The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-16
IT SAINT PETERS
CATHOLIC HOUSE OF WORSHIP
 TAsTEFUELY DECORATED.
Earnest Sermon On signiftcnnce of Easter Preached To Large Con- grcgatton by Rev. Father
 Frankhauser.

Easter was fittinfyiy observed at St Peter's Catholic Church yesterday. The masses were largely attended. At the early mass there were over four hum dred communicants. members of the Young Ladies Sodality, and of the Mems Societies approaching in a body.
 The late mass was a Solemn High Mass. followed by Solemn Benediotion of the Blessed Sacrament with Rev. Fa- ther Thomes Eaton celebrant. Rev. Fa- ther Frankhauser, S. J., deacon. and Rev. Father Dennis Savage, sub-deacon. For the occasion the altars were elab- orately and tasetfully decorated with a profusion of lights and flowers in har- m0ny with the studied grace of the many recent Improvements effected in the church, A number of altar boys, with their red soutanes and surplices added to the variety of the ceremonial in honor of the Risen Christ.
 Vhe music was feature, full of the al1elulias of joy which charactreize the ritual of the day.
 During the mass a circular from Right Reverend Bishop Allen was read, calling attention to the usual collect ion for the ecclesiastical students Of the diocese and expressive of his best wishes to the congregation for the joys and blessings of the Easter season.
 After the reading of the Scriptures Father Frankhauser delivered an inter- esting sermon on the significance or the Resurrection.
 Father Frankhauser, who was fol- lowed with close attention. contrasted the hero of the world and the hero of the cross. The former is the object Of universal admiration, the latter IS the centre of scornful persecution. Christ was parexecellence a hero. Yet, not withstanding His Divinity, how He be- came "the scorn of men. the rejection of the people, for our salvation! He, who controlled the universe and held it in the hollow of His hand. suffered Himself to be ignominiously crucified for the sins of wayward man.
 where is the hero that can compare with Him. asked Father Frankhauser. where Is the pathos that can equal the sublime renunciation of the cross2 But it Is not all Calvary. There Is also the Resurrection and while we sorrow with the suffering Redeemer, we re- joice with the Risen God. The Res- urrection established the claims of the Savior to Divinity. And if Christ be not risen again, then Is our preaching vain, and your faith Is also vain. No matter what miracles Christ performed, no matter what pretensions He assert ed, if He died to rise no more. then indeed was Christianity fraud and. His mission failure.
 "Only an independent self-existent priciple can conquer life and death only God can triumph over the begin ming and the end. Viewed as >an his- torioal fact alones there is no more cer- tain event than that of the Resurrect- ion. Well may the world rejoice then, and we'll may the church exc1aim, This is the day the Lord hath made. let us rejoice and exult in it, when the mys- tery of the Resurrection is proclaimed, when Its certainty is attested. The world is glad. because the Resurrection is the hope of future happiness. For If the dead rise not again, neither is Christ risen again. The church exults because the Resurrection is the founda. ton of the Christian faith. And If Christ be not risen again, your faith Is vain, for you are yet in your sins
 "There Is. therefore. one voice of tri- umph ascending on high to the throne of God today from the heart of tho Christian world through the church. Gloria in excelsis Dec, Glory to God on high
 The services were concluded by the Solemn Benediction service. in the course of which Mrs. L. Robinson was heard with rapt attention in a beauti- full 70 Salutaris'' with violin obligato by Miss Nora Courtney and organ &C., compartment by Prof. F.. L. Merriam
 A reception was given to the mem bers of the choir. and the Sanctuary Boys Society during the day.