The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-15
EASTER IN
A Day Celebrated by High and Low i'm
that Famous Capital.

Easter day dawned cold and clear. that
year away yonder in the far north. But
in spite of the fact thai the three great
sounds which girdIe little Danemark,'
were belts of ice. the spring ting was in
the air, and it was truly "a joyous Easter
to every one. The many bells of the Greek
Church jingle-jangled as noisily as only
Greek bells can, very much out Of tune,
and not a bit sweet" and as her Maj
esty, the dowager Empress of Russia, was
going to church that day. the biggest bell
OF all, called Great Peter" and which,
appropriately, only rings for very big
bugs indeed, made more noise than all
the rest. The streets of Copenhagen were
gay with "all sorts and conditions of men,
in holiday garb and mood. A Greenland
peasant in his furs, a Jutland maiden in
her pretty dress and gold braided cap,
Amager fiower-women, with cheeks like
their own roses, toned to daintiness by
the shadow of their big bonnets; sailors in
natty uniform, and with jolly Jack-tar
swagger; soldiers Of all sorts, but es-
pecially those cocks OF the walk the
splendid six-foot high youngsters Of the
Kings guard, in their blue uniforms, like
giant forget-me-nots; lackeys belonging to
the different palaces. in their royal livery
OF vivid red-all were there in the chang
ing picture. All were going TO church, too,
or had been very recently, no matter what
they might be going to do later in the day.
We knew that the Empress was going, for
the Greek church (the established church
o. Russia) was guarded by double files of
moujiks, in their ugly uniforms. And we
knew, too. that the good old King, the
dear Father Christian" of all Danes, was
worshiping his risen Lord in the marble
church." for there were scores of scarlet
liveries, like a flock of gigantic tanagers,
about the door. AS service at the English
Church did not begin until IL, Father
Christian" was nearly through, not only
his prayers. but a terrific two-hour long
sermon when we passed the Lutheran
Church. On we went, dingy particles in
this living kaleidoscope, to beautiful st.
Adams. fifty planted on the loveliest spot
in Copenhagen. The little Gothic church
is of gray granite, with a tall, slender,
cross-tipped spire, and is shut in by the
waters of Categat strait on three sides, be-
ing on a tiny three-cornered promontory
which puts out into the strait. the entrance
occupying the only side toward the land.
We knew that the Princess of Wales would
be there, for the long strip of scarlet plush,
which was never lain down from doorway
to carriage drive save for her, was spread.
We waited in the vestibule until the choir,
in their white robes and headed by the
cleaning cross, had passed us, singing as
they went. Christ, Our Lord, has Risen
To-day and then We followed to our
seats.
The choir was worth a passing glance,
and without exception was made up of
Danish boys. Most of them, when they
first came into the choir, were ignorant of
the first word of English. The rector and
his choirmaster were often obliged to
teach them the words by note, parrot FASH
ion, before they knew their meaning. Their
patient labor was rewarded by a really
good choir. which never undertook preten-
tious music, but sang exceedingly we'll.
1 had been much impressed by the
appearance of one of the older Choir
listers. and was told this story about him:
He had been a divinity student and was
preparing for the ministry of the Danish
Church. One Sunday morning he passed
the open door of St. Adams Just as the
NliOi WcIc pdSSiuS lmOuSn IA NeSll-
bule on their way to the chancel. The
procession was headed by the crucifer
bearing the cross and they sang:
Onward, Christian soldiers,
Marching as TO war,
With the cross of Jesus
Going on before"
He understood English, and both words
and holy symbol appealed to him so strong
ly that he surrendered his place in the
Danish divinity school and applied for or
ders in the English church. He was
obliged in consequence to give up his own
family, who disowned him. On this Easter
day of which I write he had just been ac-
cepted as a candidate. and he is now prob
ably in full orders.
But must tell you more of st. Adams
and the Easter service. The little church
is a memorial TO Prince Edward Of York,
and on its adornment the Princess of Wales
has lavished a fortune and has made 1t,
tiny as IL is, one of the most complete
churches in Europe. so perfect are all Of
its appointments. When we reached our
seats, only two rows back of the royal
pew, the princess had not yet arrived. but
there were here three Observation-Disclosures
Victoria. the Duchess of Fife. with her
pretty three-year-old daughter. and Prin-
cess Maud with her husband, Prince Carl
of Denmark. a tall. handsome young
naval lieutenant The church was a mass
of bloom. the snowy. silken hangings. glis-
tening with their bravery OF gold embroid-
cry; the Easter NJ shone through the
stained-glass windows, flashing their glori-
| Gus colors on the marble pillars. while the
choir sang Christ our Passover is sacrf-
| dced for Us: therefore. let us keep the
! FEAST and we knew that the same dear
words were being said ali over the world
] and the nastH JOY was everywhere Late