Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1904-04-08
TWAS A SUNNY, BUT
GOLD EASTER DAY.
But Otherwise II Was all the
Feminine POssessor Of a New
Bonnet Could Ask For.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR
ALMA CHURCH SERVICES
Affairs and Stands Covered with Pro-
fusion of Beautiful Flowers and
Decorations.

sunshine, and as fragrant in its purity
as the ascension lilies themselves, Easter
the greatest festival that Christianity
knows, WAS ushered in on Sunday last
and was, by contrast with the physical
shadows of the days that preceded, "a type
of the event for which it stands Some
thing OF the idea caught the fancy Of
even the more thoughless OF the many
people who from the first break Of Gay
gathered at the various churches in
Alma to worship and drink in the music.
Flowers there were plenty and in
abundance. Always beautiful, yet
when viewed as artitistically arranged
around the altars IN Gods places Of
worship, halo seemed to permeate the
entire buildings, reaching the remotest
inches and corners until eladsome
sense Of peace stole over the person OF
him who gazed upon them.
In the larger cities where society has
its claims upon large portion OF the
gentler sex, the day was welcomed with
enth usiasm, for with the end OF the
Lenten season the fair ones throw them
selves into the mad vorte Of the social
events that follow. But why sho
they not? They are the mere butterflies
Of fashion aud their life only lasts until
their beauty begins to fade.
In Alma fashion and society does not
levy so high tax upon our daughters,
nor does il exact such strict observance
OF its laws, but on Easter day there were
plenty who were resplendent in fnery.
The young men, too, came in for their
neat appearance in their smart new suits.
But again, why not? Life is only what
we make it, and half the pleasure Of
living is what we get out Of it.
Special programs had been provided
in the various churches to properly cele-
brate the event and they were all Of that
excellent quality which we think only
can be successfully carried out by Alma
talent. Below we give short resume
OF these services:
ST. JOHNS CHURCH.
every early in the morning the first day
OF the week, at the rising OF the sum- y
the hour when on the first Easter day,
more than nineteen centuries ago, the
women came to the rock-hewn tomb
seeking their Lord.
The first of the days services held in
st. John church, commenced promptly
az $3.50 a. m. when the choir began the
professional hymn I'VE March, we
March to Victory" The church was
decorated most beautifully with pro-
fusion Of roses, Easter lilies, carnations,
hyacinths, palms and a variety Of other
beautiful plants and flowers Notwith-
standing the early hour the church was
filled, there being a number OF visitors
from the other churches in the congrega-
ton. The service was the Holy Com.
munion and without a sermon the rector
making few remarks on the nature Of
the occasion.
The second servi ,e was held at the
usual hour Of morning prayer at 10 80
a. IN. AT this service the congregation
out.numbered the attendance at the
earlier services and every available seat
in the church was occupied. Special
attention had been paid to the music for
this service, the program Of which was
as follows:
Professional 1--WE March, we March
to Victory" (Barnby); "Christ our
Passover" Crotch; "Gloris Patri, 4"
ROBINSON "Te Deum" in ID. (Read) (;
"Jubilate Dec, II Aldrich) hymn, Angels
Roll the Stone Away" (Roper "Kyrie
Elieson"in +. (O.Simper) "Glory Tibi"
(Simper) Hymn, +" At the Saints High
Feast, II (Salzburg) offertory, Alleluia"
(Humphries) "Sanctus" (Simper) ;
Hymn, shepherd OF Souls" Dykes f;
"Gloria in Exceleis" (Simper) "Nunc
Dimittis" in +. (NovelD; occasional,
Ancient of Days." (Jeffery). The SOLO
lists were Miss Hooper soprano, who took
the offertory, and Mr.. Geo. Timby bass.
The sermon was preached on the Resur-
rection, the text being taken from IL.
Timothy /, 10, "Our Saviour, Jesus
hath brought life aud Immortality to
light through tho gospel"
The evening service was devoted to
the exercises of the Sunday school. The
children took part in the building Of a
cross of flowers with recitation Of
texts. Prizes for good lessons were
awarded to Maud Hooper and Ella
Bittner and the catechism prize to Bessie
Schwartz. Rex Button was given a
special prize for work done for the SUM-
day school. The offerings Of the day
were for the missionary objects Of the