The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-05
THE FESTIVAL TRIUMPH1NT.

| How the Festal Day Was Celebrated at the
| Churches in Montpelier-Fine Musical
| Programme, Large Offerings of Flowers
| and Plants-The Risen Christ the Theme
of Sermon and Song-Details of the Gen
| era1 Observance of the Day, with Brief
| Abstracts of the Sermons.
| The keen north wind that swept through
| the streets of Montpelier last Sunday morn.
| ing had in it little of the suggestion of the
awakening of the natural world from death
| to life, and the analogy between the thoughts
| expressed from some of the pulpits and
the season of spring-time was wanting
| The joyous festival was more generally OBJ
| served, however, than it has been in many
| years in the past Although the mourning
garments of heaven had not passed away,
the gladness OF the day was in sharp con-
trast to the season of penitence just COM
pleted. To the resonant, vibrant music OF
Easter bells, throngs of devout worshipers
gathered at the various churches in town,
at all OF which services appropriate to the
day were held. The story of loves redeem
ing work and of the risen Christ were told
in eloquent discourses, supplemented by
different creeds and rites so dear to the
hearts OF the worshipers in this land Of re-
lgious liberty
BETHANY CHURCH.
There was no attempt at an elaborate
floral display. The dimensions of the audi
forum render it mpracticable at a season
when flowers, If had at all, must be Of in
door growth or imported at large expense,
and the decorators usually concentrate their
efforts upon "Children's Day" Upon the
choir rail, pulpit platform and communion
table, were ported palms and umbrella
plants. and in the center of the latter clus-
ter of Easter lilies. The service of the
morning was after the usual order, except
that the responsive readings, scriptural Sc
lections, invocation and hymns had special
reference to the occasion The new choir
of the church-a chorus of twenty voices
under direction of Mr.. Briggs sang most
acceptably carol, Hark, the Bells are
Ringing written fora church in Concord,
N H., by Mr.. G. A. Daggett, who has fire.
quently sung with Bethany quartette choir
and Jules Granier's anthem, Hosanna,"
the solo in the latter being given by Mrs.
Briggs. In the absence of Mr.. Gallagher
the pulpit was occupied by the Rev.
Leonard Tenney of Waterbury, The dis
course was based upon the tenth and
eleventh verses Of the third chapter of Phil
ippians, That | may know him, aud the
power OF his resurrection, and the fellow
ship of his sufferings, being made conform.
able unto his death; if by any means |
might attain unto the resurrection of the
dead" His thoughts found expression in
words like these: Some people will jeop.
ardize their whole future existence in an
endeaVor to secure present blessings; others
sacrifice the things of earth and bend their
energies toward the attainment of things in
corruptible and sundefiled. OF the latter
class was Paul, the author of the text. He
had not been wording, and his life had
been in some respects religious; but he had
learned that those things which he had |
formerly considered helpful were actually a |
loss, and 1t became pleasure for him to |
take up his cross and follow Christ. This |
is the experience of the truly converted man
to-day. He wishes to forsake all things in
order to gain knowledge of Christ himself:
TO know him as an elder brother, as a |
prophet, priest and king, and especially as
a Savior. He wishes to know the power of
the resurrection and the proper influence
which it should have upon his living and
his dying hours Christ's resurrection
makes certain the future state and that the
dead may and shall arise. The Christian
should most earnestly desire TO realize this
power. Before it all the trials of life and all
the terrors of death vanish, and in their
stead comes joy unspeakable and full of
glory. He should forsake all things that he
may share the suiferings of Christ Could
he know the end from the beginning, he
would count it joy to experience a fellow
present grievous, worketh out the unspeak.
able fruits of patience. He should desire
10 know this power that he may be Just
ike the Master in meeting death; and en-
ire conservation will enable him to endure
,veu the cross with fortitude. When Peter
vas sentenced to death he not only did not
Tread his fate, but, for the glory that might
De revealed, craved the further ignominy of
rucifxion with his head down. Multitudes
ince his day have made glad confession of
christ in full view of terrible physical suf-
erng which must follow in consequences
Who of those present to-day would do this?
We should never hold our lives dear in | !
hances of service. What glorious and in
piring truth the assurance that we may ex-
erience the resurrection of the just The
mbiton of him who died in New York last
anuary, one of the worlds richest men, ,
vas realized but upon his death bed his
availed him nothing, and thou
ands of those whom he counted poor were
1ealthier far by the inventory of heaven" |
ir. Tenney's closing words were a tender |
ppeal to the congregation to make it their