Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-19
a GLORIOUS FASTER,
The Day Observed With Joy
Gus Singing il Augusta.
Sermons on the Resurrection Given
by the Several Pastors.
Brish. Warm suasAlas and alss Skies Unite
u 4 psrset osy. .......

u Perfect Oay.
Easter Sunday was q glorious day,
and had the world been born again
to new life. the sunshine could not
have been brighter. or the skies bluer.
From the morning when sthe bells were,
rung for, the first services until, the
setting OF the sun, the day was warm.
There was new life on every hand
even in the air. which. gently blew from
the north.
The churches were largely attended.
The affairs were beautiful with Easter
lilies,e plants and bouquets Of flowers in
commemoratfon Of the resurrection of
our Lord.
The choirs gave their best music. and,
perhaps, no better singing has been
heard at Easter in Augusta. At any
rate at most of the churches it will
probably be repeated.
In addition to the regular church
services there were many other Easter
observances. At Z A. NJ. the Young
Peoples Societies of Christian En-
deavor had meeting at the First Bap-
fist church. Mrs. c. C. Hunt. the pres
ident of the society of that church,
made an address on the day. In the
afternoon. the pupils of, the congrega:
tionafist- Sunday school sase a concert
and fns the evening, the Universalist
Sunday school gave a ~corcert,~ both Of
which were attended by n large num-
Der.
The programmes of the singing at the
several churches were carried out, as
announced, by the respective choirs.
The sermons by the pastors are given
in part below, showing the observance
of the resurrection, and the old story Of
our Lords rising from the dead-a
story ever old, yet ever new in the
world of today. sS.
ST. Marks Church. S- :
At st. Marks church, the regular
Easter services We're given, with SER
mon in the morning by the pastor Rev.
A. w. Snyder taken from the 11sth
Psalms oath verse. This is the day
which the Lord hath made. Weswili1
rejoice and be glad in it,
Rev. Mr.. Snyder said in part:
The Easter is not a new day. We did
not invent it. Our fathers did not in
ers did before them. 1t has been OBJ
served all alOng-straight back to the
first Easter morning, when the living
Lord appeared, saving: All Hail.
and often repeated appearances on the
Savior The day itself Is one witness out
Of many of that which 1t stands FOR, JUST
as the Fourth of July Is one witness out
of many of that which 1t commentaries
An insane man might deny it.. But, al
the same, sensible men will say It IS idle
to deny; all history affirms it. The ma
ton itself IS witness to 1t; ten Thousand
things have grown out OF 1t, and are Nv
ing witness of what the day STANDS TOR
Now. by a logical inference of identicaliy
the same sort We can point to Easter
day. and say history witnesses to what
1t stands for.
ing, institutions, ordinances. customs ana
observances. A Christian civilization. all
it's institutions and characteristics nave
had their origin in that great event OF
which Easter is the annual commemora-
tion
Why do We come here with joyfui
greetings; with hymns. anthems ana
flowers? 1t is because Easter means
everything to u.s. For one thing 1t means
that we have certain grounds for pc
heving that God is good; and tits the
only certain ground. 1t can be said now
that all thoughtful people believe m an
almighty God of some sort. But. the
real question is not whether. there be
God; but, rs he good God! SO Jonn
Morley says the question OF our gay :.
not whether there be God, but Wnat
think We of Christi" In other words, De,
lief in Christ is our only certain grouNd
for faith in the goodness OF Cod buy,
can we trust him? Did He tell the truth
Did He speak with authority? Yes. II ne
rose from the dead. If He did not rise.
then no matter what He said or did. 1t
goes for nothing at AL and, In that case,
no authoritative word has yet come from
God. Eighteen hundred years ago 81.
Paul said: "lf Christ be mot risen tnen
| is our preaching vain. and your faith Is
also vain" Every sane man sees 1t. Tnat
man is either morally dishonest or men
| tally deficient. who. while denying the
resurrection, still claims to believe IN
Christianity.
| If Christ be not risen. Christianity Is
mot true And, rejecting 1T. you reject all
that goes with it. In that case. never say
again beside the open grave of your
dead: blessed are the dead who die IN
the name of the Lord" In that case: bury
them sadly and silently. but. without
Christian hope, or prayer or benediction,
and saw with Radicals: ut is great
Perhaps; a leap into the dark
| Whatever you do do mot dream that
YOU can retain the promises and consola-
| ton that Christ has given, when you de-
nv his resurrection from the grave.
| Congregational Church. -@
At the Congregational church. Rev.
j. S. Williamson. the pastor, gave .
very interesting sermon. taking for his
text. End Timothy, 1. 10. Our Savior,
Christ Jesus, who abolished death and
brought life and incorruption to light
Though the gospel" Gfs 1897
He said in part: q
In his Chronology of sOld Christian
Literature" DR.. Adolph Harnack Of the
University of Berlin. the most brilliant
historical scholar in THE Protestant world
!, today, places the conversion of st.. Paul
nine months from the crucifixiOn of our