Norwich bulletin., 1909-04-12
EASTER SERVICES IN CHURCHES
Weather Proptious for Large Congregations, who Filled the Churches the Anniversary of the Resurrection Special Musical Services.


 ing there were large congregations, the bright, cheerful morning being conducive to the bringing out of a large portion of the membership, de- spite the cool wave. The brightness of the day added to the joy of the occa- sion and everyone seemed imbued with the spirit of the day. There were spe- cial sermons and musical programmes in all the churches pertinent to Easter and much Eater il~crJ was ,:i= pIay yed. .
 First Baptist Church.
 At the First Baptist church the Easter services throughout the day were very impressive The church was prettily decorated with green, Easter flowers and potted plants which were, at the close of the evening service. sent to the shutins and sick of the church. Special Easter music was given in q praiseworthy manner by the choir in charge of which is Mrs. c. K. Hulburt.
 Easing his sermon on I. Cor. 15: IT, If Christ hath not been raised your faith is vain. ye are yet in your sins" Rev. w. T. Thayer said in part: The question of the resurrection is of more than scholastic interest and 1t is of more than theological concern. Life's greatest enigma waits upon it for solL- ton, and the deepest questions of the soul remain unanswered till 1t speaks. DiEcredit the resurrection of Christ ami LIlE ldSh VI GApAdlIAAIE &llL lolldnlLN AS assured a religion whose founder was executed as a common criminal, his disciples scattered like wolves. yet springin0 up in a day. a religion of sacred joy. spiritual fervency and holy power. Discredit the resurrection and one must explain the followers devo- tion to an executed NaZarene, their glad martyrdom to a mummy, their ability to launch through fraudulent pretense the greatest religious revolu- ton in all history.
 Yet no demonstration of the resur- rection Is offered. Christ rests his case with the reasonable claim if God be God he Is the God of the living and not of the dead. If faith were the mere assumption of shiftlessly taking things for granted, then the smaller a mans soul the more sublime could be his faith; but faith Is the evidence of things not seen. In other words, the convincing power of the resurrection story depends as much upon the moral fibre and spiritual quality of the one addressed as upon the logical charac- ter of the story itself.
 Christ'S birth tells of Gods love. Christ's death vindicates his love, but the soul requires more. The empty tomb reveals his powers, and thus the resurrection is the heart of Christiani- ty. Deny the one and the other falls a shattered theory. Christ is risen, the worlds only Saviour claiming the ac- knowledgment of all My Lord and my God"
 The evening service was in care of the church choir, assisted by John B. Oat, tenor, giving & finely rendered cantata Easter Praise" by Adams. Baptism followed the evening service.
 The first part of the Sunday school session was given up to exercises given by the little people. The infant class and a few of the younger children sang and recited, and Easter hymns were sung by the school.
 Central Baptist Church.
 The pulpit banked with palms and southern smilax draped around the gallery, with an artistic arrangement of Ascension lilies and primroses. were the decorations at the Central Baptist church, where at the morning service seven were baptized by the pastor, Rev. P. c. Wright. His sermon was upon the topic. Reasons for Believing in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and Its Meaning for Us. briefly pre- senting valued lessons suited to those Just assuming church relations and ta the congregation at large. Three anthem numbers by the choir were finely sung. Miss Harriet c. Frisbie rendered with expressive 4nterpreta- ton the soprano solo, Come, See the Place Where Jesus Lay (Parker)
 At the evening service, an Easter cantata, The New Life, by James H. Rogers, was finely rendered by the quartette of the church, assisted by a chorus. The quartette comprised Miss Harriet c. Frisbie. soprano; Mrs. A. T. Sullivan, alto; Geor-, E. Turner. tenor; James L. Case, basso, and those assisting were Miss Mabel s. Clark and Miss Clara Worth; sopranos, Mrs. Arthur C.Wright and Miss Emma Daw- Der, altos; Louis A. Wheeler and Charles s. Storms. tenors; Charles D. Geer, baritone; and William B. Young, Jr., basso
 This was given with noticeablv ad- mirable effect in the melodious and well balanced chorus selections and solos by Miss Frisbie, MT. Geer and MT. Turner sung in finished style. At both services there were large con- gregations, particularly in the evening.
 Broadway Congregational Church.
 There was @ very large congregation al Broadway Congregational church on Sunday for the Easter services, the platform being handsome decorated with lilies, daffodils and palms, the arrangement being done with charm ing effect. At the morning service Rev. AJL- 1ASh ely AdAL dS5lSl6u 1GN, D.. Worcester in the service the latter preaching from the text Romans 5:21 His subject was Character and Immor- tality and he showed the close rela- | tion of the two, and referred to them as Gods gift.
 At noon at the Sunday school ses- sion there were special exercises. Aft CT the singing of No. 10S and respon- sive exercises there was prayer by | Dnvr TF VHnEnauf1ys <111 r11 No. 101, notices and offering. There was a selection by the choir. which was beautifully rendered and the fol- lowing programme was carried out: Words of welcome, Supt H. B. Ca ry; song and exercise, An Easter Prayer Primary department; recita- ton, Iris Easter Morn, Miss Woods l class; Song No l05, school; recita- tion, Messages. Miss Bishops class Meaning of Easter, Miss Lesters class.
 The service closed with the singing of Coronation and Gloria.
 At the five o'clock service the choir sang Bullard's cantata, The Resurrec- tion. It was given with the character istic excellence of the choir, the solo numbers being beautifully sung, while the Quartette work was of remarkable strength of tone and beauty, under the direction of F. w. Lester. At the morning service the singing was un- usually fine. the anthems, Tn the End of the Sabbath, and I Am He That Liv- eth were sung with thoughtful expres- sion and harmony, while the offertory solo, Hosanna, by Mrs. c. T. Bard was given with her sweet and clear voice in a manner to excite general oommendation.
 Park Congregational Church. Easter Sunday was appropriately ob- aeryed at Park church with +a