The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1899-04-07
Easter Services.

OlllGI Jay vi b1O JCdI Cdlls LNOlJ
Easter tells us the story of the Life OF
! Christ and one cannot dwell upon this
without being moved to higher pur-
poses, to a higher standard of life and
a stronger faith in God. Sunday the
Easter bells rang out upon the clear
and crisp air, and in their music a
wintry wind carried afar the chief
thought of the day, Christ is risen"
The weather was more like that of
/ Christmas time but the music and the
sermons all brought clearly before the
PEG lie the Easter lessons.
Sunday morning ia the Congrega-
tional church there was an Eas ter, con-
cert in place of the usual morning
service. The musical program was
one of the best given in that church
for a long time. The solo by Miss
Maude Clarke, the duets by Mrs.
Prichard and Miss Parker and Rev.
and Mrs. Barnard, and the quartette
by Messrs. Morris and Kemp, Miss
Clarke and Mrs. Prichard were the
musical features. The recitations and
songs by the Sunday School children
were nicely done. The duet by Lucy
Bailey and Georgia Prescott, and the
trio by Eva Austin, Maude Ford and
Abbie Albee were well rendered. A
few remarks were made by Mr.. Bar
nard complimenting the children and
mentioning a few Easter thoughts.
The church was decorated with plants
and evergreens. The plants were ar
ranged about the railing in front of
the altar. Up the center aisle bunch If
evergreen was tied to the end of each
seat In the evening the quartette
mentioned above gave another seec-
ton. This quartette sings in excel
lent harmony and they received many
compliments for their work Sunday.
1t was the first time they had sung to
gether and it should not be their last.
Mr. Barnard preached an Easter ser
mon from Acts H. 81. This Jesus hath
God raised up whereof we are all wit
nesses" The Easter music for the
day was not only highly compliment.
ed but the Easter sermon also received
it's share. 1t was an able and inter
esting one. There are four great wit
nesses of the resurrection of Jesus
First the beautiful story of Easter as
told by Matthew, Mark, Luke and
John. SCI ond, the Roman soldiers
who were stationed as guard at the en-
trance to the sepulchre where the body
of Jesus was placed after the crucifix-
ION. Third, the individuals mentioned
in the story. Never was historical
fact so fortified by unimpeachable wit
nesses as was the resurrection of Jesus.
1t is the best attested fact in all his
tory. Better place veil of mystery
over the life of Caesar, Cromwell,
Washington and other famous men in
history than over the life of Jesus.
Fourth are the chosen brethren. The
apostles did little else than proclaim
the resurrection of Jesus. From the
fountain head of this mighty miracle
comes Christianity spreading ltself
over the entire world. The witnesses
do not all belong to the APOSTLE peri.
cd. If there was nothing new, fresh
and up to date the people would not
believe it. Every living christian by
the warmth of.his faith. purity of his
life, vitality of his love is a testimony
of the resurrection. Our service this
evening, the other services that are
held all over the country, are atestimO-
ny of the fact. Our life, hope, faith
and belief are testimonies that cannot
be disputed and final witness is our
hope of blessed Immortality. Miss
Georgia Irwin. organist carried out
her part of the program in way to
suit everybody. She had much work |
to do and did it well.
AT the Methodist church the absence |
of Mrs. B. S. Hooker interfered some.
what with the Easter program of mu-
sic but the selections rendered were |
for the day. For decora- |
tons there was a good display of
plants. Mr.. Webb took for his text
John xix. 10. st is finished" The
speaker first gave word picture of
crew on an island. The
men were in a half famished condi-
ton. All were asleep except the senti-
mel, who, discovering ship in the dis
lance, attracted it by signals to the
island and then awoke his companions
with the cry, 1--WE are saved, we are
saved" So did the shout 1T is fin
shed" fall on the ear of a guilty world.
The work Christ perform d is the
greatest of all work. Human mind
;annot appreciate the importance of
what He did, His work the most nee
sssary of all work. The work of our
leliverance was what God sent Jesus
Christ is ended and the redemption of
lldHhlilu 10 COtllplclc, Tue utLIduNl VI
Justice met and the law maintained.
sod is just and yet the justifier of the
lngodlA. In the cry ''iC is finished"
he prediction of the prophets, they
who marked out the path of Jesus
rom HIS birth to the cross, is fulfilled.
rhe dying words of Jesus indicated
he dignity of His nature and the pow
,r of His life. All men die of weak.
less and because they cannot live Ion.
,er. but Jesus gave up His life volunta-
lily. From this death dates the great
pread OF christianity. y simple
ruth was proclaimed and a religion
which has stood the test of
900 years. Every sincere chris.
ian is a walking advertisement of
isen Saviour. The sermon was an I'M
'ressive lesson of the day and held
he close attention of the audience.
The evening service was made very in.
eresting, number takil g part and
elling their Easter thoughts.
Mrs. William S. Wells of Boston is
making two weeks visit at The
mes"
w. J. Eddy commenced work this
yeek as watch repairer for Doe Bros.
lie was in their employ for some time
few years ago, is well known here
nd his friends are glad to see him
ack again. He is a pood workman