The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-04-14
Easter Sunday.

Easter services at The Methodist and Epls
copal churches here Sunday were especially
attra Give and entertaining. 1t was oul
pleasure to attend services in the Methodist
church., where an unusually large congregs,
ton had assembled.
A printed programme was distributed, an
%nouncing vocal and instrumental selections
from the best of composers. Mrs. j. G. Ellis,
Mrs. M. T. Coleman, Mrs. Jno. A. Harris, Mr..
w. E. Hill and Mr.. ]. g. Cochran. assisted by
Miss Lenore Neville Long, soprano %soloist.
constituted the choir presided over by the
mastery artist, Prof. Jules g. Huguelet.
A feature Of the praise service was Miss
Longs soprano In chorus and solo. Miss
Long 10 teacher Of vocal music In Due West
Female College, an Institution which has
always been happy In the selection of It's
teachers. Miss Long ia possessed Of striking
personality; and sings with that ease which
makes the highest botes without effort. Her
voice is full, clear and as musical as evening
bells. She sang several solos during the
morning and again at the night service. She
held her hearers entranc ed; bringing them to
realize that through the medium Of song the
soul maybe lifted to the plane of higher and
boiler things. -"..:
The preacher, Rev. Stokes. too for his text
THE Resurrection OF Christ" He spoke OF
the improbable STORIES invented by the Jews
to set at naught the fact that Christ had
risen. He spoke OF the imrrobability Of a
soldier, numerous soldiers, and especially
Roman soldiers, sleeping on duty. He point
ed out the Inconsistency OF their statement
THAT while they slept his disciples stole him
away" Showing that they with essed too
willingly in undertaking to say what was
lone while they slept.
The sermon was replete with historic and
s%criptural references establishing, even by
cotemporsneous events, the fact OF the resur-
reotion. 1t was most interesting throughout
and was closely listened TO.
The spirit Of enterprise In the Methodist
Church is worthy OF commentator.
It is useless 10 condemn this aggression as
an innovation in the religious world. A tree is
known by its fruit. This tree 80 lately plant
ed, bears on It's branches that quality Of the
bread Of life OF which rich and poor alike
delight to eat. II Is the church OF the masses:
appealing alike to mind and heart.
The beautiful flowers, the sweet voices, the
thought of the preacher, these all spring from
the creating hand. They serve the creature
In bis short and fretted existence. And must
they be withheld in celebrating the resurrec-
ton of him TO whom a thousand years are as
but yesterday
We rather like the custom OF Easter OBJ
~servance; trace 1t to pagan custom II you will
and associate 1t ever 30 vaguely With the
actual resurrection Of Christ.
1t is but fitting hat the season which
resurrects the bursting bud the fragrant
flower and the restful green, after the win-
ter's chill, typifying death in plant creation.
should also be commemorative Of the master
OF all the beauties OF nature. He II
was who said OF the lilies OF the tieldi yet
Solomon In all his glory was not arrayed like
one of these.
"A box OF ointment, a cup OF cold water, and
even the tiniest flower are instruments of
worship when In the hand OF the devout fol.
lower Of Christ.