Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1913-03-22
"THE MESSAGE OF THE LILY"
By F. A. NJ.

Easter Day in the sunny Southland
Never had lovelier day downed
Glori-us sunshinel A joyous carol
ing of the birds: and a profusion Of
flowers which mutely evinced the
glories OF the Resurrection morn,
which was being celebrated through
out the world Even the church bells
calling to worship seemed to sound
new note of joyousness; and the
new chimes in the Church of the Ma
tivity. Memphis, Tenn, used that day
for the first time, rang out the Easter
carols at dawn The church was one
of the oldest and the most beautiful,
in the city of Memphis, and had A
membership OF more than a thousand
of the most cultured and influential
people. Several days previous. notice
had been sent out by the rector, the
Rev. Elwood kenman, that there
would be a special observance of the
day at the morning service, with the
Bishop of the diocese, the Rt Rev
Raymond Egbert as the speaker; and
as te Bishop was deservedly popular,
the vast edifce was crowded TO the
doors long before the chimes had
ceased their peal
The air was scented with the per-
fume Of the Easter lilies and vari-col-
ored cut flowers which banked the
pulpit; their radiant beauty comming-
ling with the green of many ferns
and palms making a notably beauti-
ful decorative scheme which empha-
sized the charm Of the service.
The last notes of the carol, "He is
Risen we're being sounded by the
chimes, and the service was about to
begin, when a young woman came
round the corner of the church.
/ Her face, strongly marked by dissi-
patton still showed faint traces OF
youthful beauty and refinement. Her
/ clothing torn, soiled and disheyelled.
betraying her poverty. seemed sadly
out OF keeping with the spirit OF radl-
ant happiness which prevailed every
where. The soft toned chimes seemed
to attract her attention. She stop
ped listened for a moment. then. as
though impelled by an unseen force,
she assembled the broad steps, timidly
pushed open the door and entered the
church, taking a seat far TO the rear
where the light was dimmest The
service began. Easter carols, reson-
ant with the glorious spirit of the
Easter tide, hymns and prayers fol-
lowed in rotation.
The young stranger, in her dark
corner, sat immovable with face white
and set as though carved from stone
/ IL had been two years since she had
I entered a church, religion having nc
part in her present method of living
and II was some time before the influ-
ence of the service was felt. But
gradually, the cords OF the deep toned
organ and the sweet voices of the
choristers had their effect. and she
leaned forward, eagerly drinking IN
every word.
The sermon hymn was sung and tn,
Bishop, in his snowy robes. rose and
began the sermon, taking for his tex
the beautiful words. 81 am the Resur.
rection and the Life" The Eastel
lilies i'm the pulpit we're used as :
comparison in the discussion of hi,
theme, the message brought by then
being the old. old one, which dowr
through the ages seems never to los,
its charm-the message Of sin an,
sorrow vanquished with the dawn o
the Resurrection morn.
AS the sermon continued. impress
sive in its solemnity. a solemnity en-
hanced by the deeply earnest voice q
the speaker, the face of the strange
lost the look OF desperation which ha
been so markedly evident at first. an
the facial changes rapidly takin
place told that the burdened hear
had al last been touched.
Surprise. shame. remorse we're II
turn depicted. then the tears cam
hot and binding. Just as Bishop Ice