The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-07
DAY OF GLADNESS IN THE CHURCHES.
Easter Sunday as Observed In the
Churches of Portland.
Flowers and Sermons Alike Tell the
Nature of the Festival.
A Glance At the Decorations In the
Different EdifIces.

Easter morning dawned gloriOusly. The
sun shone warm and bright, the sky was a
cerulean blue, and the air was agreeable
and free from the sting Of early spring. Near
the hour for morning services the skies
clOuded and the wind was raw, but at noon
tle sun reappeared, the clouds vanished and
the day was more like late May than early
April. In the afternoon clouds again gath
cred, fully bearing out ApriPs reputation for
Inconsistency.
The churches, especially those Of the
Catholic, Episcopal and liberal denomina-
tions made much Of the day in the way of
special services and floral decorations,
and it would have been hard to have
found a church Of any sect that did not dis
play a few flowers or recognize in some way
the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. Be-
tween the services the churches where
special decorations were made were filed
with crowds of spectators coming and going.
Below the PRESS reporters give some idea
of the way that Easter was observed in this
city.
CONGRESS SQUARE.
Congress Square, as 1t is usually termed,
or. more properly speaking, the First Uni
fcEodllob CuuICLS WAS CudimiDB do ubudl III
the display and arrangement of its floral Of
ferings. At the rear Of the pulpit recess
stood stately cross of evergreen, II feet in
height, upon which were woven 80 beautiful
callas. The front of the recess was banked
with evergreen. There were a cross Of
white azaleas, japonicas and heath in
memory Of Rufus Stanley; pillow of Easter
lilies and roses in memory of the Russell
family; Tyre Of azaleas, japonicas and
violets for Mrs. Charles Fobes; willow urn
filled with Easter lilies, hydrangeas and
roses for Mrs. Nathan G. Fessenden; a
basket of roses and heath for Spencer
Rogers, Jr.; a Tyre of roses,' hyacinths and
azaleas for Mrs. j. s. Winslow a crescent Of
iaponicas and lilies of the valley for Lillian
Dean a cross .of japonicas, azaleas, heath
and roses for Mr.. and Mrs. Isaac Jackson;
solid wreath of white rose buds and
hyacinths for Charles Pierce; a basket of
Easter lilies, heath and aZaleas for Mrs.
Charles M. Plummer; a vase of English
primroses for Addie Davis; a boQuet of vlo-
lets. roses and heath for Mrs. Lucy Wilson;
basket of flowers for Mr.. BENZ. Fl. Jones;
a basket Of roses and hyacnths for Mr.. Geo.
W UCbD q DdohCb VI IUscSg LuISuOuGlbo duu
lilies for Miss Mary Eta Brown; a cross of
roses and sweet elysium for Mary Z. and
Avis Adie; a basket Of violets for Mrs. Ida
G. Cushman, and a beautiful memorial for
Delight NJ. Lee from her Sunday school
class. At the base Of the Billings memorial
was an ivy column, whose base was covered
with callas. 1t bore beautiful harp Of
azaleas, roses and ferns. The base Of the
Barstow memorial was bedded in pansies
and the marble column entwined with ivy.
A solid wreath CT Marechal Mel and
Jacqueminot roses was placed at the side of
the Washburn memorial In memory of Gov.
and Mrs. Israel Washburn.
The music. as published in the PRESS, was
superbly rendered, and Rev. Mr.. Blanchard
preached from Luke xiii. and Acts xviii,
upon the spiritual temperance of Jesus
Christ
FIRST PARISH.
On each side Of the altar were potted
palms. Around the front of the pulpit was
a solid band of Gala lilies. Among the
memorials were a bouquet of Gala lilies and
a cross for Mr.. and Mrs. Mcclellan basket
for Mr.. Henry Mcclellan; wreath of an
nunciation lilies for Chas. w. Goddard, a
basket of white hyacinths for Mrs. Preble.
basket of azalias for Thos. G. Loring,
basket of roses for Mrs. Ii. N. Jose, basket
and cross for Chas. HASKELL, wreath of ivy
leaves, basket of prim roses, vase of lilies
and many other beautiful memorials. On
each music rest in front of the choir, and
around the key board of the organ were
bouquets of daffodils and hyacinths. All of
the flowers were very choice. white pre-
dominating. DR.. Hills sermon was parti-
cularly appropriate.
In the afternoon the usual union service
of the First Parish and Prebls Chapel
schools was held. A large audience was
present. The service consisted of carols
and responsive readings. Mrs. E. G. Jordan
read an original lay sermon on "Growth"
for children. which was enjoyed by those of
larger growth as well. Miss Rice sang
'God shall wipe the tears from their eyes"
in her usual finished manner.
The music of this church was as usual,
very fine. At vespers the house was crowd
ed. Kotzschmar was the organist, Mrs.
Fellows and Miss Rice, Messrs. Thurston
and Shaw the choir. This was the pro-
gramme:
Morning Service
Organ Voluntary.... KOtZschmar
Antbem-O be joyful in the Lord. ........ Schubert
Hymn-Again the Lord Of Life. e.......-...K Kingsley
Orgar-kesponse .:...;.... ....-......:. Weber
hymn fe raltnIul sous. .Sweetsir
Anthem-The King OF Love-. Shelley
Vesper ServSce.
organ voluntary. .................Ko .Kotzschmar
IlOFld fatrl.... G0SS
Vesper Hymn-Angel roll the stone away.
Kingsley
Aria Easter Carol. .................. Gounod
Authenticity, Holy Lord ................ Gounod
Snant- -LoruS frayer .................T Tuckerman
ST. LUKE'S CATHEDRAL.
A profuson Of flowers added to the beauty
of the chancel at st. Luke's Cathedral yes