Smyrna times., 1904-04-06
ASBURY CHURCH CROWDED
TO WELCOME NEW PASTOR
REV. ROBERT WATT, D. D.. PREACHED HIS
INITIAL SERMON ON EASTER SUNDAY.
Congregation Was Treated to Two Eloquent
Summons and the Easter Music Was
Never More Finely Rendered.

Easter Sunday had more than usual
interest this year and the Easter song
and gladness that pervaded our
churches was never more spirited and
in keeping with the great festival occa-
sion. 1t was charming day, cold
and bracing with a buffeting breeze
that prevailed from sunrise to sunset.
Easter bonnets and filmy gowns gave
way to heavy coats and fur capes and
while little is made of Easter pagen-
try, there was large turnout in the
morning to the several churches where
beautiful decorations. sweet chorals,
and impressive services were held.
The largest congregation was at AS
bury NJ. E. Church which completely
filed the Hastily decorated edifice from
pulpit to doors. Greater interest was
possibly shown from the fact that 1t
was the opening Sunday of new pas
torate and many were anxious to hear
the initial sermons Of the Rev. Robert
Watt, d. D., who was seut to Asbury
to succeed the Rev. Vaughan S. Col
Inns. The services were most impress
sive throughout the day and from the
start DIR. Watt gained high favor with
his congregation for his earnest, elo-
quent and mastery sermons and there
is every indication that his ministry in
Smyrna will be a successful one. The
Easter music under the leadership of
Chorister Walter o. Hoffecker was
possibly never better executed. With
an augmented choir the anthems were
rendered with decided credit and were
highly pleasing to those who were
privileged to hear it. There were two
anthems, one entitled 'Ring the Joy
Bells Christ is Risen," by Hosmer,
and the other, Gas it Began to Dawn, {"
by George E. Martin. The solo parts
by Miss Mary Roberts and Mr.. Walter
o. Hoffecker were effective and we'll
executed. DIR. Watt took for his text
the 14th verse of the fourth chapter o f
Saint Paul's Epistle to the Thessalo-
mans: "For if we believe that Jesus
died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring
with him." In keeping with the all
absorbing theme of the resurrection,
the sermon was full of analytical
thought, which was impaired " 18th
vigor and force and an eloquence that
left deep impression on his hearers.
The evening service was a continuation
of the same theme and the anthems
we're repeated.
Program Glveu by ASbury Sunday School.
There was large atten dance IN the
afternoon upon the Easter exercises
given by the Sunday School. Th'
Easter music was a distinct and at
tractive feature of the program anS
the selections were unusually brigh
and attractive. Under the Leadership
of Chorister Walter o. Hoffecker anC
assisted by an augmented orchestra
the choruses were rendered with con
siderable eclat. Superintendent L
NJ. Price had charge of the exercises
during the course of which he intro
duced the new pastor, DIR. Watt, wh'
spoke feelingly and touched th
hearts of the children. The follow
ing is the program:
Song, "The Gates of Gold" school
responsive reading; prayer; roll cal
collection; song, awake! Awake!
school; recitation, "The Dear Easte
Story" Dorothy Hynson; recitation
Easter Day, Reynolds Wilson; song
Lessons of Springtime," schoo
recitation, "Waiting to Grow,
Amelia Winford; solo, 1.-THE Wake-u
Time" Nellie Grant; recitation
"Wake Up, Hilda Berry; song, "Hai
Hail the King" school; recitation
"Lillies Fair" Mary Holland; "Eas
er Song" primary department; recit'
ton, "Robin's Mistake" John Hal
recitation, easter Lilies" Roi
Barlow; song, "Easter Dawn" schoo
recitation, cat Easter Time, Ell
Ford; song, "The Weary Night
Ended" school; recitation, "Sno
Drop Time" Hilda Deakyne; recit'
ton, John Prettyman; song, "Ble
Easter Time.'' school; recitatio
Easter Lilies" Stella Anderso
solo, i'm 80 Glad to See You, MAJ
Johnson; recitations. Albert Barlo
Homer Deakyne and Edward Turne
recitation, cat Two Sepulchres
Grace Doughten; song, ''Loi the stol
is Rolled Away" school,; recitatio
1.-THE Message of the Lilies" Flo
ence Miller; recitation, Margar
Dunn; address by the Pastor, L
Robert Watt; Secretary's repol
George NJ. Stevenson; announc
ments; song, ''The Easter Bells
Ringing" school. benediction.