Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1903-04-17
THE FESTIVAL OF EASTER.
A SUNDAY OF SUNSHINE, MUSIC, GLAD
NESS AND FLOWERS.

IUC TICIIvHe VI 6'NO
A SUNDAY OF SUNSHINE, MUSIC, GLAD
NESS AND FLOWERS.
Services Held in our Churches Commemora'
tive of the Resurrection-A Large Attend
ance and Beautiful Floral Decorations -
Some of the Themes Considered.
The festival of the resurrection OF
the Saviour was celebrated most Joy
ously in all our churches Sunday. The
day was an ideal one for such an OBJ
seryance-clear, sunny and bright, with
life and exhilaration in the air. The
attendance at all the services was large
and the programs rendered, which were
printed in full in our last weeks issue,
we're of an unusually high order OF eX-
cellence and interest. The decorations
of greens, lilies and early spring flow
ers were as pleasing and helpful IN
their way as were the sweet music and
the themes of promise and encourage
ment chosen. Altogether it was an
Easter true to it's primal meaning and
purpose.
Owing to the absence of the pastor,
Rev. F. w. Lewis, who was attending
conference, there were no regular ser
|
Sunday school, however, under the di-
rection of Supt. Yeaw, furnished very
ENJOYABLE exercises in the morning,
consisting of music and Rotations.
Tile attendance was large. The church
was very attractively decorated with
greens from the woods, potted plants
and cut flowers.
At ST. Michael's Roman Catholic
church the first mass was celebrat-
ed at 8 a. m. and at 1880, Rev. +.
Cunningham read the gospel of the day
and made a few remarks upon it. At
7 80 D. M, vespers and the benedic-
ton closed the service. The must
cal program was rendered as an
nounced last week. The floral decora-
tions consisted of palms and Easter
lilies upon the main altar and cut
flowers on the side affairs. About 70
tapers were burning.
The flower decorations at the Bap-
fist church were entirely of Easter
lilies. The attendance was very large
and the music, which included solo
by Mr.. Maynard, singing by chorus
choir and violin obligato by Mr.. Haw-
ley, was much enjoyed. The pastor
spoke impressively on the power of the
Resurrection. In the Sunday school
rooms at noon three classes graduated
from the primary to the main room
and the examinations were accompa-
MED by special Easter exercises of
speaking and singing by the children.
The Unitarian church was scene
of beauty with its banks of Easter
lilies and tulips about the pulpit The
musical service was inspiring and fine
ly rendered, Miss Crosby's organ mu-
sic, Mr.. Miller's voice and the melody
of Mr.. Dugan's violin combining with
pleasing effect. Mr.. Osgood spoke on
the life immortal, taking for his text.
John xvii q, "This is life eternal, that
they might know Thee" The thought
of the sermon was in keeping with the
promise of the day joyous and uplift-
ing. The attendance was large, both
at the morning service and at the af-
ternoon carols.
At St. Michael's Episcopal church
the altar was decorated with potted
lilies and yellow tulips and jonquils.
The attendance at the early service
was large, and at the second service the
church was filled The rector spoke
from l Cor. XIV 20, Nov is Christ
risen from the dead and become the
first fruits of them that slept" The
first part of the sermon set forth the
historic certainty of Christ's death and
resurrection the hatred of the Jews;
the testimony of the assembled crowd
at the cross and the grief of his fol-
lowers even after he was laid in the
tomb all declare the certainty OF his
death The Bible challenges denial
of the resurrection by declaring that
of 500 brethren who saw him at once
the most part remain until this day.
Our chief interest arises from the fact
that what he experienced l. e. resur-
rection and death, alike will be our
experience. The first fruits indicate
afterfruits. Easter is a joyous day in
that it declares for us all the certainty
of our rising again.
At the Unversalist church the altar
was decorated with profusion of Eas-
ter lilies, daffodils, roses, tulips and
potted plants. The minister preached
sermon from the text, 81 am the
Resurrection and the Life, the clos
ing one in the lenten series on the
Personal Affirmations of Jesus. "
The music was furnished by Frank
Brasor, who sang two selections.
easter" by Rougnon and "Hosanna'
by Granier: and by E. E. Bagley on
the euphonium, who played THE
Holy City" and Crock of Ages. " Miss
Stewart officiated at the organ in place
of Mrs. Brazer, who was restricted to
her home by illness. At the conclusion
of the morning service, there was holy
communion when five people were bap-
tized and seven were received into the
church. The Easter concert by the
Sunday school came in the evening
and was most successful There were
recitations, songs by the school and by
different classes, and solos by William
Richardson, Miss Addie Warner and
Miss Eva Sanders. Miss Helen Crosby
was organlst at this service. Each
child was presented with an Easter
lily by the superintendent, Mrs. Cur
rier, and the sick of the parish were
also remembered The church was
filled morning and evening and the day
will long be remembered.
At the Congregational church the
services opened with young peoples
union prayer meeting at I 30. The
1nse Of tho profaS-