The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1896-04-10
EASTER IN THE CHURCHES.


/
The great spring festival of the
Christian church, symbolic Of awaken.
ing and life. was observed in all the
Brattleboro churches with elaborate
floral decorations, choice and inspir.
| ing music, and series of discourses,
in full consonance with the spirit of
the day. that were perhaps the best
on the whole we ever had.
At the Congregational church the
decorations were particularly handsome
and consisted chiefly of Easter lilies
and foliage. These lilies were pur-
chased by the different Sunday school
classes and afterwards carried to the
sick and old members of the parish.
Special music was rendered by the
choir. Rev. c. o. Day preached fromPhil
III, 10; upon the Motive Power of
the Resurrection. That there was at
the beginning of the Christian church
the manifestation OF most extraordin
airy spiritual power is as true AZ that
1t was kindled in the hearts OF simple
people. Their experience reveals the
source of like power for day which
| theResurection ofChrist holds. There is
first the power of universally impaired
hope. The consciousness, however de-
prived, of expanding and unconquer-
able life. Then, there is the stimulus
for the thought in the peculiar and
authoritiyc suggestions of personal iden-
| tity beyond the grave. The sacredness
of earth, the nearness of heaven.
Moreover trust is kiadlcd of the re-
vealing of the Deyine Personality; and
activity is enjoyed OF the special in
l6ictafions of tho nresput life as tine
CONDITION Tor reailzihe tnings eterhai
ana the inspiration whlch ehaples Il
| man 10 do these three haraest lhlhgss,
TO measure values, lace oads ana hold
truth dearer than lie, IN the assurance
| that such TABOR Is mot IN VAN III lpe
LORD.
| In the evening at O'Clock the chi''
dren OF the SUNDAY scnool gave pleas
ing concert which partook oi canthta
ana included processlonal hymn py
the younger members oi inc schooi ~
! the close OF the exercise Key \. -;
Day spoke IN Simple. ana beautiful
manner to the children.
At the baptist Church the floral dec,
oratlons Werc not extensive bnt IN goou
taste. The Beauseant Commandery k.
T., attended IN body. The music was
of high order. Prof. H. Howe com
posed an anthem and hymn specially
FOR the occasion. Rer. L. -. Ienple,
the pastor, preached upon The Neccs.
sity OF the Resurrection OF Christ.
| arguing that 'Christ was actually
raised from the dead. 1t was necessary
that it should be so, in order to preserve
for the atfectionate and reverent gaze
of the redeemed, that body which had
been slain. Through the Resurrection
Jesus appears as the personal and liv-
ing friend OF every disciple. His Res-
direction robs death iof his character
as an enemy and invests him with the
offices OF friend. In the resurrection
God set his seal upon the teaching OF
Jesus that II was true. In orcer 10
present his sacrifice in heaven, jesus
had to be raised from the tomb. The
opening exercises OF the Sunday school
were unusual and many visitors were
present. The evening service was at
tended by 1000 people. The pastor
preached on Morning and at the
close of the sermon administered the
sacrament of baptism to thirteen per
sons.
Easter was observed in st. Michael's
Catholic church Sunday by children's
mass at O'Clock. hymns being sung
bv the children, Miss Katie Dunleyy
acting rs organist. At 1890 High
mass was celebrated, Leonard's Third
mass in G being sung by the young
peoples choir, Master 2. Guiheen as
organist. Rev. FIR. Cunningham read
the gospel for the day and gave short
sermon on the Resurrection. The
man altar was most beautifully deco.
rated with Easter and calla lilies and
about 100 lighted candles, The side
affairs were also decorated with cut
flowers. Evening service At 80 con
sisted OF the Rosary and the bcnedic-
tion.
At the Unitarian church the decor
ations consisted entirely Of Easter lilies
and white tulips. The music by the
organist. Miss Stewart. and the solos
by Mr. Miller were especially fine. After
the church service there was a special
service of the Sunday school with cards |
and rccitatons, followed by talk by
the pastor upon Tho Meaning of |
Easter" " Rev. Nh Leayitt's sermon |
was from the text: Christ, Who |
Hath Brought Life and Immortality to |
Light III, Tim. Ito. When you |
bring anything into the light you de- |
fine it you make it clear; and you pro- |
vide medium by which you and |
others can see. That is what Christ |
did. There had been splendid lives
before, there had been immortality
before. but Christ brought them to
light. showed them TO men in the light |
of his own living. Now when they had |
known Jesus, felt that God was just-
fed in proonging such life thro' all
e esernity If we are to celebrate Easter