The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-04
AT ST. PETERS CHURCH.
Father Giles of Cullman Preached
 Strong Sermon.

Beautiful and impressive were the Easter day services at St. Peters Catho- lie Church yesterday. The music, an especial feature of the service, was of a very high standard and was excellentiy rendered.
 The decorations of the church were very handsome. The main altar, or High Altar. was massed in a lavish pro- fusion of roses. caila lilies and Easter lilies. The center piece. directly over and in front of the High Altar was magnificent cross. in green and studded with small white roses. E
 The altar of the Blessed Virgin, which is on the right of the High Altar. was decorated with roses and Easter lilies and maiden-hair ferns. while the decora- tions of St. Joseph's Altar. to the left of the High Altar, was in potted plants ana Easter lilies.
 The altars were very beautiful for in- terspersed among the flowers were the many candles. which lighted. added charm to the entire effect.
 To the right of the High Altar on pedestal. stands the tall Paschal candle. containing the five incense grains repre-" senting the five wounds of the Lord. This candle. which is lighted today. will burn steadily until Ascension Thursday. which will fall on the 12th day of May.
 At the 10:3e o'clock mass the sermon was preached by Rev. Father Giles. O. s. B.. of Cullman. Father Giles Is an earnest and polished speaker. He chose his text from St. Mark xvi 6. 'He is risen. He is not here"
 Dark and dreary and filled with gloom were the closing days of last week, said Father Giles. "Our hearts were touched with sorrow and our souls moved with grief. at the sad panorama of the passion as it passed before our eyes. The agony in the garden the betrayal of Judas. the cruel scourging and crowning with thorns. the denial by Peter. the carrying of the cross and the frightful crucifixion rent our hearts and made us mute with grief Silently weeping over our sins we stood beneath the cross and watched through the last dying moments of our loving Saviour. We saw him laid away in the tomb, sealed by heavy rock ana guarded by a troop of soldiers.
 "All that night has passed and the next day, and the second night is now fast drawing to close. When He was yet alive he foretold that they might tear down the temple, but that in three days he would build it up. That his apostles would be made sorrowful. but that their sorrow should be turned into joy. If all IHeSe NtIitiBS dIS tO NOe''O NANN the time. If this day draws to a close and the Saviour remains in his grave then all his life all his passion and the cruel death were in vain, then all was for naught. But see! While yet the stars glittered and fingered on the milky way of Heaven. eager to catch glimpse of the coming victory. the dead body Of our Lord in the tomb moves and rises. Angels hasten to remove the massive stone and bright and beautiful and clari- fled our Lord bursts from the tomb.
 "As the Almighty Father in Heaven views this scene of victory. He is filled with joy. and rising on his eternal throne. He sends forth a shout of defiance to his arch enemy Satan and cry of victo- ry to the celestial hest and intones the praises of the conqueror, which is taken up by ten thousand voices of ten thou sand angels and the vaulted roofs of Heaven rebound the echo of the song of victory: Glory to God in the highest. and peace on earth to men of good will. Halleluja, the Son is risen. The brightest seraphs of highest Heaven wing their aerial flight from star to star, from world to luminous world as far as the universe spreads its roseate walls, gather ing together all the echoes of all the planets and multiplying each in an end less song shout them forth in an anthem of joy and glory and triumph.