Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1890-04-11


Mature and In the Churches.
Easter Sunday was one of Gods own
days-around, the soft spring air and sun
shine; below, the appearance Of the green
grass blades here and there above, the
songs Of the birds, back from their winter
flight, all spoke of the near approach OF
the yearly miracle, the resurrection Of all
nature. And the speaking Of the good
news was gladly listened to by the many
who were abroad TO enjoy just these things.
As has been the custom for a number Of
years, the various churches Of the place
observed the day, each in its own way, the
same general plan being followed as on for.
mer like occasions.
At the Episcopal church the early ser
vice at : o'clock was we'll attended The
children Of the parish sang their joyous
carols, and the boy choir rendered the diff
ficut music assigned it in an especially
creditable manner. The morning service
was the usual one for the day, with an ap-
propriate sermon aud the communion
while that Of the evening was again IN har
mony with the thought If the day An ad-
dress at this time was followed by a short
talk 10 the children, who again sang the
Easter carols At the close little Easter
| gifts were distributed among the children
present. The service ON Easter eve, Satur
day, was Of much iutrf.-t. baptism being
administered 10 five caulilates The dec.
rations were never 81 better taste, being
/ phipHv of Raru,u,ta a,,I r.t,v.. t,I,.. , t,r.,o
cross back Of the altar being noticeahly
beautiful, and the baptismal font as usual
being banked with flowers
At the Unitarian church an interesting
aud beautiful feature Of the day was the
christening service with which the morning
exercises began, six children being hap
TIED. The decorations we're simple hut
tasteful, consisting mainly Of stands Of
| Easter lilies The theme of Rev Mr. Pha
lens sermon was Immortality" from the
text "Who will roll away the stone = This
was followed by the communion service.
| The music consisted Of anthems and hymns
Of appropriate character. No evening ser
vice was held at the Unitarian church
The Congregational church, both morn
| ing and evening, was filled much beyond
/ its usual seating cepacity. the aisles being
| lined with chairs The interest was great
/ ~ added 10 10y the fact that Miss Howe had
/ kindly consented to assist in the service
/ aud the Easter message was beautifully in
/ terpreted aud sent home to the hearts Of
/ the hearers hy he- 81 Get voice The
church was prettilv .scorHted in much the
usual way, tropical aud other pottcd plants
and Easter lilies beng effectively used
/ The subject Of the morning discourse was
The gospel Of the resurrection" which
was presented in Rev Mr. Days forceful
manner, his text being Romans t. ( The
attendance at the Sunday school was the
largest ever known. For the evening ser
vice a new and very pretty feature was
the professional hymn by the Sunday
school, who marched as they sang, round
the room and to their seats in the
front An exercise of recitations and
| songs by different classes and individuals
followed, Miss Howe singing with the choir
Of young people and giving as a solo The
better land The concert vas pronounced
the best which has been given by the Sun
day school for a number Of years.
The floral decorations at the Baptist
church consisted Of pyramid Of foliage
and blossomli plants rising from the front
Of the platform, and II jar of lilies on the
desk. The Lotus Glee club not being able
TO be present as expected, various changes
had to he made Just at the last, and the mu
steal numbers Of the morning were rem
dered 10y the quartet and chorus in the
evening the Sunday school assisted The
text was from Mark XVI, u. and in his ser
mon the pastor presented this last and
mghtiest miracle Of Christ's as the key
stone Of the Christians faith and the
the ground Of hope for the whole race In
the evening the various class exercises cen
tired round a large cross which was erected
On the platform The infant department of
the school gave Il charming little exercise
with marching, singing and recitatious,
and a solo by Miss kirwan was beautifully
rendered
Rev. Mr. Smithers at the Methodist
| church founded the Easter thought in his
sermon on the subject, The stone rolled
| away, and victory was the idea which per
vaded his words to his people The decora
tons were in charge Of the young people
Of the Epworth league. sad we're IN excel
lent taste The special music for the ucca
sion was given by the choir, assisted by ad
ditional singers, and the chorus thus formed
will probably remain together through the
coming conference session At the close of
| the morning service three persons were re
| ceived into the church and one was admit
| ted on probation The evening service
| consisted of concert exercise arranged
| for the Sunday school aud choir, entitled
THE great commission, and including re
| spOnsive readings, recitations and Easter
songs. At the close Of the exercises, the
chIldren's mite boxes, which have through
the year been receiving their spare pen
MES were opened, AM something over 800
was found to have been collected This was
added to the wuman's home mission fund
At the tniversali>t church the decora
tons we're not So extensive as in some pre-
vious wears but there was handsome dis
play Of plants about the pulpit, geraniums
begonias and callas predominating. Rev
Mr. Sprague preached upon "A new sepul
chre in a garden. The sermon was u
powerful one, showing how the resurrec-
ton Of Christ had stripped death of its ter
rors and revealed it IN its true light-as the
portal through which We pass on to a noble
existence The selections by the choir in
Guiding SHEPHERDS Christ our Passover"
and Garduer's Let not your heart be
troubled, were rendered with unusual i'm
presSiveness. At the close of the service
communion was observed and two women
united with the church. In the evening
the Sunday schools gave "A concert. consist
ing largely Of Easter carols by the children
The altar of st. Michael's Roman Catho
lie church was decked with white flowers
aud the new side affairs were used for the
first time Low Mass was held at So'clock
and High Mass at 1920 in the morning At
the latter service Leonard's mass was fine
~ rendered by the choir and Father Gun
bingham preached from the gospel for the
day. In the evening two young men sung
Lambiotte's Ava Maria and the choir gave
Stearnss vespers. The attendance at all
three of the services was large.