The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-04-05

O'clock.
Easter Is the great festival OF the
Christian world, bringing. rs 1t does,
she message OF peace on earth and good
will among mea. Along with the event
which 1t commentaries. II is, at the
same time, the saddest and the sweetest
holiday set apart by men. For three
days the Savior OF mankind lay dead in
the tomb after having suffered the ter.
rible agonles Of the cross that men
might live, and on the third day the
bonds OF His earthly prison house are
broken and he rises again.
The blessed Significance of this event
to the human race cannot be overesti-
mated. The hope that the fact that
Lord has risen stirs in the minds of
men, robs death OF its sting and the
grave Of its victory. Since that sad and
blessed time the followers of the Mas
ter have set apart the day as one OF
universal praise to the Kings and to Him
who died to save q sinful world.
The celebration of this time varies
with the races and customs of the Diff
ferens branches OF the Christian sect,
but everywhere its full significance and
che grand oscillations to which It gave
birth are fully appreciated.
In the ancient church the celebra-
tion lasted eight days. After the elev-
enth century it was limited to three and
the later times only two days. 1t was
formerly the favorite time for perform
ing the rite OF baptism. Courts of JUS
tice were closed, and aims dispensed to
the poor and needy, who were even
Toasted in the churches.
The most characteristic Easter rite
and the one most widely diffused is the
use OF eggs. There can be but little
doubt that the use Of eggs was symbol
icai ofthe reviviication of nature, the
springing forth of life in the spring.
From the Christian point of view this
Feast OF Eggs" has been usually con-
sidered as emblematicsl Of the resur-
rection and of q future life.
That we are all glad to welcome the
Easter season needs not to be said.
Apart from it's beautiful religious 1850
citation, 1t marks the period when we
believe we have turned our backs upon
the winter, with its ice and snow and
chilly blasts. There may, of course,
be 8 suggestion OF winter before April
bids US farewell, but, on the whole, we
feel that the neAaon has come when
nature renews itself in Its most at
tractive forms, when the fields and the
woods take on new beauty. when there
IL resurrection IN the natural world
almost as wonderful in it's way as that
which the religious world will celebrate
to day. In whatever aspect we NAV
look upon the day, therefore, Ii Is full
OF gladness, and its symbols are all the
symbols OF joy.
The day will generally be commem-
Grated by the churches in this oity,
some OF them having prepared extra
song services for the occasion. At st.
Johns special Easter services will be
conducted By the pastor. The choir ia
composed Of the following members:
Mrs. John T. Trout, Miss Florence
Leary, Mrs. r. G. Johnston, Miss
Annie Gray, Miss Minnie Lambert
Mrs. j. f. james, Mrs. E. B. Ludwig,
Mrs. Z. w. Moore. Prot. P. G. Leary,
Il. G. Watts. j. K. Simmons and p. P.
Meade. Organist, Mrs. 8. J. Kinnier;
musical director, Prof. Leary.
The following Is the programmes:
Voluntary-"How Lovely are the
Observation-Disclosures.
Easter Anthem-"Christ, Our Pass
over"-Schilling.
Gloria Patria- Holden and Hewitt.
TIE Deum (festival in e Flat-Dudley
Buck.
Jubilste Dec in IA. H, Pease.
Hymn 12t-Palestrina.
Kyrie-Dudley Buck.
Gloria Tibi-Garrett.
Hymn 109-CAlkin.
Offertory-"I Waited for the Lord
Mendelssohn.
Ofertory sentence-Redhead.
Ssnctus-Chmidge.
Hymn 1l8-Elvey.
Gloria In Exoelsis--Wilson.
Nunc Dimitsis-Whitney.
The children's Easter festival will be
at AIS p. m. A special address will be
made by the rector, and there will be
Easter carols by the children.
at Christ Church.
The choir, under the management of
Mrs. w. d. Williamson, will render the
following programmes:
Christ. Our Passover"
TIE Deum-Peck.
Jubilate-H, B. Danke.
Gloria Williams.
OffertorY. by Mys. G. A. McHugh.
Professional.
The cbildren's Easter celebration will
be at 7:30 p. m. At this service there
VIII be an offertory by Mrs O. A. Nc.