The Indianapolis journal., 1892-04-18
ANNUAL FEAST OF FFLOWERS
Unusually Joyous Celebration of the
Easter Festivalin the City Churches.
New BOnnets Played No Small Part-Elabor-
ate Music and Floral Displays the Or
der Of the Day-Services.

The eEaster bonnet appeared yesterday in
all the churches. and the display was not
only profuse. but unusually radiant. The
threatening weather could not keep the
fair wearers at home, and the attendance
at the churches was greater than this city
has known at any service since that of
Easter 1891.
Easter always creates a great demand
for eggs as the children must have these
meaty ovals colored III various bright hues
on this day of rejoicing. Within the past
three or four years German myth has
been adopted and found such favor that In
q few years it will rank next in Importance
to little folks to that of good old Santa
Claus himself. This myth is to the effect
that the beautifully colored eggs are laid
by rabbits. and that the children must be
good and prepare the nests. which
the rabbits will find, and after that
the children may find the eggs and perhaps
If they are very good and very quiet and
cautious they may even capture the rabbit
too. This German custom of preparing the
nests and afterwards hunting for eggs and
rabbits creates great deal of merriment
and delight among the little folks. The
sale of toy rabbits of all sorts, sizes and
colors has been greater than ever before.
and the number of artificial and fanciful
eggs of all kinds that have been sold has
also been large.
Easter services in all the churches are of
more Joyous character than in former
years. Greater attention is paid to music
and to flowers. the floral displays every
where being exceedingly large and choice.
In the Roman Catholic Churches.
Easter. the greatest festival in the Ro-
man Catholic calendar. brought throngs Of
people to each of the several services In the
churches of that denomination In this city.
The largest audiences were of course at
st. Johns, which is the largest church. and
the services there. while in the main not
differing materially from those at the other
churches. were more impressive for the
reason that they were conducted by the
bishop. The first service was the 6-o'clock
mass, at which St Johns was packed with
people. This was followed by mass at 7:o0.
which likewise brought large audience.
Ate o'clock was held special services for
children. Half the congregation at that
hour was COMPOSED of children. while the
remaining part was of grown persons,
many of whom were standing up. At the
first of these services there were 500 at conf
munion and about $50 at each of the two
following services. At the children's
service the sin ginR of the choir. composed
of thirty young ladies aud girls was excel
lent.
The fourth service of the day brought an
audience completely filling the church.
The marble altar with its pyrsmidal lights
was embellished with but few flowers
These. however. were lilies and other
white blooms and the simplicity of their
arrangement added to the beauty of the
altar without giving the floral part of the
display undue prominence. The side affairs
dedicated to ST. Joseph and the Blessed
Virgin were similarly adorned. >, few pot
ted plants were disposed about the sides of
the spacious sanctuary. The har ginss of
the bishops throne were white. the color
for the day.
At 1880 the pageantry of this solemn serv-
ice began, the procession consisting OF
behind the altar This con:isied of Of
lowed by Monsignor Bessonies. who
acted as priest for the Bishop, together
with Rev. J; F; Weber as deacon, of the
mass. Rev. William Mueller as subdeacon.
This procession was headed by the bearers
of the cross. who met the Bishop ut the
door of the sanctuary. accompanied by the
deacons of honor. Rev. joseph Chartrand
and Rev. +. II. Gayisk. The Bishop wore
the tram of which was upborne by the
acolytes. He was escorted to the throne.
and there vested in the robes of the pontiff.
or high prize st, whom he represented.
The mas then began. At the foot of the
altar the Bishop bent in humble con-
fession. and, having done so. ascended the
altar. The incense having been placed in
the lighted Goals of the braZen censer it Is
swung about the altar. the issuing smoke
filling the room with a pleasant flavor. The
ahOut
ceremony one of deep significance. typify-
ing rs it does the incense OF prayer ascend
ing to heaven. While this ceremony was
proceeding the Bishop Ieeited the Psalm.
"Let my prayer ascend, o Lord"
The epistle for the day, from the fifth
chapter of Corinthians. was then read by
Rev. William Mueller, subdeacOn of the
mass. and the gospel was chanted by Rev.
j. r. Weber. the book being held before
him by the subdeacon. this being o token
of respect for the book of the gospels.
After this the prayer OF the Holy Ghost,
"Yeni Creator" was sung by the choir.
Rev. +. II. Gavisk then made publication
of the bans of matrimony Of three couples.
Prayers were requested for the dead, those
of the congregation who died during the
past week. Notice was given that the fol-
lowing Sunday was the monthly COM
munion for the boys and girls societies.
Bishop Chatard. addressing the congre-
CATION. said: 'As the church begins her
services to-day her heart is full of Jesus.
for she sees Him who Is her spouse raised
mp from death by the hand of His Father.
gloriiied with power from above. victor
over death. destined to live forever, to pro-
tect the church. to guard her against as
saults which are inevitable in the course of
her existence. These would overwhelm
her were God not ever with her according
to His promise. So the church exults to-
day. Her children throughout the world,
wherever the sun is shining to-day, thanks
giving Is going UP to God from the affairs
lie has instituted. We should appreciate
how important this day is TO US:
this day which commentaries the resur-
rection of our Lord. the Savior. Jesus
Christ, who died for us. has risen from the
dead. risen to provide for us something 9
more excellent than the world can give.
He has founded the church upon earth.
founded IL so that the gates of hell shall
not prevail against it.
of his millionsf How long can he enjoy
the pleasures this wealth gives him' On.
how short the space, A few years and the
man is no more, and he cannot
take dollar with him. A few
days sufficeth to make that body
so disgusting tnat men dare not look upon
it. These things are fleetlng: but how is IL
with those things which remain aud are
eternalf The gift of faith is your assur-
ance that ou are the child of God. 1t ex-
ats you as far above those who have not
faith as the heavens are above the earth.
You become tho sons of God and the CO.
heirs With Jesus Christ, the wealth and
glory and happiness of which are simply
unspeakable. What reward awaits Us
for the little we can do here for the Al
mighty God. This certainty which you
have increases in intensity when we come
to the wonderful things prepared for us
who have the gift of faith. 1t is God who