The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1894-03-30
EASTER SERVICES 1so4.

at the Baptist church there were ele-
giant trimmings of cut flowers and pot
ted plants. There were baptisms at both
services, the pastor preached sermons in
harmony with the joyous festival, and
large congregations were present The
Easter musical programme, under the
direction OF Prof II. w. Downs, was so
admirably rendered that it has received
general commr ndatiOn. By reauest the
same programme will be repeated, morn
ing and evening, of Sunday April LIST.
The ordinance of baptism will be ad-
ministered in the evening.
At st. Peters church, as stated in an
other item, large congregations greeted
the new rector and the fine music Sc
lected by Prof. r. o. Goldsmith. was
admirably rendered. The church was
opened for the first time since the re-
pairs and decorations were finished, and
the improved surroundings were very
pleasant. The altar, pulpit and lectern
were adorned with flowers, principally
Gala lilies, but these were not in the.
profusiOn of former years. The electric
lights add much TO the beauty of the
scene. While the compliments to the
choir were general, yet the solo singing
of Miss May Loomis, especially at Even
song, is very highly spoken of.
AT the church of St. Francis de Sales
the Easter music surpassed anything
that that congregation had ever enjoyed.
Musical Director, Chas. Il. Bennett, had
worked hard to make it a notable event,
and the choir had cheerfully seconded
and supported his efforts. The long
programme, comprising Palmer's Mass
in b fiat, was finely sang. The sermons.
were upon the subject of the day, and
Father Barron took the occasion to make
SEINE practical applications to his people
of the lessons of the Queen Festival. At
the close of the services Mr.. Bennett
found basket of choice flowers on his
table near the organ, and upon examina-
ton, nestled among the stems were four
So. gold pieces, presented as an Easter gift
from the choir. 1t was wholly a sur
prise and handsome recognition of his
efforts in their behalf.
At the Second Congregational church
there were large congregations present.
and, like other sanctuaries, the floral
decorations were numerous and pleasing.
The pastor preached practical sermon,
and the musical programme, published
last week, was exceptionally well rem
dered. The evening Easter Carol SER
vice was very enjoyable, the large Sun
day school entering into the spirit of
JIG CouCoIG-d type OF inc worship Oh
the upper sanctuary"
The services at the Methodist Episco-
pal church, NJ. B. Morgan, chorister
were of much higher order than has
been usual of late years. This was indi-
Gated by the published order of exercises,
especially the music of the morning SER
vice. AS soloist Miss Audria Bowen is.
very promising vocalist, and in the
choruses the voices were we'll balanced.
The Easter concert in the evening was,
greatly enjoyed, the large Sunday schools
taking hold of the exercise with will
that insured success. The PASTORS
morning sermon had for its subject THE
history and observance of Easter"
A part of the music will be repeated next
Sunday, giving our people another op-
portunity to enjoy the solos of Misses,
Bowen, Morgan and Mr. Valentine, who
were so highly complimented, supported
by the new choir. The evening Easter
service was conducted by Supt. F. A.
Greenslet, under the direction of Miss
Amelia Burt.
Easter 1894 is thing of the past, but
its influences will linger in the minds
and religious life of the people. The
great lesson of Easter is that of hope.
That is what the first Easter day meant.
w u6u OlluOu I6leT Sdlu 10 C6GJdln Oh MS
fellow disciples, IL go a fishing" and
the others said, "We also go with thee,r
the simple incident meant more than ap-
pears on the surface. 1t meant the ex-
tinguishment of the hopes which had
been entertained regarding the Master.
and return to the old vocation which
they had followed before they were ad-
mitted to His high companionship.
They had hoped that it was He who
should have redemmed Israel, as one of
them later said; but they had witnessed
the complete triumph of His enemies.
over Him. He had suffered, as any man
might suffer; He had been put to death,
as any man might have been; what was
there more? Return to the old manner
of life seemed to be all that was left to
them. What was it that changed all
this? What brought together the. scat
tered and disheartened disciples, held
them in little company until they had
been endued with special power, and
then sent them out into a cruel and hos
tile world? 1t was the proof of Christ's
resurrection which so transformed them,
and the Christ they went forth to preach
was not dead Christ. but Christ for
ever alive and present with them. This,
then, is what Easter chiefly means. 1t
teaches that death is not the end of life,
but an episode in it, or at the most
brief interruption of it.