The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-03-28
TIE EASTER FESTIVAL.
The Observance Of the Day in the Churches
Some Beautiful Decorations.

Easter dawneI dismaley, and the
higher the orb of day climbed his way
, behind bis misty veil the more inclem-
ent did the weather become.
But in the Episcopal, Lutheran and
Methodist churches, the sombre aspect
was Enlightened by the verna! leaf and
the blooming flowers, typical Of the
Resurrection, which calls US from gloom
and despair to the joyous beginning OF
new and higher life. Notwithstand-
ing the external condition of cold mist
and lowering clouds, inside the sanctu-
aries large congregations were present
to celebrate the crownipg festival and
all was warmth and light and JOY.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
At the Episcopal church the decora-
tions were very rich and beautiful III
the harmony Of their arrangement.
Owing to the suhdued light through
he stained windows, lamps were light
ed, the soft, mellow rays from which
increased the brightness of the orca-
sion. The services We're conducted by
Rev. H. IT. Gregory, the sermon
being based upon the second verse OF
the sixth chapter Of Romans. At this
Easter-tiGe, said the speaker "h'le
life 10 the physical world re:sserts itself,
and all nature is growing more and
more radiant with leaf and flower,
within Gods house life and joy are
symbolized by these fragrant emolems
of the Resurrection, and faith and love
| find utterance in anthems of praise,
because our Lord who was dead is again
alive forevermore, and he can make US
alive here in spiritual things and here
after in life eternal. Christ brings life,
and we must be alive in Jesus Christ
our Lord, as a branch abiding in vine
is alive.
He emphasized and elaborated the
following thoughts:
l. The life and energy Of Christ
| flows into His true followers. They be-
come .'partakers of the Divine Ma
ture.'"
,. 1.-THE infowing life hindeHsd by
SIM"
..3. "Wemust keepin communion with
our Lord and Master, and thus be
'alive unto God through Jesus Christ
| our Lord.'"
| Mr.. Gregory urged his hearers to be
| alive to the positive as we'll as the neg
ative virtues, and should they have
failed to enjoy the spiritual benefits or
| the lenten season, to begin now to reach
| unto the attainment of q higher spirit
| ual walk by taking advantage OF all the
ueaus of grace, among which were the
exercise of faith, prayer and Christian
charity, and attendance upon the
preaching of the Word and in partak-
ing of the Holy Communion.
The communion was administered,
and the rite of infant baptism was to
have been performed, but was deferred
because of the inclenent weather.
TAE LUTHERAN CHURCH
was more handsomely decorated than
usual. The central attraction was the
large cross in rear Of the pulpit. 1t was
composed of evergreens and royal pur-
pie flowers, and at its base was bank
of rare ferns and geraniums. The en-
tire interior of the church was fes-
tooned and garlauded with flowers and
evergreens in a most tasteful manner,
but the most handsome Of all these
were the magnificent garlands caught
up from each corner of the gallery rail.
ing and suspended from the centre OF
the aigh ceiling. The entire effect OF
the decorations was pretty indeed, and |
even the dismal weather, Decessitating |
the use of lights, served only to make
the scene more beautiful.
Rev. DR.. Fox delivered brief Easter |
and Communion address, from which |
we give the following extracts as show
ing the spirit iu which the Easter festi-
val was celebrated:
"These garlands are not wreathed !
over the sepulcher of dead Savionr.
These anthems are not chanted over
the unbroken tomb of moulGerlng |
Christ. This holy Jacrament is not |
celebrated in remembrance OF one VINO
has sunk into corruption. This Gospel
of eternal life is not founded upon one |
who is still holden of death, aud who |
is vet under the power and dominion |
of the grave. No such gloom and dark |
despair here. No such horrible unbe- |!
lief of atheism and infidelity in the |
bosom of any who has ventured within !
these walls now filled with the songs OF |
hope, and flooded over with the bright |
authorizations of a glorious inc mortality. |
If there should be one such umbeileVer,
one who has chosen to stand in the in
finitely small colnnaay of skeptics and |
scoffers, one who has so lost reason as !;
to reject the overwhelming evidences
to support the Resurrection, then, in
deed, is be in the wrong place, and his |
countenance here is a glaring contra !
diction of what he processes to believe"
At the close of the sermon eight |
young persons were received into
church membership by the rite of con-
firmation and the communion admin !
istered. i
The music was a special feature of |
the impressive service. and under the |
leadership of Mrs. P. Robertson it was
as usual rendered most excelleE. y.
THE METHODIST CHURCH.
At the Methodist church a brilliant
display of flowers and appropriate |
decorations spoke eloquently of the
glad and Joyous morning, the annlver-
Sary so gladly hailed by the Church
militant. Rev. A. J. Stokes, pastor,
preached an appropriate sermon from
Matt. 2S: II.
The following interesting programme
was rendered at night by the Chiidren's
Missionary Society:
Prayer.
w uSlC Uy S1O4A.
"Welcome," by Miss Pauline Glider.
"Give To day." by Master Frank Chap
man.
Little Givers," by Miss Venessa Will
iams.
"A Missionary Man. by Master jim
mie Bardin. >.
DO What You Can," by Miss Leslie
Taylor.
Music by choir.
"Dressng the Cross" by eleven girls
Music by choir.
"The Pennies" by Master Claude Will
iams.
Loving and Giving" by Miss Bell
Epting.
Music by choir.
"Biddy Red Wings" by Miss Minnie
Salter.
Collection.
Address by Rev. A. J. Stokes.
Song. by children of the Society.
Benediction.
d., f1oo 4 Erirl,t of tho PaptiSt