The Washington times., 1913-03-23
IS OBSERVED
IN SERMON AND SONG
Resurrection of Christ CeIe-
brated in All Churches BY
Special Services.

In every country weber Jesus Christ
is recognized as the Saviour Of the
world. the feast day of Easter is being
observed today. both in church and
home as the most joyous occa sion Of the
Christian year. Chimes in every cline
were rung early today to mark His
resurrection from the dead. and the de-
vout of every race pledged their faith
in the life immortal. in services the
beauty of which is not surpassed by
any in the Christian year.
Despite the fact that the feast has
fallen this year far earlier than 1t has
for years. and at a time when the blus-
tering winds of March usually have full
sway over a chilled and somber earth.
the mild winter has permitted the bios
soming of spring flowers, and the usual
banks of blooms were seen in the
churches today and on the streets aft
erwarG.
for the musical portion of the services
today and in every church in Washing
ton Easter music was rendered. The
gladstone tidings Christ the Lord is
Risen Today-Hallelujah' were sung
from thousands of throats early this
morning and the period of lpenitence
and prayer was ended with joyfulnes So
and feasting.
Song and Service.
In the Roman Catholic Churches 10
day the feast of Easter was observed
with song and service. In st. Patrick's
Church, the Apostolic delegate. the Rt.
Rev. John Bonzano. presided at the
solemn high mass.
In other Catholic churches services
were begun at Z o'clock in the morning
and masses were celebrated every hour
until II. when solemn high mass was
sung. Easter sermons and Easter
music marked the services which closed
the forty days Of fasting and pledged
anew the belief of the communicates in
the resurrection Of Christ ana the life
everla sting.
The Rt Rev. Alfred Harding. Epis-
copal bishop of Washington. delivered
the sermon at Bethlehem Chapel at the
Washington Cathedral today. Holy
Easter music was sung by specially
trained choir.
The theme of the Risen Lord will be
used by every other minister in tine city
for his sermons today. The day IL Of
such significance in the Christian year
resurrection must present itself. The
visits OF the two Marys and the dis
ciples and the rigils of the angels, the
grave clothes and the stone which was
rolled away. and the angel who waited
before the tomb to give the glad tidings
to the world, all will be treated in SER
mons today to make up the whole of
Easter.
MdsI.al Portion.
One of the great features of the day
was the musical portion of the services,
Easter Is primarily a musical feast.
The joy of the disciples, the speech of
the angel, the fear, and hope, and hap
piness Of those who loved the Lord can
be expressed best In song: music. since
the beginning OF Christendom has ex-
emplified the Easter spirit. Some by
the highest geniuses of secular music
and some by cloistered monks whose
souls burst forth in song. but all typi-
cally adapted to Easter and the Risen
Lord. resounded from chancel and choir
loft today.
This afternoon the children services
are being held in the churches, espe-
cially the Episcopal churches, all over
the city. At Easter the mite boxes of
the Sunday schools. are collected and
their sums applied to the work Of
Christ. Whole Sunday schools meet
this afternoon to hold their special
services and to celebrate the resur-
rection.
Tonight the musical services will oc-
cupy almost the entire attention Of
church goers. Easter anthems and
oratorios will be sung by choirs which
have been trained for the services for
weeks