Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1893-04-07
THE GLAD SEASON.
The Easter Festival i'm the Brat
tlebOrO Churches.

Easter-the festival fraught with the
deepest significance to the whole Christian
church-was fttingly celebrated in BrattIe-
boro. In the lower-decked churches the
pastors spoke to large audiences on the
great themes of resurrection and immortal
ity, and the Easter anthems were sung
with impressi7eness. Outside the sun
shone brightly, and although there was
still touch of winter in the air the gener-
al suggestiveness was of that new life
which comes to nature with the opening
spring.
The Union Meeting.
In the morning at o'clock the young
peoples religious societies held a larger
union meeting than on any previous occa-
sion, about 800 being present at the Uni
versalist vestry. The meeting was opened
by George l.. Durham, president of the
Congregational Endeavor society: Mrs.
Morse, president of the Epworth league of
the Methodist church, led the responsive
scripture readings; ID. f. Tasker, president
of the Unlversalist Religious Improvement
society, made remarks, and President Edg-
EFT of the Baptist society a prayer, which
was followed by minute prayers In clos
ing there was an informal service in which
Rev. Mr.. Day, Rev. Mr.. Sprague and all
present took part. The services were in
terspersed with congregational singing,
with piano and cOrnet accompaniment by
Fred Knight and Clayton Hackley.
The Centre Church.
At the Centre church palms and Easter
lilies, green plants and flowers with white
blossoms were arranged in front of the pull
pit, with large cross of yellow rose buds,
carnations and smilaX for centre piece.
The rail in front of the choir loft was also
covered with green and lilies. Rev. c. 0.
Day preached powerful sermon from the
text, "But is now made manifest by the
appearance of our Savior Jesus Christ,
who hath abolished death, and hath brought
life and immortality to light through the
gospel" He spoke convincingly of i'm
mortality as revealed list, by reason; I'd,
by vision; Sd, by experience. The special
Easter music was unusually well rendered
In the evening an Easter concert was Civ
en-, nearly all of the parts being assigned
to the children. Miss Ruth Noyes i'm
pressively recited Wardsworth's code to
Immortality" and Miss Cora Liscom sang
with her Sunday school class. Congrega-
lions which filled the church were present
at both services. At the regular meeting
of the Sunday school each member was
given tulip, kindly furnished the school
by c. f. Allen.
The Baptist Church.
There was a profuse display of flowers
at the Baptist church. In the rear of the
pulpit were two large begonias; at one side
was a handsome cross of double tulips
with wreath of roses, and on the other
side vase of cut flowers placed there in
memory of the late Minnie Carey. In
front and along the front of the platform
was a bank of potted plants and cut flow
ers, mostly lilies, geraniums and palms.
In the morning Mr.. Parry preached to
the children upon the resurrection, relating
its story and giving familiar Illustrations
from nature. As touching the theme he
showed by several illustrations how God
can make common things very beautiful
and precious, as quartz crystals from sand,
and diamonds, which are crystalized and
purified carbon. He finally spoke of a
certain form of crystal composed of both
fine and coarse material. When acid is
applied the coarser material will be eaten
away, but the form will not be changed.
So the spiritual body will be better and
more beautiful, but its features will be rec
ognized. Mr. Parry illustrated his talk
with many specimens of buttertlys and
CRYSTALS, and it was interspersed with
hymns and a solo by Mr.. Markham. Fol
lowing the morning service there was a
special Sunday school service arranged by
Mr.. Van Doom.
In the evening Mr.. Parry preached upon
the text from Mark XVI, 8, "Who shall
roll us away the stone?" All men have
snned and death and the sepulchre are
necessary for all. But why was a sepul-
chre necessary for Christ? 1t was death
for expiation and the burial verified his
death. The speaker showed the signiii-
canoe of the stone being rolled away from
the sepulchre by an ''angel of the Lord.
He also contrasted the inscriptions OF de
spair upon Pagan tombs with the hopeful
inscriptions upon Christian tomhs. None
among the heroes of antiquity could rol
that stone away. The stone has now beer
rolled away and Christ has sanctified the
grave.
st. MIchaeTs Episcopal Church
The floral decorations at st. Michaer'
Episcopal church consisted of cross anc
vases of lilies upon the reliable, and palm;
and Easter lilies in jars at each end OF the
altar. around the lecturn, pulpit desk anC
font. There were also roses and lilies IN
front of the memorial window of Miss Eliz
abeth b. Rowland. The three services
were well attended, there was appropriate
music, and communion was observed a
the early and morning services. At thu
morning service Mr.. Collins preached from
Matt. XVIII, 10: "Then said Jesus un
to them, be not afraid: go tell my breth
rem" He referred to the vital importance
of the doctrine of the resurrection anC
: dwelt upon the thought of the brotherhood
J of man as evinced in the universal o0serv
ance of Easter; of the calming OF the fear
and reassuring of the faith OF the withesse
t of our Savior's rising, and deducing tn
E. 1T 20 oil ,rho may he DerDeNed con