The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-04-22
THE QUEEN OF FESTIVALS
INTERESTING AND LARGELY At
TENDED sRRvIcEs AT CALVARY.
The Bishop OF Tennessee officiates Tho
Most Magnificent Floral Display Ever
Seen In Memphis--A Valuable Font
Presented the church.


weather and grand services in all the
churches in Memphis. This was notably
the case at the leading Episcopal Church
Calvary-the Rev. Spruile Burford, rector.
At $50 o'clock am. the bell OF that old
fame rang out its welcome and at 9 o'clock
several hundred people were in their pews
when the high service began with the sing
ing, by twenty young ladies, OF one Of the
Easter carols as professional, after which
the Bishop Of Tennessee, assisted by the
rector OF the parish, began the Eucharistic
service. Some 200 Of the faithful received
the blessed sacrament and went away with
glad hearts fed with the bread OF life. The
Gloria in Excelsis and the Nunc Divnitis
concluded the holy office and tho clergy
returned TO tho vestry during tho singing
OF one OF the carols as a retrocessional.
Miss Rosa Buriord presided at the organ.
Before 1880 o'clock, the hour appointed
for the highest service, the church was
being filed. The ladies' Of the floral COM
mitteo were busy up TO the last moment
in finding places for the vast array OF
sweet-scented roses and lilies which
poured In upon them. The ro-tablo was
a solid bank OF white flowers. A cross OF
choicest roses and lilies, memorial given
by Miss Hattie Ensley, stood before the
middle OF the altar. II was a choice
work OF floral art, and arose from podes.
.al representing the rugged hill OF Col.
gotha Over the vcstry-room iestoons OF
green, dotted with many-colored flowers.
The memorial pulpit and corona were
Handsomely decked, while at the foot OF the
Eagle Lectern there were pots OF Faster
lilies and a rich wreath hung from the
neck Of the bronze eagle. The font was
decorated with great richness and proiu-
sion OF the finest roses OF tho Marechal
Neil variety, while upon the top was an
arch OF smilax and white carnations bear
ing the namo ELLEN" This costly work
OF ecclesiastical art, which has hitherto
occupied, by the kindness Of Mr. Thomas
III. Allen, ST., q place In the chancel Of
this church, was formally presented by
that lady as touching memorial OF n
lovely grandchild. Ellen Allen, about
seven years old, who entered Para
disc In October OF last year.
The rector received the gift on
behalf OF the church, and SOL
EMMY consecrated Il TO the glory Of God.
II is hcnceforth the property OF the parish.
While this church has always been richly
and appropriately decorated in the past,
the taste and the character Of the dressing
has never been surpassed. The music was
Of a marked type from first TO last, and ex-
hibited the skill Of the cultured organlst,
who has but lew superiors with the key
board and the pedals Ills assistants
showed their fine knowledge Of true church
music and the richness OF harmones. The
ornate and operate style was not INDUCED
In, but took ON tbs soberer and grander
tone Of cathedral chant and anthem.
The usual morning prayer aud COM
nrnion service was used. The rector,
taking his place in the magnificent brass
memorial pulpit, announced his text from
~. Luke XIV, go. "Why seek 70 tho
living among the dead2 lie Is not here,
but rs riscn.h From these words he pro.
ceeded to show that Easter day was Coz
Christianity pivotal. II was not n icsIiva
upon which sentiment, poetry, fancy an'
minstrel rapture" nn over is banks an,
annually flooded the Christian world. Il
was day which dealt with irrcfmgibl,
facts and truths, which have practical In
huencc on the whole human race. Tn,
Christ Of history Is the Christ OF this and
all centuries, and the church was In this
eyewitness Of Ills majesty after lie ros,
from the dead. She takes her solid stand
upon the fact that after Christs descent
into hadca, the third day he ros'
again from tho dead" she Its. 81
glad anthems of praise and swsJie the iul
tide Of worship In .payiug alteration I
Him who "u~-s ucad and Is alive forever
more, aud hath "the Keys Of death an
hell" The church, this festival, quicI
ems the pulse of mankind TO accept an
rejoice in the greatest verify Of all tim,
Sho makes no apology or defense OF III
Gospel OF the resurrection, but bold
proclpims II, and calls upon all nations
accept II ~ the decpcst aud highest VI q
truths, affecting all races aud all time
An angelic message told the ancient worl
Of the advent Of this Messiah 1900 yea
ago in Bethlehem. Angels again. after h
eVcntiul life Of thirty and thrco year
announce the glad tidings that the cruc
fed and buried NaIarne could not
holden In the grayc-"lle Is not here, br
Il risen"-''Cono see the place where N
Lord lay"
The preacher drew a pointed illusiri
ton OF the absolute necessity 10 believe |
tho resurrection Of Chrisi-spcaking
wha, dire calamity would oycrwhclI
our planet should the sun DO blottcd OF
of the universc-chilling and blasting q
human, animal and vegetable life In u
higher realm Of religion II would be 4
greater disaster 20 eliminate the rise
Christ from Christianity Christianil
has no vital force, apart from the power
Chrsts resurrection.
Sixty millions Of people In this Rcpubl
would sicrly protest against any attcm
90 obhicrato thc grand aud noble name
Washington from the capital Of the natl,
and substitute that Of Columbus or Va
puciuS No Washington-no Amcric
They must ever b. indiSsolubly entwine
In an Infinitely grandcr and nobler sens
the TACT Of a risen aud glonhcd Lorl inu
ever be the handspring, the dynamic Tor
Of Christianity. Get nd Of tho fact IA
Jesus Christ rusc from Ills grave and y,
have not only begun the work Of demo
ton, but Samsonian arms have pull
down the pillars OF the temple Of Chr
uanlty and crushed the last raison Diet
Tor iis very existence. Tho hopes Of b
mainly for this time and all eternity 2,
on this solid foundation TACT immortal
IL but a fond illusion-based on mere spS
ulaiion aud dreams when you olimina
The resurrection Of Christ from the wei
ties Of our holy religion. Cemeteries "
then be places Tor the dead, rather 4
sleeping beds, from which they may
walked again. 81. Paul makes the arg
mcnt grandly potent when ho tells /
Cehnthian Christians "ff Christ be n
rison, then our preaching n vain, 70
faith IL yaln"-and worst Of all-"yo a
yet In your eins"
The discourse was heard with mpl
tcntion by a congregation filling eve