Birmingham age-herald., 1895-04-15
ABSOLUTELY PURE

 earth never before witnessed The joy of the resurrection Is proclaimed today from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof, as the kingdom of Christ or His church is spread through the en- tire universe.
 The resurrection is the hinge on which turns the Christian faith.
 The existence of His church is loud in the truth of the risen Saviour as dead Christ could not give the world a church of such vitality, coming down to us through the ages, notwithstanding the battles she had fought and the opposi- tions to overcome in every age of her existance for a period of over 1900 years. It was sin that caused the death of Christ The sins of mankind cried aloud for his crucifixion. How sad were his friends at His death, and His enemies were rejoicing; but today the joyous are sad and the sad are filled with joy. Af- ter His resurrection the doctrines He commissioned His apostles to preach to the end of time stole upon the world like strains of half-forgotten music. I be- lieve the risen Saviour has gone through the world conquering and to conquer. Those who buried Him out of sight thought all was over with Him. They have passed away and are long since forgotten, but the church of the once dead, now risen, Savionr still lives on, and will as long as time shall last since the Risen One said He would abide with His bride to the end of time.
 Church of the Advent.
 The Easter services at the Church of the Advent yesterday morning were highly interesting to the large audi ence present. The music, arranged es- pecially for the occasion, was unusually fine. consisting of the following splendid programme:
 Voluntary, Thou Didst Not Leave" (HandeL)
 Processional hymn, Jesus Christ Is Risen Today
 Easter anthem, Grand Chant"
 "Te Deum," Gopkins), in G.
 Festival Jubilate" (Shuly) in A.
 Hymn, Christ the Lord Is Risen Again.
 Antheam. 'They Taken Away My Lord" (Strauss.)
 Hymn, "AllelinA"
 } Offertory, recit, "Be Not Afraid;' aria, 'Sing to God, He Is Risen Oyer)
 Communion music (Boyce.)
 Recessional hymn. "The Day of Res urrection."
 Voluntary, Hallalujah Chorus,
 Dr. Beard deferred bis sermon on the Resurrection" until next Sunday.
 Holy communion was administered at the close of the services.
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
 Rev R. D. Wear preached an able ser- mon last night at the Cumberland Pres byterian church on "Ingratitude." The sermon wss probably one of the most interesting that has been delivered in Birmingham for some time.
 'The ungrateful man." said the preacher, 'is the most despisabe of men. I cannot find words to sufficiently express my contempt for the man or woman who is ungrateful for favors shown him or her. I have contempt even for the thief or murderer who be- trays his pals. believe 1t a miscarriage of justice for the criminal who turns states evidence to go unpunished. while his partners in crime have to suffer the penalty of the deed.
 But you should be careful to whom you place yourself under obligation" said the preacher, Hest you force your self to commit some moral crime in dis streets of your city before I would al- low myself to be placed under obliga- tfons to a person who would require of me a favor that would injure me- The basest of all ingrates is he who Is un- grateful to his parents"
 Services will continue through the pres ent week, the pastor. Rev. R. D. Wear, conducting the same The services will begin at 7:45 each evening.
 South Highland Presbyterian.
 This church was beautifully decorated with flowers, and the pastor, Rev. John Barbour, preached on Christ's appear ance to Thomas after the resurrection.
 He said Thomas is popularly known as the doubting apostle. AS a fact all the apostles doubted at this time; but Thomas held out the longest and has the misfortune to be handed down as the principal doubter of a fact upon which Christ had staked His claims. Had Christ not risen His words, ''I am the res urrection and the life" were hollow as the grave itself; then those we have taken to the graveyard are indeed bur jed, and our hopes are buried with them; and we must march one by one down into the dark defile of the grave and be laid away in the chambers of despair!