The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-29
PASTOR DELIVERS
 EASTER ADDRESS
Rev. Dr. Walker Uses "He Is Risen Indeed" as
 Topic Yesterday

Easter Sunday cries out for a | nightly affirmation on the part of Christian worshippers" stated Rev. Dr. John c. Walker, pastor of the Second Congregational Church in his address at the morning worship yesterday, entitled, "He Is Risen Indeed"
 Nothing avails so far as the in- diyidual is concerned except he say in his heart, "He is risen indeed" The Easter music, the Easter lilies, the story of the open tomb, beauti- full, inspiring, moving as well these things are, everything turns upon the faith of the individual you" Ahe you ready to say, in sincerity and in truth, "He is risen indeed?"
 This is the answer around the world on Easter Sunday. suppose that nowhere else on this continent is the challenge and the answer more dramatic than in the Moravian service in Winston Salem, North Caroline. If history has repeated itself this year, as it has every Eas- ter season since the Moravian set tiers came from Germany in 1771, there is a most impressive service held. before the Moravian Church in the early hours of this morning. Bands of musicians have ranged the city from a. m. to playing the Easter hymns. At the musicians were assembled in mass formation in front of the church. The sacred concert continued for an hour and a half while the congregation took its place. They came from many cities and states and there were probably fifty or sixty thousand people gathered in the square in front of the church.
 When all was in readiness, with choirs and musicians seated so that they could take up the service of song antiphonally, the dawn began to glow on the eastern horizon. Promptly at 5:30 if they followed the customary time sequence, the Bishop of the Southern Moravian Province appeared in the doorway of the church. Raising his hands he made announcement of the Masters resurrection, He is risenl" Back from the great congregation of fifty thousand came the answering cry, a swelling chorus of faith, He Is risen indeed" The service had be- gun, lifted on the tide of that chorus Of faith and witness.
 Such service cannot fail to be most moving and most impressive. It seems to me to dramatize the challenge of every Easter Service across this broad land, yea in all the world. The challenge and the answer set the keynote for our worship this day. The message Of the priest and the preacher, the music of the organiSt and the choir, all unite to challenge the great congregations with the de- claration, He is risen." It is for the waiting congregations to answer in word or in spirit, Yea, He is risen indeed" No other answer will avail. No other faith will serve. If we cannot join in the great and valiant affirmation, then is our faith vain and nothing worth.
 would be very patient with those who find it difficult to accept and to affirm. Here or there there may be someone who cannot rist to the heights of faith. Perhaps some hid. den grief, some heartache, makes the will stubborn, the heart slow to believe. We may comfort them for the disciples were also slow of heart to believe. Far from cling eager, they seemed slow, loath to believe. Always we have at our command that prayer which has proved so mighty to save, T believe, help thou nine unbelief." And when all is said and done, it is not hard not to be- sieye in the fact of the beauty of the lilies, the splendor of the daf- fodils, the bulbs that thrust their way upward through the earth, the bilds that burst with life."