Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-15


 To the Christian world it was a day | for more than ordinary gladness; it was 1 the anniversary of the eisen Savior. | Every church in the city was beautifully 1 decorated and immense congregations l gathered at the many houses of worship | to hear the preached word of God. . St. Mary Highlands. | All the wealth of the woods and of l the conservatory was drawn upon to | beautify the interior of St. Mary's in | honor of Easter. The exquisite taste of l the ladies was seen in the grouping of | the Easter lilies, the festooning of the l smilaX, the punching of roses and ap- l pie blossoms and other treasures of the 1 floral field. The prevailing white of the 1 chancel and altar made a pleasing con- | trast to the green, and the dark arches l above gave to all a bright hue. The Knights Templar, commanded by pr. w. B. Phillips and led by Color Bearer Paul Calame, marched over from l the city. AS they approached up the I avenue. their white plumes rose and fell l in the morning breeze as the foam upon | the waves, and the bright sun shone l upon their ragalia as the sunbeams | simmer on the spray Thy were con | ducted to front seats and sat in body. | The large congregation numbered about | 500, and was only accommodated by the l addition of extra seats. The elaborate musical programme was rendered with | skill that evinced practice. Solos were | sung by Mrs T. O. Smith and MT. Kan | dall
 | The attendance of the Knights Templar | was a compliment to the rector, who is | prelate of Cyrene commandery and | grand prelate of the grand commandery | of the state.
 l Rector O. P. Fitzsimon took the sub I ject: Angels Ascendnd and Descending" and preached on faith.
 | Afternoon Services.
 At 4 o'clock D. m. the auditorium of the | church was crowded by large congrega- | tion to witness the Sunday school Easter festival. The procession was headed by the vested choir, they being followed by 1 the infant class, consisting of about r thrity-five. The pretty little folks, l dressed in white, sat around the altar. l The rector made an eloquent little talk. l Masters James Stevens and David Rob- | erts sang Around the Throne of God in | Heaven sweetly and with marked effect, 1 the little folks joining in the chorus, | Glory to God on High" The banners, | the workmanship of the ladies of St. l Mary's, were fit opponents of their recog- | nized skill and culture. 1 The offertory was a liberal donation to- | wards fund for beautifying the Sun
 day-school room In the presentation of | offerings it was very inte tingto see | little Sydney Smith, son of MT. A. G. l Smith, tottering under the burden of the ] gift of the infant class; and it was very sweet when the little fellow told the rec l tor that he was quite welcome' | It is not invidious to say that Miss l Pearee has done a grand work with the | little people. The children were all sorry | that MT. VanHoose did not make them a | talk.
 l The Easter of 1895 will long be remem- bered by St. Mary's.
 | St. Paul's.
 l The services at St. Paul's Catholic l church were unusually solemn yester- | day morning at both 7:30 and 10 o'clock | The attendance at the 10 o'clock service l was so great that many were turned l away it being impossible for them to | gain admittance to the immense struc- ture. The floral decorations were grand, l especially floral piece contributed by Rietta Bros. The music was highly in- | teresting, Gounods "Messe Solonelle" being rendered under the direction of l Prof. W. H. Markin, Miss Mary Rabitte presiding at the organ. The following | comprised the choir: 1 Mrs. Joseph Lowinsohn and Misses | Norah Sullivan and Annie O'Neill, so-
 pranos; Miss Ethel Houston and Mrs. Margaret Gibbons. alto: Messrs. Calder | and Arrico, tenor; Messrs. Rosser. Kreck-
 enberger and w. H. Maxim, basso. | The instrumental pieces were: Solon l Jacobs and Oliver Chalifoux first violin; | Professor Montana, second violin; Fred | Romei. clarionet; Philip Memoli, cornet; l ". A. Chase, bass; R. F. Johnston, vio- 1 lin. and M. D. Linnehan, trombone. Ushers. Messrs. Cary Thompson and l Peter Boggan. The text for the 10 o'clock service by l Father O'Riley was: "He is not here: | He has arisen, Father O'Riley said: The angels announced the birth of Christ | and it seemed fit that God should so or
 dain that to the angels should be given the chance of making known the glad ftidings of the risen Saviour The angel Eannounced His epitaph to those who I came to visit His tomb. saying: He is Enot here; He is risen" His resurrection IS the Christians hope. That He who I died on Calvary was God that the word and fire which He came to cast upon the earth came from Heaven. It stamped 1 all His work and labors with the impress l of the divinity The many wonders He wrought during His public life Was suf- l possession of more than human power Healing went out from the very hem of His garment He made the blind to see
 and the dumb to speak. He raised the
 dead to life. On this work alone could l He rest the assertion of His divinity. The holiness of His life. acknowledged by His enemies, is another proof. Judas, who was bishop and one of the apos-
 ties, confessed: T have betrayed inno- | cent blood" And Pilate, before the peo- | pie beclared: 'I am innocent of the | blood of this just man."
 The resurrection is the foundation on | which rests our faith in the doctrine of l the church, as St. Paul does not hesi- tate to say. If Christ be not risen then | Is our preaching vain" Man is capable of accomplishing much in science and | art. He cannot lift his dead hand amid | the grave clothes and bring back pulsa- tion to the heart made silent by the | touch of death. By Him alone who | arose on today could such feat be | achieved.