The Portland daily press., 1893-04-03
EASTER SUNDAY.
How It Was Observed By Churches
in TIL $ Vicinity.

Crowds Fill the Sacred Edifices-Fine
Music by the Choirs-Jhe Sermons
All De oted to the Subject of Res,lr-
rection.
Easter, the great festival OF the church,
commentaries the resurrection of
Christ and corresponds at the same time
to the Jewish passover, the name of
| which it bears in most European Ian
| guages.
For many years there was a wonder
| full and laborious confusion concerning
| the exact date of Easter; the 14th day of
the moon. In 3s7, for instance, the
churches of Gaul observed the 2lst of
March; the churches of Italy, April IS;
the churches of Egypt, April 25. The
churches in Asia celebrated Easter on
the l4th day of the moon, according
to the law of Moses, whatever day of the
week it was, and ended the fast on that
day. The Western churches used to fast
to the day of Christ's resurrection, that
is, to the Sunday following. Pope Vic
tor I. communicated the Quarto-
Decimans. The Roman custom was es-
tablished in England in $50, and Easter
day was fixed as the first Sunday after
18th day (not the full moon) of the cal
endar moon, which happens on the next
after March 81. This moon is an imagi-
nary moon created for ecclesiastical con-
Il of 41,n
Russian, Grecian and Oriental churches
adhere to the unreformed calendar, and
their Easter is nearly a Fortnight lat
er.
Easter this year was bright and clear;
although the wind was strong remind
er that the winter had not entirely de-
parted. The churches as usual were
dressed in floral garments, token of
springs revival, aud were crowded with
congregations not entirely their own.
The music, the programmes of which
were published Saturday for the most
part, was finely rendered.
st. Luke's Cathedral.
The decorations at st. Luke's Cathe-
dral were in excellent taste. They were
not as profuse as they used to be, but
the arrangement was admirable. The
altar was exquisitely decked with the
choicest of floral offerings, in memory of
Mrs. Geo. T. Davis and Col. and Mrs.
Charles B. Merrill, by Miss Isabelle and
Messrs. John and Charles Merrill. Mrs.
Geo. T. Shepley, as usual, decorated the
font with beautiful Easter lilies. There
were handsome memorial crosses for
Judge and Mrs. Cleaves, Judge Clifford
and the deceased Clifford children. A
beautiful Tyre for Miss Colby rested on
the pulpit, and an anchor for Mrs. Wick
cry on the lectern. On the litany desk
was graceful tribute to William M.
Sargent, and lilies for Mrs. Barrett. One
of the prettiest decorations was the love
ly roses in memory of the late Mrs.
FL. H. Kurdish. There were memorial
bouquets in the windows dedicated to
Miss Matte Davis, Mrs. Little, the Glass;
oways, Mr.. Sargent and Rev. DR.. Mitch
ell
The Cathedral was filed with a large
congregation, the Bishop of Maine, Rev.
DIR. Nicely, officiating. The music by the
boy choir, under the able mastership of
Mr.. Carter, the efficient organist, was
fine, and Mr.. Carter's organ selections
were not only highly appropriate to the
season, but were rendered with great
taste.
High Street.
The pulpit recess at this church was
a delight to the artistic eye. White and
green were the prevailing colors with
just enough of other shades to give
something of warmth and tonal richness
to the general mass of color. At the
left of the reading desk stood a superb
floral cross, the gift of Mrs. John B.
Brown, in memory of her husband. This
was fanked on the other side by large
clusters of lilies. On the front of the |
desk was beautiful star in memory of |
Mrs. G. L. Bailey, and arranged on eth
er side, and on the communion table be- |
meath were exquisite emblems for Mrs. |
P. J. Wiley, Mrs. E. FL. Snow, and
great vase filled with magnificent Easter
lilies, besides other designs. Banked in |
and about all these emblems, were the
most graceful tropical plants with long, |
dropping, glossy leaves, contrasting per-
fectly with the surrounding color.
The music at this church was among |
the finest in the city. Besides the regu- |
lar church quartette, quartette, com
posed of Miss Alice Allen, soprano, Miss
alto, Mr.. Gray, tenor, and
Mr.. Mitchell, bass, was added, and the
double quartette, together with the adj
mirable organ playing of MEL. Rankin,
the musical director, made Easter, 1893,
long to be remembered at this church.
Park Street.
There was not any attempt at special
decoration at this church, for the Pres
byterians do not make festal day OF
h, n nf croc fr,l