from G. e. Allen, of hya-
clnths, roses and ferns. Better music has
not often been heard in the church than the
choir gave, rendering their anthems with un-
usual vigor and finish. Mr.. Maxham's tenor
solo was especially effective, his voice being
at its best.
The Easter sermon by the pastor was from
Rom. vi: q, the theme being "Newness of
Life" The reason for the power and bles-
sing OF the day was found to be in the proc
lamation of gospel of hope; not that it so
much proved as made powerful immortality;
not that the parallel with Christ's rising
was to be found in the precise man
ner OF cur own resurrection, but rather
in the continuance in us of the undying lite
OF love which his risen glory vindicated.
The text was treated along the three
lines of the fact of the resurrection explain
ed and established; the bearing of the fact
upon our life; the contents of that ''new-
ness of ife," revived in power and trans
muted into experience, and best defining
what that gospel of hope to the uttermost'
Is. The last topic was treated more at
length, and was illustrated by the two Cali
lean interviews of Christ with his disciples,
at the lakeside and ON the mountain-top.
"Follow me-" and ''go We unto all nations;'
spirituality and universally; the deeper in.
the ''length and breadth and height and
DEPTH" The sympathetic lite of man is
commensurate with the glory of God by
which Christ was raised. There is no limit
to it, and Christs words, "All poweri is given
unto me-go ye," are the priceless gift that
N iS rnrfh tbn hnia ,I;,.;,,
The Psamist well said of man in antiphone
with the Christian eyultation of the apostles
. Yea, thou hast made him a little lower than
God, and crowned him with glory and
honor"
In the evening the Sunday school gave a
number OF good readings and much singing
| 81 ecIai features were singing by three little
tots from the infant class, Helen and Edna
crosby and Marion Rice, responsive exercise
ana sin@1ng by Miss EmersOn's class, song by
MISS Gays class OF girls and one by class
OF boys and a pretty song by Meta Stolte.
Annie Liscom and Alma johnson.
At the Baptist church mass of foliage
the platform, rising to the top of the desk.
while from the table in the rear of the plat
form rose a tall, graceful fuchsia, with Dro.
fusion of dropping blossoms The musical
numbers included "Christ the Lord is risen
to-day" by Holden, and "Christ our Pass
rear of the room added their songs to the
general rejoicing. Rev. Mr.. Parry preached
from Matt XVIII 6-"He is risen.''
In all civilized lands to.uay this thought is oc.
cupyng the minds OF men, anu we again visit,
with the sorrowing dicipes and weeping won,
en- that grave rave from which the stone had been
rolled, to find 1t empty ana the angel seated
there with the wOndrous message, '.He is not
here, He is risen." Chrst's resurrection
IS the Keystone of Christianity "If
of oil
men most miserable" for we are fancying
uture joys which cannot be realized But the
evidence of Christs resurrection is the most
convincing fact in history and there is the com
'letest evidence of the crucinxion burial and
esurreetion. The legal evidence is complete,
he Jews a1d also by the Roman tribunal The
ime of the event was wisely arranged by God
or It was the time of the Passover feast when
ii the Jews CAME up to Jerusalem The multi
ude was there that it might testify throughout
ii Judea of Chrfsts death. God called Oh
arth, air. temp e, court and eople to testify of
he ueath of His Son. The sun clothed himself
a the sackcloth of darkness. over In the val
ey where were the tombs or the prophets the
arthquake was heard and the graves were
pened In the temDle the pious Jews were
altered, the lamb was before the altar, the
rest re ,dy TO offer 1t as sacrifice. Behind
he altar was the vail beyond which was the
rk and the mercy seat. But as the priest ap
reaches with the blood of the s.crifce an uu-
cen hand tearr the VEIL revea ing the glory be-
're unseen by them. This rending of the vail
roc aimed the end of al sacrifice and sDrink-
ng OF blood. The publicity given to every
ling connected with Christs death makes the
whence IN regard to II owe whelming. After
eath his disciples return to their former occu-
,tions, but his enemies remember that he
as said he will iise on the third day and
o plsce guard and seal. The angel
nhes ding their precaution, rolls away the
tone and Christ rises But to give complete
roof he ling re on earth. meeting Mary in the
siking with them way SnS ~ -. s...p.ss, p.,
pom, appearing to the hve hundred q MI eRS.
the ascenstos, bies sing those whom ne ieft ms
e went up to the tliro above. Now, what are
lc results of AL this to us. First, IL proves
hris IS divinity. No man had ever raised him
,lf from the dead from Adam TO Moses, from
loses to Jesus. Second, his rising is pledge
uits, and as giorions resurrection followed
5 dc ath, will We rise. II die like him
e shal, rise nke him. and changing from glory
lio z ory be trans into the likeness OF
e Son OF God, for he has said, "Bec-use i've
shall live a So"
At the evening service, which was at 6
clock an exercise of reading and music pre-
ed by j. h.. Hall was given by the sunday
hool. The choir gave "Christ our Passo-
r. by Pontius. the primary department
we an exercise of reetations and singing
ntr huting bdnches of flowers which were
aced at the close upon large cross in the
ar bearing the words Christ j. Risen'-
lrce girls from Miss Bennetts class recitets
IA 1.-The Old. Old Story" was told by Miss
nnie Wise and Esther Crowell. MY
others Song" was read by Mrs. Smith.wlth
refrain sung by Miss kirwan aud J. E.
lniels sang palm Branches'-. An Easter
ei ing was made by the Sunday school for
al missionary work.
At the Universalist church were beautifu
wering plants and many cut flowers with