The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1902-04-03
GLAD EASTERTIDE.
City Churches Celebrate Joyous
Annual Occasion.

Easter Sunday was perhaps more
generally celebrated in the churches
of Oskaloosa this year than ever be-
fore The weather of the day was
quite Indictment and not to the liking
of the celebrates of the festival. The
morning had been cold and raw and
with the noon hour came snow fur
ries and force of wind that would
have shamed a January blizzard.
Such weather was not conducive to
the perfect enjoyment Of the program
especially in the display of new
bonnets and gowns.
The services began with the sum
rise meetings at six o'clock that were
quite largely attended. Early mass
was celebrated by the St. Marys
church. The celebration of the day
closed in the special services in the
evening at the several churches Of
the city.
The decorations in all the churches
were elaborate and elegant and have
never been surpassed. All of the
churches had made special efforts in
this direction and it was difficu
matter to tell where one decoration
was more beautiful than another, If
indeed this could be said TO have been
the case. All of the decorations had
some special point of excellence not
possessed by others. Green houses
had been drawn upon for their
choicest treasures and the homestof
the church members had contributed
largely to the floral prominence of
the services Cut flowers and potted
plants there were in endless variety
and profusion. Roses aud carnations
were seen upon all sides while easter
lilies and daffodills made the air
heavy with their fragrance. Palms
and other foliage plants were seen
everywhere and added their part to
the effectiveness of the decorations.
The music in all of the churches
was a special part of the service and
in each case had been specially pre-
pared for the occasion. The service
of the st. James Episcopal church
was largely musical and had been
under the special direction of the
Rector Rev. w. FL. Frost. Special
anthems and special choruses were
sung in every church in the city.
DePayens Commandery attended
service at the Central Methodist
church. Special numbers were organ
voluntary, Miss Lillian Hughes, solos
we're sung by Miss Myrtle Ware,
Edith Hoffman, Elmo Hammond and
duet by Messrs. Hammond and
Yenney. Special services were held
in the evening.
The United Presbyterian church
had a special musical service and
sermon by Rev. ] R. Logue of Wash
inRton.
The Congregations church service
was largely attended both morning
and evening. During the morning
service the voices of Mr.. w s. Lacy
and Mrs. Harry Cammack were
heard in special numbers and in the
evening a special service was rend-
cred by MIR. Cox and Mrs Ray. Vocal
numbers were by members of the o
@. Club.
The Christian church welcomed it's
pastor, Rev. j. P. Mcknight, home
to his pulpit after an absence of two
weeks in Texas. The congregations
were quite large and services of
very high order.
The alter decorations of st. Marys
church were the fiuest that have ever
b en- seen or attempted by this
church. Many of the flowers used in
the decoration were from the collec
ton of Rev Father O'Carroll and in
addition to these plants and blossoms
were sent by many members of the
church and by several friends from
about the city.
All services were very largely at
tended but the evening pre- grams
were listened to by greater coDgre-
cations than have been seen upon
any previous Easter celebration. Both
those who have been concerned in
the preparation of these special
services and the membership of the
church and attendants generally
have expressed greatest satisfaction
and pleasure in the general excel