The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-06
EASTER A DAY OF DAYS.
CELEBRATED WITH FLOWERS AND
CHURCH-GOING

Savannah has never had brighter las
Ter than that OF yesterday day that
was perfect added to the joyOusness Of
the great festival which has come 10 be
kept by almost every Christian church.
II was a day, too. for laying aside the
habiliaments OF winter and donning the
gay dress Of spring. Easter suits ana bon
netts were everywhere, on the streets. IN
The churches. in the park after church,
wherever there were people were evil
dences of spring fashions.
It was not wholly day for display Of
fashions and spring suits. though. The
churches we're crowded with devout wor-
Slippers. Never has there been an Easter
upon which the congregations in the
churches were larger and the services
more harmonious and in keeping with the
great anniversary, which Easter cele-
brates.
ST. Johns church celebrated perhaps the
brightest Easter in its history. II there
have been any brighter or more enJoya-
Bile, they We're either forgotten or over
Swallowed by the services yesterday For
the first time in its history ST. John had
its boy choir. and the music was made
the features Of the day.
The services and music preceding the
sermon occupied more than an hour Inc
beautiful musical programme as announc-
ed in the Morning News was faultlessly
carried out by the choir, which has been
brought to a wonderful degree OF periec-
tion. There were 81 boys and l3 men IN the
choir, besides eight ladies, Mrs. White,
Mrs. Shivers, Mrs. Parkes, Miss Baker.
Miss Bates, Miss Launey Miss Bulloch
and Miss May. Under the direction OF
prof. Spencer NJ. White as organist and
choir master, the music at St. John
church has been kept abreast with the
times, it has been added to IN beauty nor
has any iota been detracted from It's force
in worship The choir even surpassed IL
self yesterday in its renditions OF the Eas-
Ter selections. The whole, congregation
and choir was IN accord with the spirit
OF the day, and the hymn. Jesus Christ Is
Risen To-day could hardly nave been
sung with more force and feeling than
could have been at the tomb OF the Mas
ter
Easter lilies predominated in the appro-
pirate decorations, the back of the altar
being covered with a bower Of lilies and
green. Upon the sill Of each window bright
white and red flowers Wed with the coiors
on Easter hats, though in the latter case
they were more numerous and Vartegated.
Rev. Charles II. Strong preached an APP
propriate Easter sermon. His text was
II Timothy, i. 10: But is now made mani
fest by the appearing Of our Saviour,
Jesus Christ who hath abolished death
and hath brought life and Immortality 10
light through the gospel"
Rev. Mr. Strong spoke of the fact that
those who lead a worldly and sensual
life are inclined and often ready TO dis
credit the belief i'm the immortality of the
soul He gave illustrations showing how
ii is often argued from science
and from nature that death is the end of
existence, as was once written upon an
arch in France under which passed from
the city all funeral cOrteges, Death is
an eternal silence" From this view of
the skepuc and the worldly, Rev. Mr.
Strong passed TO the other view. showing
that the human mind may seek and ind
reasons for the true belief in Immortality
If the operations of the mind and soul
were merely the results of a highly or
canned STATE OF matter lhen, ne saiu'
the material would be greater than the
immaterial, the Roman sword would be
more powerful than the heart or God.
The body is the signal house, II may
return to dust and earth, but the opera
tor still lives. The operations of con-
science of the soul are not tangible,
they are tmmaterial; the destruction of
the body cannot carry with II the de-
struction of that over which a material
force has no power or control. In the
life, death and resurrection of Christ, he
said, We find the guarantee for life and
immortality. The moral intuitons of the
mind all teach US that there is an eX-
istence, a life which is immortal, and
which the loss of the body cannot at-
feet. Let us all therefore take comfort
in that Christ hath abolished death, and
hath brought life and immortality to
light through the gospel.
The services were closed with the recess
sional hymn by the choir, and the organ
poslude by Prof. White.
The Sunday school celebrated its Easter
festival last night. The scholars were
gaily dressed, and their bright young
faces under beflowered hats, WED in fresh
ness and beauty with the floral decora-
tons of the chancel. The school entered
the church from the Bull street entrance,
and made a circle of the church, singing
the professional, Christ Hath RiSen."
The choral service was followed by the
carol, Song of Sweetness" The even
ing lesson was then read, and was fol-
.owed by the carol '"The Days Grow
Longer" The apostles creed was recited,
and the versicles were recited by the
Rev. Mr. Strong and choir. The pray
carol, Ginning Bells of Easter" by the
infant class. The carol, 10 the Chains
of Death are Broken" was then sung,
and the presentationl, OF oan ns ob ana
sang the carols. Ring Easter Bells" and
Easter Tidings."
Rev. Mr.. Strong made an address to
the children. in which he called upon
their imaginations 70 transport them
back to Jerusalem 1000 years ago. and
in language fitted to the comprehension
OF his youthful congregation, he gave
a word picture of the events leading up
TO the crucifixion of our Lord.
Mr.. Strong then pronounced the bene-
diction and the children marched out
singing the recessiohal, "Shine, o Sun, in
The officers Of the school are Mr.. c. S.
Connerat superintendent; MIR. Spencer NJ
White, organlst; Messrs. Fear and Muslin,
secretaries; Messrs Roberts and Wheaton
librarians. The teachers are: Misses An
ME Johnson, Lizzie Johnson, V. Hamilton
b. Hamilton, Launey, Fernandez, Matte
Ward. Girard, Desbouillons, Bacot, and
Connerat and Mrs, Roberts, Mrs. Whit
comb Mrs Richmond. Mrs. Bogart and
Miss S!lverberg have charge of the infant
class. Messrs. Burgess, Muslin and Hop
kins have charge of the larger classes.
At the close of the festival, the rector
announced the Easter offerings of the
church in aid of the organ fund, amount
ing to 81 1868 as follows: The morning
offertory: ''The Rectory Society" of st.
johns church, $500; st. Cecilia Society"
of St Johns church. $500; other contibu-
tons. S19479; Sunday school offertory,
$Z7l.54.
The morning services at Christ church
were attended by a very large congrega-
ton The church was beautifully decorat-
ed the decorations being the work of the
Altar society The altar railing was twin
ed with ivy. A large cross of red azaleas
and spires occupied the front of the altar
with a large harp of evergreen just In the
rear. Easter lilies were arranged about
Inc altar with palms and potted plants.
over the window in the rear of the altar
was a banner with the inscription, ALE
lUiia The Victory Is Won" Baskets of
white azaleas and other flowers were sus-
pended from the chandeliers.
Rev. Robb White delivered an Easter
sermon from the words Of 81 Paul TO
King Agrfppa, why should il be thought
iUprQgfi.Ia nj that God Shp1lR "a fcn