Smyrna times., 1897-04-21
A BEAUTIFUL-EASTER.
The Advent of Spring in Flow
ers and Gladness--TIov it
was Celebrated at Our
Churches.


sIhe Advent of Spring in Flow
ers and Gladness--EIow it
was Celebrated at Our.
Churches.
: Nothing was lacking to make Sun
day as perfect an Easter day as ever
dawned. From the midnight hour.
when the big, golden Easter moon
ushered in the new day, to the set of
sun, the sky was feckless and the
air, soft and bracing, was full of the
spirit of spring. In consequence it
was a day of fashions, and an Easter
greeting seemed to smile from every
countenance. When the hour for
church service arrived and the pealing
of bells invited every worshiper to
come see the place where the Lord
lay, our streets were gay with church
goers. Spring bonnets were in evil
dence, more beautiful, perhaps. than
in previous years, and Easter gowns.
though not so numerous, attracted
especial attention.
Every church seemed to draw its
full congregations and our choirs made
a special effort in chanting joyful
"alleluias. "He is Risen!" ''He is
Risen!" was. sounded in glad refrain
everywhere. The very life of spring,
in flowers and sunshine, seemed to
proclaim its truth. Within sacred ed
ifices the swell of organs took it up in
resounding volume, while merry
voices awakened a responsive praise
i'll many hearts.
AT ST. PETERS EPISCOPAL.
The Easter services at st. Peters
were marked by splendid musical pro-
grams, elaborate floral decorations,
and appropriate sermons. Easter lilies
graced the decorations everywhere
and mingled with these in and about
the chancel were magnolias. azelias
palms, evergreens, &c, running in
Wild profusiOn in a display which pos
sibly eclipsed all former decorations
The arrangement of Easter flowers on
the communion table and in the bap-
tlsmal font was quite effective. An
additional ornament to the commun-
ION table was magnificent brass cross,
30 inches high, with the letters
Il. H. S. =" in the centre of the arms
and at the base the inscription: ''Pre-
sented by Morris L. Clothier, Easter.
A. ID. 1897" Besides this were other
gifts to the church:-two beautiful
sets of prayer books and hymnals bv
the Misses Rasin, of Baltimore, and
an altar prayer by ga. G. c., Jr."-alI
of the handsomest oxford editions.
In addition to these ornaments and
gifts to the church, there had been
placed in the window opening, near
the organ, a very beautiful stained |
glass window, memorial of William
Polk Cummins, by his widow, Mrs.
Esther Williams Cummins. The de- |
sign represents King David with his |
harp, and an angel below recording
his psalm, and an angel above point
ing to the Ten Commandments
most appropriate subject to be placed
near the choir of which he was leader
for so many years.
The usual Easter service was given
IN the morning, the choir singing ap-
propriate anthems, at which that dur
ing the offertory was exceptionally
sweet and elaborate. Rev. G. W.
Dame gave as his discourse "The
Resurrection of the Human Body"
basing his remarks on '4he dissolu-
ton of the earthly tabernacle" and
"the new building not made with
hands"
At $50 o'clock in the evening the
Mems ParOchial Union held its meet
ing, after which the Sunday School
held its annual Easter celebration.
The program was interesting and the
singing of the scholars up to the aver
age. Some fitting remarks were made
by superintendent w. H. Waters
The collection was up to, if not more
than the average 1t might be men
toned that $2O.50 was raised for the
Babies Hospital, Wilmington. and q
generous churchman encouraged their
efforts by doubling the amount
AT THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
A richer or more gorgeous display of
lilies never decorated the Presbyterian
church than those which, in snowy
whiteness, told the Easter gladness of
last. Over one hundred lilies
were banked in front of the pulpit. and
all during the service they were as
fresh and as pure as though kissed bv
the balmy breezes Of the Bermuda
Islands. In fact, it can be said thew
were direct from that southern cline
for as an Easter greeting to Mrs
amanda Spruance, her son, Mr.. Daniel
" who Is sOjourning there, sent a
large number only few davs pre-
Vlous and she in turn gave the church
the use of them upon this Easter oc- {
'aslon. Outside of a stately palm I
here were no other decorations. Hid S
len half behind this beautiful bank of c
Easter lilies the choir sang appropri- c
tie Easter anthems, showing by their e
careful preparation. G
Rev. j. L. Estlin gave an interesting l.
sermon on the Resurrection. taking t
lis text from L Cor. XIV, 70:
"NO,O, if Christ be preached that he
'Ose from the dead, hO,O san some
InlOng yOU that there is no resurrec-
ion Of the dead?"
Jesus lives to-day in human hearts
IS well as in human history. The res
lrrnntinr, IL CI. - - - \ - -