The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-04-16
THE EASTER SERVICES
AT THE CHURCH OF THE MES
 SHAH.

Beautiful Floral Display and Impress i've Exercises--Fine sermon by Rev. MT. Fischer.
 Beautiful Easter lilies and ferns and palms adorned the altar of the Church of the Messiah yesterday morning. The services were very impressive and the large audience which gathered, despite the stormy weather, was well repaid for its attendance.
 Printed programmes of the order of service were in each pew. The cholr rendered very fine music and sang a number of choice selections.
 The pastor, Rev. T. A. Fischer, preached from the words found in the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthians, and the eighteenth verse: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God"
 Following is an abstract of the dis course:
 Nineteen hundred years ago the cross was the gallows. It was the ln- strument by which malefactors expiat- ed their offences. In connection with 1t were the thoughts of ignominy and shame and contempt.
 To-day throughout Christendom the cross is honored and revered. It crowns the spires of our loftiest churches, and wherever it is seen it aWakens pure thoughts and noble aspirations. What is the meaning and significance of this change?
 There hung on the cross life that was pure and beautiful; the man of sorrows who went about doing good. The tragedy on Calvary lifted the cross, and that which was a symbol of all that was low and vile became an inoen- tive to noble deeds and lofty achieve ments. And the centuries circle around it. Empires have arisen and passed away. Mighty .potentates who for a while loomed up and essayed to con- quer the world are almost forgotten. But the kingdom of the Christ is ex- tending and the pale sufferer on the tree is more and more in the hearts and minds of men.
 Some of the lessons which the cross breaches to us are:
 ''Firstly-Obedienee the voice of God calling us to come up higher. The world calls to riches and fame and power.
 "Secondly-It proclaims courage. Jesus was the worlds greatest hero not like the warrior who with war horse and armor and shield goes forth into battle. He never shed blood but faced municipalities and powers-faced the world and public opinion. Such sublime heroism the world has never seen.
 "We need heroisrn to-day, to stand brave and do right as we see the right. Moral heroism is everywhere needed in public places, in our halls of legis- lation, in cities and towns and villages; men who will not shrink from duty.
 "Thirdly-The cross breaches to us faith. Notice the sublime faith. of Jesus. Alone and yet not alone, Cos was with Him. In the wilderness and .dn the mountaintop He communed with His Father. He had faith in humanity He said, Be ye perfect even as your 1Heavenly Father is perfect He was sent in the world to save the world nIe told us of the infinite love and ten herness of our Father who cares for us And, lastly, the cross proclaims love &-self-sacrifcing love. He loved us ant yfwould give up all, for us. And He calls upon us to follow in His steps by deny ing ourselves and serving humanity 1T kindly deeds and helpful ministrations In that way we will grow in grace ant knowledge, and our lives will brighter more and more unto the perfect day"