The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1892-04-20
Easter at Montpelier.

bdottI AT mOnlDellPr.
Easter Is always a gladstone festival. no
matter what the weather. There are alwavs
flowers and music, whether the spring air
be balmy. or chilling, whether the sun shines
or the skies lower Last Sunday was a
lovely day The clear air and bright sun
SHINE brought out large body of Worship
ers, and at all the churches the attendance
was large.
AT CHRIST CHURCH.
The interior of Christ church was bower
oil iloral beauty. The altar was dressed in
whlte and embellished with smilax. On
the shelf above the altar were two hand
some bronze vases filed with lilies-from
Mr.. and Mrs. w. III. Cowell in memory. in
the language of the rector, &c of the two
pressed children now in Paradise" The
brass cross in the chance and the baptismaI
font were wreathed with ivy, and in the lat
ter was huge palm. Rev. Mr.. Lewis con-
Quoted the full Easter service. His sermon.
from the text He is risen" was a fine
pToduction-scholar thoughtful, and en-
Phaucally lmpressing the doctrines of the
Episcopal church. The music, under the
direction of Horace II. Scribner, the organ
ist was very finely rendered. The Easter
offering amounted to $71970. 1t is the
pride of this parish that it has never let
an Easter go by, since the conservation of
the church, without meeting the deficiency
by voluntary contribution. At four o'clock
In the afternoon came the childrens festi-
val. The church was crowded. There
were happy carols by the little ones, and
line address by Mr.. Lewis-one of those
marvels, a doctrinal sermon which was in
terestng to the children.
AT BETHANY.
Bethany church was handsomely deco
rated. The display of Easter lilies and pot
ted plants around the pulpit was more
extensive than usual The excellent SER
mon was by Rev. ID. H. Ella of Boston,
from l. Corinthians, iii: 21-23 His thoughts
dwelt on the mastery we should have over
the world, life and death. An Easter
Sunday-school concert was held in the
evening. The programme comprised the
opening anthem; prayer by Mr.. Gallagher;
hallelujah by the school; Scripture-respon-
sve lesson, Superintendent More and school;
Easter greeting, Willie Stratton recitation,
The Resurrection" Ralph Blanpied;
News of the Flowers" school; recitation
and motion song, No Christmas without
Easter" infant class; recitation, "Who
Shall Roll the Stone?" Anna Guernsey, and
Easter exercises by the children next above
the infant class. The closing number was
the concert exercise, The Gates Aiar,''
with the following characters: " Pilgrim, :"
Mrs. Ernest L'Hereux; Faith" Miss Josie
Pierce; Hope" Miss Sadie f. Wing; cross
bearer, Mr.. Odell; chorus of three classes
of the elder scholars.
AT THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
Gala and Easter lilies, white and green
and sunshine warmed with color the inter-
ior of the Church of the Messiah. In front
OF the choir were potted plants and roses
The sermon was by Rev. l.. o. Sherburne
OF Enosburgh Falls, one of the preachers in
attendance on the Methodist conference,
from the text, Behold l stand at the door
and knock" f. w. Morse read communi-
cation from Rev. j. Edward Wright in re-
ply to the vote of the society granting the
pastor leave of absence for a year. with
continuance of his salary. Mr.. Wright ac-
cepted the leave of absence and the free
expression of goodwill and Affection but
felt constrained to decline the offer of sal
ary. The contribution taken up was for the
benefit of the poor in Russia, in accordance
with the governors Fast day proclamation
The evening was devoted to the Sunday
school service. There were pleasant carols
by the children, led by the choir and an
address by Rev. w. S. Todd of Bellows
Falls. The Easter offering was for the
Children's Mission to the Children of the
Destitute in Boston. Superintendent An
drews distributed Easter cards to the child
rem, and Mr.. Wright sent to each family
represented in the Sunday y-school a copy Of
Mrs. Gatty's " Not Lost, but Gone Before"
ST. AUGUsTINE's CHURCH.
The ladies of st. Augustine's parish had
trimmed the church with their usual taste
and skill. Father O'Sullivan's sermon was
short, but interesting; not so short but
fully as interesting, was the collection,
which amounted to over 5000. The SER
vice consisted principally of the musical
mass, difficult work which the choir, un-
der the training of Joseph Galaise had adj
mirably comprehended. Miss Kelleher, the
organist more than maintained her reputa-
ton as performer on that instrument.