The New York Herald Newspaper, April 10, 1871, Page 4

a RELIGIOUS. Tho Christianity---Its Legends and Its Lessons. The Beantics of Nature, the. Refinements of Art and tho Flowers of Bloqueuce Con- tributing to the Joys of Raster. Services and Sermons in the Metropolis and Elsewhere. - © Nature put on its sweetest smile yesterday to re- fleet back the joy which mantied ‘tue hearts of the Christian world. It was Atting day dawn to the night of sorrow which had hung its clouds around the previous week. Effulgence of sunlight and smiles, a cheery wor and bright raiments ontvied the cheer of the heart within. aristocratic Christianity to church seemed clanging from the pavement the words which poomed and chimed. from the swinging church bells, ‘Christ is risen."’ All the churches were filed and sermons of godly inteusity absorbed the worshippers. The fairest among these Easter lilies of the pulpit will , be found in the panies teporte:— CHER. OF _ DIVINE PATERNITY. The HKmpty ‘Tomb—The Basis of the Christ Rev. Pr. Chapin. In harmony with the peautiful Easter morn were the floral decorations of the Church of the Divine Pavernity yesterday. Tn@ pulpit and stairs leading thereto were made veraant and fragrant with the richest spring flowers in pots and bouquets; while a8 @ relief to the dark woodwork at the baok of the pulpit there stood a splendid cross of white flowers upon a base of varlegated ones, and at either side were heart-shaped clusters of the same, emblems of @ renewed nature, As became the festal idea of the day, also, the service consi im large Hinen Lerd=The vs faith—Sermon by part of bymns of idve and pratse and chants | aad Easter anthems, which were admirably ren- dered vy the choir. ‘The beautiful and impressive custom in this chareh of chanting the Lord’s Prayer (in echo) by the choir, atter the opening | prayer by the pastor, must strike every stranger | favorably. in the services yesterday morning Dr. Chapin was assisted by Rev. Mr. Clair. Thé ser- mon by Dr. Chapin was a grand argament from the | analogies of nature, the” consciousness of our own being and from the divine revelation of the DOCTRINE OF A FUTURE LIFE. His remarks were based upon Matthew xxvitt., 6—“He is not here; for He is risen as He said. Como eee the place where the Lord lay.” When we arrive, be said, at the fact here prociaimed, we shall ve _ to understand the significance gf the descent the Mount of Olives, which was Made the sub- fee of consideration last Sabbath. That dark way was the of victory, and the crown and the cross of infamy were the crown and throne of joy and triumph. This fact is either the greatest of facts or the most stupendous of mistakes ever re- corded and perpetuated. It is the greatest of facts or the greatest ol on ag ery tae it is mot party hypothesis and t must be wholly true or wholly false. locates the New Testa- ment as an histo: To be sure the truths | which Jesus spoke would abide and still maintain their intrinsic authority, but they would only be like | the truths of Plato, or Cicero, or Confucius, or Socrates. They would afford uo reason why we should be Christian more than Piatonian or Contu- | clan. li we part with this fact WE PART WITH KVERYTIHING. ‘The ark in which humanity has enshrined its treas- ures becomes loose tuaber and floats away, we | know not whither. The resurrection of Jesus 1s the radical fact of Christtanity. The character of Jesus mught stand without tt, but what is it? It lives on the same page aa the resu:reciion, and if the autho. rity of the one ialls so musi the other, And if aocept the life and character of Cnrist iu all as fur. mess and beauty we cannat long consistently resist the doctrine of the resurreciton. Any man who ac- cepts the personality of Christ as real must accept | the resurrection also. The Christian world see ace cepts this as THE ORGANIC FACT OF CHRISTIANITY, and tn recognition of it the Church breaks forth to-day in songs of joy, in the ringing of belis aad | the melodious tones of the organ, and inyites us to “Come and see the place where the Lord lay.”? Per- | baps it would be as well to leave the subject here | and jet our minds realize the fact or the rigon Lord and the empty tomb, tnat aul the powers of the soul may be st rred_ Withia us. Not only ts this the or- ganic fact of Christianity; it agrees also with the Instincts and consctousness of our own nature. “Why svould it be thought a sree perenne. that God should raise the dead!” is & thing teredible, then the rg mt for a future life 1 periected in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Chiat, e@ arguments for a future life drawn from the analogies of navure are old. For = years men have found nothing new in them. ‘hey come spontaneously to the mind. and agree as well with the okiest philosophy as with modern | selence. The fact that this TRUTH 13 COMMONPLACE Goes not vitiate against the fact. There area great many who belicve in a future life whodo not believe ¢m the resurrection of Chris’, nor in the authenticity of the Bible. He would put Paul's question again to every thtukiog max, Why should it be tuought in- credible that God should also the dead? What for- bids the existence of a future life for man, ex- cept that it has not fallen in with our expert ence? ‘It moy be reasonable for us to say that we don’t know the fact because mo one has ever come back to tell us of that future lufe; but it does not form a good reason for rejecting the possibility of auch evidence. Then the marvel- Jouguess of the resurrection 1s alleged against it. Bat can we stand up and say that anything is too wonaeriul? Did you, asked the Doctor, ever stop to think of the wondrous mechanism of your own existence—how the blood circulates in your veins’ If you vave, then you must stand appalled and amazed before it. The Doctor further iliustrated tuis thought by the human eye, the seed dropped Into tue bcean, the waves of which sing its re- quiem, and the unfolding beauty of one of the fow- ers beside him. Tie man of science can tell all about the constituent a pee of the flower, but he cannot make one. aim Ito be told, he asked, that an A WORLD OF WONDERS LIKE THIS 1¢ is too Wonder! to believe that man should rise rom the dead? The uryest evidence of science «is- sipates the marvelionsness of the fact. We are ever passing from the lower to the pisber—not from life to death, but from life through death to some- thing Ingher. We cun’t think of the termination of life and make ti consisteat with ourown being. We can’t think of life ending in anuthilation. ere 1a no such thing. Form may change and cease to be, but essence never. The normal and conscious de- sire of every healthy person ts to live. It ts a dis- tuetive Kica of humanity. We never reach the time when mei it to stop or cease to desire to st: le on, This is @ beautiful world and a glorious fo, but there Is amore beautiful and g'orious to come. ‘The trees, pianis, fowers, all speak of an economy of life and man is the ONLY UNSATISFIED ONB. Shat him up wae ife “We we do not know what ould become of — carihot concelve what tion comes the future life. ing within we and withest calls out fora demonstration of the resurrection life, and here we have it. :—“He ts not here; He is risen. Come see the where the Lord lay.” Aud tu thie demonstra- We rejoice this Raster morn. Why refuse to accept this confirmation of a fact complete in every pe of raviona: Srpumecit It = eee, with reason. Christianity rests upon ‘be tomb ot is the cradie of Ci ristigatt tnd i Cbrist be risen it becomes the grave urine tanity also, whe pon the ag resurrec- ten of Jesus Obrist. W! ig believe it canoe there is so much in its fayor and not one argu- yor Come see where the Lord jay, and us of men eres, him and since It ts the only earth where all are hava laid Senne to ge ra ie there as kings, ‘hat histo- of bess, anes love, lie there hiddea from ¥ DISTRIBUTED AND UNIVERSAL IT 16 ! tre Ere not sure sure that we can set a foot down where it ig mos, It ts under the sidewalks in our cities and je gg hy 16 on mountain in the bottom of tl and what trea- seroe ft holds for ‘us! eye tomb—nas any glory, y of naa resurrection. Featities 108e — oread and ‘wine wh KC here partake of Je Ne cilik anteutony case: me ‘a the L ons cool evens the weary day ts done. The PM of the Lord's Supper was subse- “Let us remember 1 faces en the Most Glorions Festival of The very horses bearing | hot | TATHS Mt NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY. APRIL 10, | fis uivinty on of, and foar oniidren were ban: | aduits admitied to ohurch member- singing, \ queue five = Aig after the congregation was (ts- p—_+s5 ST. PATRICK'S CATHEDRAL, ae Pontifioal High Mase by Archbishop McClos- key—faster Sermon by the lev. Father Doacet~-Tke Resurrection an Iudisputable Fact—Tho Cownrdice of the Sreptice—A Lite of Self-Devial Leading to Immortality. ‘The foretaste of summer weather which with glo- rious sunlight and vivifying warmth saluted the feast of the Resurrection leut @ bappy smile to the thousands of ohutch-going Christiaus yesterday morning. No matter what the weather, St. Patrick's Cathetral could scarcely {atl to have a large congre- gation on Easter Sunday; yet it ts not too much to say that the splendor of the day helped to secure a very crowded and very pious observance of the {estival. The costumes of the ladies were bril- Mant, maxing the grand alsle of the cathedral like A PARTERRE OF FLOWERS. The music was gcnerally well excouted, the mass sung beiug the composition of the organist, Mr. Gustav Schmitz. Minet’s Veni vreator was well’ sung by the contralto, Mme. Werner, and the same may be said of soprano solos, the Regina Cestf, by Concont, Mme. Chome, and Kece Pants, sung by Mme. Gross, with French horn accompaniment by | Mr. Henry Schmitz. ‘The large choir exhibited good | training in the vhorases, | Ip the Pontifical high mass Archbishop McOlosky | was the celebrant, Rev. Father Starrs assistant | Priest, Fathers McGean and Matiuce assistant ) deacons, Father MoNamee officiating deacon and Father Lynch aub-deacon, Father McAnerney was | Master of ceremonies, with Father Kearney assist- ; ant. The Archbishop wore bis mitre and crozter and goldea roves, and looked like a vision from | some stained glass window of five hundred years | a0. Toe altar was beautifully and chastely de- | corated with virgin lilies and carnations, and was OU with wax lights. At the close of tne service S0LBMN PAPAL BENEDICTION Was given aprosalbly by the venerable Archbishop, | ‘Tho sermon of the day, preached by Father Doucet, | of the Jesuit Fatters, was taken from Corinthians L., | chapter xv.—‘Behold 1 tell you a mystery; we shat | alLanseagain, For this corruptibie must put on in- | corruption and this mortal must put on immortal- i Last week, my brethren, we were led to pou- | der over the suderiog and death of our Holy ; Saviour, Then He was Indeed the man of sorrow. We heard tt in His cry, “My soul is sad and sad even ' uuto death.” We followed Him betore the tribunals, + Watched His suffermgs at the hands of a brutal sol- { diery, saw Him condemned py those who declared | His Innocence as they did so. We saw Him at | length expire upon the crose, Now ail is changed. | He who was weak is now strong. He who was ex- Ppiring on the cross is now | THE ACKNOWLEDGED CONQUEROR { of death itself, Now can we say with the Churcn, | “The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered; the Lord has exorcised tle strength of Esau.” We re- | peat with the Apesile that the whule world is groan- ing—1s seeking for so! ‘hing. Not only the mate- rial creation, but we tatare the first traits of the spirlt groan and expect the resurrection of the body. Christ, In His resurrection, was the Orst vorn | of the new Gospel. He arose, and we shail also, But there is a prov.soin this, namei. rise with Jesus we must suffer with Stim. therefore, the lesson we must derive from the tery ot to-day. If we suffer WE AMAL GLORIFIED. This hope, so full of immortality, 13 not something resting on speculation or imagination. It ts certain and perfectiy defined. There 18 no scope lett to our de= sires; It answers our most exalted aspirations. In sci- ence there 18 a certain miass of relative probabllity nothing more. In the fleld of imagination people may see visions which have no reality, buc in the field of faith all ts based on the SOLID GROUND OF CERTITUDE. As the Apostle says, “1 know Him I believe in.” ‘The dogiaa « of our faith whicn says, ‘1 believe in the resurrection of the body’’ is based on the rising of our Lord. Tet us examine this. When Jesus w seen expiring on the cross, and afterward seen 1 ing among Men, there is Do disputing it as a fact. It has been examined int in every age, and re- eearch has but confirmed it. The eneintes of the Chureh are compelled to acknowledge that it 18 m- Ponaibie to directly destroy the evidence of the Iact. | ‘hey Bay to one another, “The proofs of the Gosyel narra ive you cannot demolish. We must harmonize | our method With it, Wich is not to combat it, Lut TO DENY 11S POSSIBILITY | at all.” This is their oniy shilting policy. The aposties were not, as they say, credulous mcn; they were “slow of heart,” were afraid, aud concealed themselves. But after a few days what occurs? | Jesus of Nazareth was preached in the place where He was crucified. St. Peter, whedenie.t Him thrice, procialms Qbrist has risen, and they will preach it | nol only tp Jerusalem but in Rome aud ali over tire civilized Werld. tow explain this, unless we Know | that they felt the power of the living, risen Cbrist, | following them and cheering them on? Before the resurrection Christ's body was material, as ours are; after it 1 was clothed with the properties which | Seem to belong to spirits, There He 1s more than | ever our ideal, for it is the spirit, not matter, which | awakens the finest | FIBRES OF THR HUMAN HEART. The effort in ail things of a reining nature 15 to re- move the materia! in art, a picture is beautiful | because it spiritualizes. Music is the most divine of | human arts, because with most power it enters ito | the world of time and impresses the ae A spir- itualized body, tuen, 18 what the Christian should seek to attain. All are alike in loving the pursuit of | happiness, The worldiing places it all between | bi hand death. He says, “Let us crown ourssives with roses WHILE THE ROSRS LAST.” All the vices of sensuality, luxury, cruelty and oppression follow from this adoration of the body. There tssufering, labor and energy impiled in the practice of virtue. What is the mystery of social life, which sinks and lowers in luxury, which rises ; in labor and abnegation? What is the mystery of the human heart which can only gain happiness in tne fundamental virtue of self-denial? Let our bodies reflect ouly whatever is pure, holy and vir- tuons, tnat we may imitate the life of Christ, and so like Him after death achieve tne glory of a resur- rection to immortality. CHURCH OF THE MESSIAH. Mankind Superior te the Bonds ef Death Proved by the Resurrection—Sermon by the Rev. Mr. Hepworth. The usual large crowd of worshippers assembled at this handsome temple yésterday to honor the fes- tival of Easter and listen at the same time to the inspiriag voice of their beloved pastor, the Rev. Mr. G. H. Hepworth. At the appropriate portion of the service Mr. Hepworth proceeded to deliver the ser- mon. He took his text from John xx., 1—“'The stone taken away from the sepulchre.”” He sald for the first tume in the history of man the door of the tomb was opened that the clear daylight of faith might stream im and diestpate the gloom that has always hung ‘ave. Death itself was robbed of its terrors and crowned with glory. The sorrow of a separa- tion whiclt many had taught was eternal, and which the whole world feared and dreaded, was changed into a belief in the immortal life, and a new page in the religious history of man was turned. That stone was the largest stone that bas ever been rolled away from the gloomy resting place of MEN’S DOUBTS AND WOMEN’S BROKEN HEARTS, and none but an angel's mignt could have accom- plished it. From that hour our hope of another life has become a certainty; and we never say goodby without feeling that at some time and somewhere we shail meet again. I cannot measure the importance of the doctrine of the resurrection in the experience “~ race, lt is tue capstone to we arch of our re- Spine cet at f° Stes Eston, = be tries to draw men the world and concentrate them to a wn ot selfatenisi and Tie ngs 1s but so much iis pd air, Give me the immortality, and ise, and i can convert the world. {can warn @ bad, 1 can cheer lean nge me every sorrow into @ divine joy, and I can PILL BVRRY TRAR WITH i God that I cannot see hii afk, I cannot preach, for I ha' ae ant, and no word of ¢ nt, stone that from the sepuichre is » more at i morality and of private viriae, surprised, then, w! revelation, @ supernatural act on the Almighty, could have so fixed it in ae tia of mankind that it would become the im- alt future _ of th showed the it 4 viRevel on the rom hand, which ts the mouth ss God speaking to a wondering and a listen- Se ae the dogma as ‘and then wo a vb 0 and able to endure feparaion and after the lips of inspiration ve 1 artist ‘whose ready an the text of @ book and aca 1% mean op ge a shows us how everything shows an ai e secu dies connected with cogency of the reasons it gives, but | under the direciion of the organist, Mr LENT — 2H Pye { ana out of the curt the pertpmea flower springs, . What a glorious resurzeotion? Lhe yorr dies ane is covered meen the aes 8 shroud of winter; but it <i ly roofs of any’ Fender the ng Christian Poe vO deat ry ts tay mictory ‘victory ?”? time the streets of higher ‘and higher, assuming characters, until enue heaven, the riandtedee pet TA igary men. He assumes all the ives. strength, ‘Way whica men at. ust believe, the Lile which they must have. Then 1 see Him changed Into, K-) Reformer, all ueaeen and toms, of syn of ty, measnri men aod their religion by standard of el truth. He denounces the and cheers the publican, and talks of a new kingdom—the kingdom er Goa watch He la bitagelf, 40 bu ea see Hil ‘THB WORLD'S {FRIEND aun PHYBIOIAN, using @ supernatural power to heal thi even to raise the oad eo to life. No wonder the be- wildered Hebrews found it hard to pongnat for auch things and fell down and worshipped the Lord. Again, Tsee Him i SINE the paul 3 forgive int- of If aiviatty, “aud chan, had ut inst the ople the | pen! tont Afepdnten” into the venedietion of ‘pat: t enough, see Him, coming fo ret in tomb nol 4 16 that cou! uid not pole hae ‘and standing in o. view of he hs rid, clothed fi tment oF im oni oa acon it, OUR SINS UPON HIS SHOULDERS and to lead all coming generations to the Father. I am not surprised that the Christian Ohw tounded at the immensity of such power, him God, and falls down in worship before im. ror since He 1s to us the Author and Finisher of our faith, the Friend who has died that we might live, the Saviour who has tanght us of heavenly things, is he not to our greatful hearts all that we have ever dreamed it possible for God himself to be? The doctrine of the resurrection 1s worth more than everything else tous, As the aurora throws up from its northern hiding piace a shimmering light to the very zenith, so this immortality irradi- ates our lives, and, a3 We are sure. in the one case that far below the horizon Une a day 1s concealed, 80 inthe other we are sure that faraway beyond | the shadows and the gloom there is a life inconceiv- ably beautiful and grand, and that they who disay pear from our view are still continuing their Journey. ST. PRIDE s ROMAN CATHOLIC COURiH, Solema Easter “Burvice=Decerated Altars— Spendid Musice=Sermon by the Rev. Father Gallagher, of San Francisco. At, St. Peter's Roman Catholle church, yesterday morning, solemn high mass was celebrated with imposing solemnity. The three aitars were hand- | somely decorated with fowers, Lights, in well ranged groups, ascended from the principal altar tabie to tue height of the figure of the crucifixion above, The Virgin’s aliar and that of St. Joseph were also surrounded with lights. Asis usaal fn this chureh the congregation was very large, every pew being tilled and numbers of persona unable to get seats, The well established reputation of : ‘THR CHOIR, William Pecher, always brings many etrangers here, and those who came yesterday were afforded a rich treat in church music. The mass selected was Haydn’s grand imperial (No. 3)in D minor, The Keyrie and the opening soprano solo of the Gloria were given exquisitely by Mrs, Easton. The Qut Tovis, & basso solo, was sung by Mr. Staud. The opening canon of the credo had @ thrilling effect and the #t carnatus, soprano solo, was never sung better by Mrs. Easton. This lady, who was in ex- celicnt vorce y lay, gave a superb rendering to MR. PECHER’S OFFERTORY PIRCE, an © Saluiaris, composed expressly for Easter Sun- day, and whieh begins with a recilativ and continues iu a melody full of religious feeling. The Vent Creator was sung vy Mr. Hemmer after the first gospel. The preacher—the Rev. Father Gallagher, of San Francisco—was introduced in agew words vy the Rey. Father Quinn, the pastor, and he then proceeded to deliver a discourse on the gospel of the day, St. Mark x¢L, 1-7. ‘fhe dark pall, as it were, of death has hung over the Church for the last few days, The Church has been commemorating the dolorous passion and igno- minious death ef her divine spouse. She beheld His body deposited in the tomb and kissed with affec- tion tbe Instrument of His execution. He, whose life, the tratn of whose words had pronounced THE CONDEMNATION OF THE JEWS, was now ina sepulciire. Tae chief priests, scribes and Pharisees were satisfied. Jerusalem pleads fae and rests in @ forced tranquillity. The ivine power, inherent in the body and soul of Jesus, were separated by death. Yet the Divine power reanimates the seul and body. The mangied flesh, where the nalis had torn it and the spear Posy it, is restored; the dislocated members of the ody are united, the entire human frame 1s revivi- fled and Jesus passes from the sealed monument. When He died an earthquake shook the earth, the Heavens trembled. Now the same occurs, but this time it HEAVEN AND FARTH REJOICING, ‘The gates of heaven are thrown open, angels come down upon earth, the eclipsed sun shines forth in renewed splendor. The triumph of the ressurrection 18 assured. Behold the augels, in garments whiter than snow, sitting by the They have come here to lend their testi- mony to the resurrection. Whata difference there is between the epitaph of Jesus and that of any great proud man of the world! The plous woman ‘who came first to the tomb where Jesus had laid proctatenes d that He waa risen and was not there. ‘ne epitaph of the i man prociaints that here He his remains. the very embrace of death Christ shows his immortality. When Jesus was crucified the Jews fed in fear, but when they vg that He was risen they rushed with impetnosity to see THR TRUVIE OF THE TRIUMPH. Uhrist’s words of were remembered; the Jews hasven and ‘realize, With resumed fortitude they spread the news of the resurrection. They appear before the tribunalsand now accuse those had uted Him. It is believed ev th that Jesus is risen, and from Jerusalem every part of the world tne tidings are carried. But, as ig the case In regard to every important event, there were some tocentradtot the ruth. There were Jews who sought to resist the indisputable veracity of the witnesses. These unbelievers endexvored to BRIBE THE GUARDS who had been watching the tomb, and asked them toswear that, witlle they were sleeping, the stone had been rolled away and Christ’s body taken out. Christ had performed many miracles before His death. He had healed the sick, given speech to the dumb and sight to the blind, even tothose who were born blind, and he had ratsed the dead to life. But Elias and Moses aud the prophets had performed miracies. Here, in the tomb where Jesus dead was placed was performed the greatest of miracles; for Jesus raised Himself from the dead. They had asked @ sign of Him in prof that He was the Son of God, He told them about Jonas, as the prophet haa written, and by this answer conveyed to them tat His should remain three days in the grave, Did not Jesus announce to His disciples before going to Jerusalem that He Would be scout! and put to ana that on the third day alter he died he arise? It is im vain to attempt to refute the voeutvection or divinity of Jesus; for on it depends the ai of divine truth, which ts the (rath of His holy Church. Lest it might ever be impugned or ai ed, va] eposties made it an article of fattn myste! We rest our holy religion this foundation. Tow is the triumph Christian faitn, The Church is not the as on of resurrection ‘we shall all arise toimmortality, It would be idle to prove the resdrrection a4 an abstract trath, it is incumbent mand us to theo logina for He came on earth to be our model, to encow us by the example of Hs life. His life ‘wud ‘deat know. 1s power extends BEYOND THE GRAVR, +e here resta that ee which *suonld guide us. it not rational > ie body of Jesus should rise from nae it ee i trout gheiogs, In the holiness of ey And logy, we should reflect jat as Our iiven 8 are how so shall the condition pt = bodies be hereafter. Our merit or demerit shal! rinine our future state of soul and body. therefore, of infinite imporcance to take care lest the evil of our lives leads us to Bree. Suppose tnat there was to be no be tL would life be? We are here but for a ume, itwe lead virtaous lives uring that short fiunaved fold trials i) is gained wi at Ly) dod liveth to eaen ad aire ee ten season that has cloved | og; purified from their sins by penance. ‘our tr vstould be buried in the tomb that the eae on of your soul might be effected, The THE RESURRECTED SAVIOUR shows how by ype Must be the immortal soul nee rr sare ty. akan the mabe Jesus ap- in the death ezony on the cross’ Pinenturn (9 Hin turn to Him risen from the wl u ve, infinite in His power, divine io His nature, bat still evn immo souls t6 save whom He died. ve Wept over step of His passion. Ltt with confiding BEQIW TO RBJOIOR. He ts not mangied now; not lacerated with the scourge nor with the thorus: uot sweating bivod Ww ; fAUYON., 1871. Sin would seem us eee G ‘trust in that mercy hana at aba, With 18 let us ackoow our © resolve! upon ft liveth, with the Jo of the angels Heaven who ever aing hosan rome around His thi CHRIST CHURCH. ~~ Easter Servicea—(irand Music—The Cheir and the Congregation—Sermon by the Rev. Dr. Bwer. Long before the services began the charch was filled to overfowing. Kvery scat in every pew was occiipted, and the disappointeu owners who arrived late were compelled to turn away disgusted and tind accommodation elsewhere, Chairs were placed tn the alsies until every inch.of room was occupied, and yet numbers were left standing. The tuterior of the church presented @ very appearance. The floral decorations intenied'to commemorate the glories and the joy of the Easter period were con- fined entirety to the chaneél and the altar. ‘The walls of the tho semicircle were ornamented with wreaths of white immortetles and crosses of natural Mowers, Festoons of fowers were suspended from the gaslights, aud were arranged with rare grace and skill. On éach side of the altar Was a cross of white rose@ which ‘made @ beautiful ‘contrast with ‘the sombre-colored ‘background. A few gas jets ‘1h the chancel only were lighted, The rest of the interior was wrapped in a deep twilight, illumined occa- sionally by a chance sunbeam whieh ‘stole through the dome above and added fresh lustre to the Uae colors worn by the congregation, The entire a te one of great beauty and ove well caicu- impress the beholder with a deep religious TRE MUSIC inctdental to the services, which were of the highest ind character that the ritual of the kpiscopal Churcu ) would allow, was rendered by a chorus of boys.1n the chancel, consistiog of thirty . ol and adouble gnats in che cuoir, consisting of irs. Fox and iss Sommerville, sopram; Miss Barron ane Ara, Halstman, contraltl; Messrs. Candidus and Larabi, Aatiey aud signor Gariboldl and Herr rr Wetniten, ‘The services commenced iwith» the processional hyma, 107, chanted by tie boy shoe as they entered the cli » Which was followed by¥ ee hymn, the airornated ¥ verses of which were sang.by the boys in the chancel and the double quartet in the chair. Alter the morning prayer, tn piace of the Venice, the antuem, “Christ, Our Passover,” was sung by both choirs together. iin followed the psalms of — a , after which the Gloria Patrie, late Miss Gellie, for Calvat, chureh, was sung by Ube cuolr, the res; s beiug given by the boy choir in tne chancel. ‘the lessons were then recited, and at the conciu- sion the beautiful 4e Meum of Dr. Cutler was ven- | dered by the boys aud the choir togettier, The most effective part of tie musical eit j however, was the anthem, from the ‘Messian,’’ * Know tuat My Redeemer Liveth,” rendered by Mrs, Lox, with the chorus by the boys, As the jast netes of her melodious voice died away Dr. Ewer arose aud proceeded to preach, His duscoure Was upon the “Feast o1 the kesurrec- uon,” taking his text from the Gospel of St, Luxe, ‘Yhe speaker dweit for some time upon the ser- | vices of the past week, which had been long and trying, and which had culminated with the great grief of Good Friday, Tue sorrow and grief oi toe first Easter evening had become oursorrow. We hua passed oa oy the solemn period of Lent, with its forty days of PENANCE AND HUMILIATION, but Easter morning breaks, and we are asked, wh; are ye sud? For forty days we have been brooding over our sins, but now we throw Aside this grief an become joyous and join i tue festivity ana gayety with as much zeal as we did im our past grief. Easter comes at last and brings joy to all— to those who mourn over mew made graves; to those who sorrow fur the absent or deparied, ana to those who on the morrow Will carry to the tombs of their loved ones the fowers that have to- day decorated the sanctuat a have been conse- crated with the presence blessed Eucharist. ‘This sunshiny Easter mori ~ continued the speaker, comes 1A Fe ah oan roll may we sak, No man ‘ever met death without shrinking, for even the beat prepared are loath to go; but our loved ofes die, and when we lay tem 1u the tomb we feel that they are gone indeed. So it wes with Christ, On Good Friday He was utterly gune, and the grief of his ‘asciples was aroma conception, Bat Kaster Sunday tells them’of the glorious resur- rection and thelr grief 1s changed to joy, It ts often asked it the soul through two such great changes os death and resurrection must not lose iia tdentity? But Easter veils us differently, for the resurrection of Ciirtst was # restoration. There is something in ony nature that makes us fear death, the uncertainty of meeting again, put the resurrec- tion should set aside these fears and comfort us; for if He was torn and lived iike us why should we not die and ive agaia like Him? if by death Christ caused us to sorcow, by each return of Baster Ged ay us a deeper joy—a joy that makes us look up au BE RESIGNED TO HIS MERCIBS and our own imperfections. That sorrow and tha’ joy within is the ne Spe of the ne ccarh and resurrection; for it 1s Ife im death. ‘These are the lessous of Easter, aud we should meditate deeply upon the certainty aud uncertainty of the great hereafter, and ask, as He did, on the first Easter day, Why are e sadt i When the reverend pastor had finished his dis- course and during the oftertory the-grand Gloria in Excelsis, from Mozart's Twelitn Mass, was sung. It was begun by the choir, and as the musie became se and grander it was taken up by the chorus of A flood of melody Jilled the church aud 30 mea we hearers that any of the congregation au ed thelr voices to the grand harmony and pro- duced a volume of music such as is seldow heard. ST. FRANC! Berge’s Grand “Paschal” Muse=Brilliant Musi- cal Servires—A Deuscly Crowded Congre- eation—Sermon by Rev. Father Ronan. ‘The announcement: of Willtam Berge's celebrated “Paschal Mass,” with full chorus and orchestra, drew such @ coogregation—all religions denomina- tions being representea—to the littic church of the Jesuits as has seldom been seen there. The mass was performed by the following soloists:—Miss Teresa Werneke, soprano; Miss Mary Werneke, contralto; Signor Tamaro, tenor, and Signor Bacelit, basso, There was also a large, well trained XAVIER'S GHURCH, chorus, «a brass quartet, tympani, cym- bails and bells, under tne direction of Mr. Eben and the composer, not only at tle organ, but acting as conductor of all. Of tne entire mass we think the Kyrie is the most remarkable and effective number. The bells produce a singular im- pression in the accompaniment. We have spoken of this artistic and ingeniously constructed work frequently, but it was never given with such spirit, unanimity ef expression and perfection of ensemble before as on the great festival yesterday. It is dra matic in every sense of the word, giving @ vivid musical photograph of each ot the sublime passages of the sacred text. The music, also, strongly leans towards the Italian school, becoming in some in- stances operatic in flowing melody and florid treatment. The solos are aluo very long and ae borate and excessively trying on hae The soprano part is as fatiguing a prima donna’s role im an opera, and Uiss Teresa Werneke succeeded in it to an ex. tent such as few church singers could hope ots The duets for soprano and alto, which are fusely scattered through the work, were rende! oy ee sisters in @ fauitless manner. Two or three in the Credo were Mendelssohnian in aracter and served as an admirable foil to the giana brilliancy of the omer parts. mass is in- deed the work of a great and conscientious must- cian and should be heard in the concert hall, reg by some ol our vocal societies. The organ acco paninvent of the composer was one of the omer features of the work. At the ofertory.an “Alle. Rrae Whe oreh and _ar- ‘The arrange- ment was fie, ihe night belore, and evinced ability of a very higt order, ‘Pamaro’ was in splen- did voice, and ellt sang well, notwithstand!| hed Pe a and writ Ber In the creuing pan y wore in Which Berge's u be! Sis intro Te would ve dimenle tomatch the Easter se soryiey: given by the choir and vim St. Francis Xavier's. costly decoration of the church was S Le The tabernacle and ‘irgin were iiumsined taper with the olemniiy” porveded every solemn! was ulcbrated by Rev. Pat Father Caseau acting as deacon and sub-deacon. e sermon was preached y the Rev. Mauritias Ronan, 8. ‘who took for his theme the Gospel of the day. cording to the Apostie Paul, said bg Mog resurrec- tion has given © sacred character to Gospel and aivinity to the mission of Obrist. 4 ee & mystery ‘which entered into the teactings 0! hets, So predicted by orr Saviour mean it was LAST AND CROWNING MIRAOLR The mast, ¢ tea, wn poe be cae nto queaton. iene two or, at most, st fureo witnesses 18 deemed saficient to establish the erat, on ro0 sound supposition that the “he ys to be trusted. Now, the Meg man are @ from @ merely human point « of view of the resurrection is THE SHADOW OF A DOUBT, because I i contend, wpe Hm statements of a few, bat oy hi of wit Whea some Pip fan, event takes. justly pelleve lie it Christ was not seen once only ator ho had risen, but contuued for forty dava, to av- GIAHHH AMO WAY =TRIPLE SHEET. He thrison. ‘The world acknowica en | y now Nie. ‘Pee as for pardon, Blond ‘ora on'earth, that we know our Saviour | fozart by the | , Bnd this mor- ib honor. aad come i eh, be found who eaabaede to corrup! % pa eres ik in newness of Ife, Sate tiamer aan | 8 best TRINITY CHURCT. The Festival ia the Grand Gld Heme of the Eplecopatinus—fine Decorations and Music— Srrmon by Rev. Dr. Vinton. The celebration: of Christ/s resurrection was con- ‘dacted in old Trintty with great solemnity and pomp, the generosity of members of the congrega- tion supplying .an abundance ef the rarest and most beautiful flowers to decorate the altar. The appearance of the. church was im- pressive in the extreme, ag the mellow goldén light from the stained yellow windows streamed in from the east, sofiening and relieving the sombre lines of the edifice. Oa either side of the steps leading up to the chancel was placed a small conservatory of the richest and most beautt- ful flowers; white, red and pink rose trees lent fra- | granoe and color; SPOTLESS LILIES, the emblems of purity, and pink lilies, Iike maid- en's blashes, had been borné by genife hands and pure hearts as, offerings of love and hope. An im- mense Lougqnet fliled the baptismal font; from the ‘beak of the bronze eagle, which serves as a book stana, there hung a half_ moon, wiih o small red cross in the centre, all wrought in red, white and pink roses, Owing to the dark- ness of the chancel a number of wax tapers were lighted, and:two candelabra placed ou either stde of the altar. In tne centre of the Altar, and & fonds, stood a beautiful cross, about three feet nien, formed of .white roses, and having a crown marked in red roses’ fa the middie of the arms of the cross, On-either side of the foot of the cross was placed a magnificent bouquet of red, white and pink roses. Above the cross, at some distance, was. placed an. immenso white im s:ortelle, with green centre, w} which appeared a triangle ol Ted ‘roses, aud within tue triangle a small crosé of white rose3, THE PROCKSSION formed in the vestry, and @ very pretty effect was produced by the acolytes chaunting the processional hymn. While yeuthey were inthe vestry the sounds came to the congregation as though the procession were afar of; te door swung open and the pro- cession moved into tne cliancel, still rans | oe hymn, ‘Jesus Christ 18 risen to-day.” As chey iil into thelr places in the chancel and the pi det celebrants took their places before the altar, the choir took up the hymn and. flooded the church with harmonious rejoicing that Christ had risen. On. the conclusion of the hymna the Re Denniston intoned the psalm, “Open e the gates of righteousness, that { oO into them an«l give thanks. unto the Lord,” the band and choir burst out with the introit. ‘Amid Strains of music and perfume of flowers, na- ture’s sweetest incense, the prayers of the failntni ascended to the throne of the Eternal, and those who haa placed perishable lilies and roses on God's altar came to offer the more precious Mowers of the heart at the throne of the Redeemer. After the .introit the large instramental band Played with, great spirit and effect Haydn’s First ass, a Joyous harmony weil in Kept ‘with this day of rejoict After the Nicene Creed been sung the Rev. Dr, Vinton_mounted the pulpit, and, taxiog his text from the delivered the ser- mon on the mystery commemorated in the festival. “Knowing that Carist, being raised from the dead, dieth no mere; death hath no more dominion over Hum, For ia that fe died, He died unto sin ain but in that he liveth, He liveth unto God. Ltkew: reckon ye also yourseives to be dead Indeed mato sin, but allve unto God, Rorodah eee Christ our Lord.” (Romans Vi, 9-11), In the fi verse the preacher, Doctor Viton, made the tollow!ng analy- fAig:—St. Paul affirms that we Know Christ was raised from the dead, and consequently that he dieth no more, because DEATH HaS NO MORE DOMINION over Him; that ts to say, He had no sin like otners, who after they were raised from the dead of neces- sity died again. Christ voluatarily gave himsel{ to death, so fis resurrection wasto life and immor- taity. In the second verse St. Paul avers the cau- sality of Christ’s death, and subsequently the tmaor- tality, for He died unto sin once; that is te say, our sin Was the cause of His death, and He died but once, because He died for ‘THE SINS OF MANKIND, and once was enougu. And as He died for ua once for ail, so He liveth unto God, because God is the cause of His life. In the third verse St. Pani pub- lished our accountablitty growing out of wind dying and rising for ns. ‘Likewise reckon ye, algo. yourselves to be dead unto gin, but alive unto ‘Goa; and he subjoins the grand ability we have here to die and rise again, because we are “in Christ Jesus oar Lord,” That is to say, He 1s corporated. with usand we with Him, so that His rising assures our resurrection and charges us with accountability to die to sin and to riage to NEWNESS OF LIFR. ‘The preacher went on to ask, how did we know that Uhrist had msen from the dead? He said tuat four were necessary :— First, the fact must be cognisable by the senses and, and witnesses of a re- Table Fad inust be i token Fe canes mae: secondly, the fact. must be cred: monuments mast have been erected to them, art nf time of their occurrence, and, fourthly, it must be maintained by monuments continued without inter- milssiou. All these conditions were fulfilied in the resurrection of Christ. It has always heen acknow- at all times and by every generation, The doubts of St. Thomas Ps it beyond question that the Christ who had rise THE SAME OURIST that had died. The sanctification of the seventh by the Christian aposties Lord's day was @ monument to the resurrection erected at the time - Cert eee intermission. custom Se eaaee Christians to salute each other on pec hg eae iota announcement that wa 8a proof, ‘The reverend tinued to Urey the Foon dey lo ae coe one textin order of the topics of ter the sermon the Sanctus and Agnus Det, fro ps first. mass, were performed by the band, excellent offect. ‘The Agnus Det was sung by wae b oy choriaters, and their sweet voices, Dlenuing wear the crown THE SUBDUED THROBBING of the instrumental music, produced an exquisite harmony, whose Influence ‘stule over the heart and would net be denied; for the moment the genius of took pos of the Taind and involuntarily cried out, “On, Lamb of re that takeat away the sins of the world; grant At this poiut of the ceremony the a havantoeds to the communion table par- took of the BREAD AND WINE. ‘When these retired the congregation advanced, and during three-quarters of an hour the people con- tnued to approach the altar rails in succession. Almost every one in the charch com- municated, and the scene was solemn and impressive. The Rev, Drs. “Vinton and Ogilvy administered the communion. There was an air of recueriement about the communicants which was perhaps the most luapressiye part of the ceremony, Bnd us they returned from the altar ratis with @ col- the important duty they had performed. DUiig y they had » Du the communion the organ breathed forvh which seemed to Aout upon he a ing with = upon alr, carr; the ‘spirit of and ove. "At, the conclusion the communion the full choir ana band ors, forth in swelling tones mto the had in EBroetsis, carrying us away from our peavefal thoughts and sweeping us iuto the joyful throng ‘that ate himmmiag in tramp Christ is risen. Gloria in Ex ST. ALBAN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. “Whe Shall Roll Us Away the Stone from the Sepulchre f—-Digcenrse by the Rev. Father Noyes Brilliant Display. This fashionable temple of the ritualists was densely crowded yesterday morning a+ the last ser- vice. Leng vefore the usual hour cartiages were Griving up to the doors, depositing their occupants ana going away to make room for others. The in- tertor of the church presented a scene of wonderful beauty and variety. ‘The picture of the entire body of the edifice, as It first burst upon the sight, was one weil calculated to penetrate to the heart gud lift the thoughts of the beholder up to THE GLaRTOvs CAUSE of 80 much anxious and elaborate display. The altar was profusely decorated with camelias and immortelles, exquisitely disposed, not concentrating the point of sight on any particular object, but making an elegant part of a most harmonious entirety, Throughout the arrangements the same ier atudy id evident io A arr sigutedy A of 9 CI i a ng, Was iormottom, oF ‘ ir bon paschal a ane af ot fue juary that window the Wht striking had lorious fore- TLUHTRD UP TH vance rex Of the pictures, and made GLORIOUS BORST OF SUNLIGHT broke thri gt the stained windows over she altar, Drighte jeok these ‘tien rous coloring of tbe fourveen Pp. ‘aagong ofine tne stations of tne Cross, which the walia, ‘stood out prominently, mak! ous of the ‘mi0st LiNpressive religious ardor Could desire. Aiter — ag yee oyh ing a Noyes went tnto the uipkt, and takin: ext from the 1 of tay. page Mari, xk. & satd— Who sh, tiene ity" beg by 4 AWAY THE STONE trom the door of the sepuichre?” ‘These, brethren, were the words of the the morning of His resurrection. The whole world slept, (he cruel soldiers and the mocking Hebrows Were no longer there to insult and torture Christ, ‘vhe Pharisve tious worsiip.. wi noises and sonfuaston, on yet Uaseicred und sepulcure whee rests His body. ‘Ine ardor of the holy women prompts them to a watchfulneas un- thought of by others, Active sin is everywuere at rest. ‘Thon come THE ANQBLS HARALDIN upon the day of the worla na te glorious ah) hood resurrection. Ofr olessed- Lord, beauty of Hts divinity, auote ae nimaell to a womans she It was who'was made the apvatie of the resur> rection. To her from whom He had cast out seven: deviis did He first reveal Himself. sinned eon the tust of the eyes is now with tears of love and adoration, She was the deat ret to receive the glad tidings of THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, showing to the world that where sin abounded there may be also great repentance, and to those who had sinned mucn mach also was forgiven. JcAus nas said, “They who seek Me early 0 The preacher then drew @ beautiful illust from the graveyards of the dead, of the death in tt aud the tinal resurrection, and continned: ‘The souls of beloved dead, where ‘are they? Where a the wide UNIVERSE OF GOD'S DOMINION are they? Do they sit on the shore of the river of use, or have they wandered towards the abyss we shudder to think of? Christ has said, ‘1 resurrection and the life; whosoever shall ae op though he weve dead, shall live again.’ and holy work to pray for the dead as the! — pray for us. Even as by man came death, 60 also by man shall come the resurrection, Our Lord to-day prays to ‘ou from that sepulchre on Gethsemane, hard by Calvary, to come early tollm. Even though your sins be great, rise and come to Jesus. Roll away the stone from your own sepulchre and theu you wiil arise on the lags day at the resurreciton of the just, The music throughout the service was of the usual Clasate style and in periect keeping with the ritual of the Church. had roe et gone up to his p} e oF day, a9, teh 18. EASTER AFLOAT. The oMicers, seamen and marines answered tha Doatswain’s summon to attend muster for divine service on the quarter-deck of the United States slvop-of-war Ticonderoga, Brooklyn Navy Yard, at half-past ten o'clock yesterday morning. Services were conducted by wn dine James Kane (Baptist), of the United Stutes receiving ship Vermont, who de- livored a very fine lesson on Christian duty and the festival of Kaster, His remarks were lstened to attentively by ‘all hands,” whe hope when ‘“sum- moned aloit” at the final “muster’’ Lo be able to give ® good account of their stewardship by “steering fend of the shoals and quicxsands’’ which beset tas tompestuons voyage of this life. BROOKLYN CHURCHES. The Herald as a Prophet—Love as a1 E!ement of Bolief~A Pretty yet Awfal Pio‘ure Painted by Plymouth’s Pastor—The Day Among the Sailors, PLYMOUTH CHURCH. . Love the Highest | Kiomeat Betief—Seonea Followiug the Hexurrection—Sermea by Henry Ward Beechvr. Easter Sunday was marked at Plymouth gharokh by a Jarge congregation, a 7¢ Deum by the cnotr, a wonderful prayer and a tender sermon by the pastor, who, as he sat among the Easter lilies, looked as if he had attained already the serenity aud peace that they only know who have followed Christ through the gra¢® to the resurrection. Mr. Beeoher narrated the closing scenes of Chriat’a iife, showing that the etory, as we have it, beara evidence, in its grand simplicity and naturalness, of its trath and inspiration, The text was John xx., 29—“Jesas saith unto Thomas, Because thou hast seen me thou hast believed; bicssed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” The whole scene which fol- lows the resurrection ts not only one of transcen- dant beauty, of great dramatic power, but one which the more we study it the more admirable it seems, In what one of the GREEK DRAMAS, what one of Shakspeare’s, are there such elements, sucha whirl of all human passions and events as those that shook tumultuous Jerusalem—such @ scene on such a background as the cruciflxiont When before was there a conception of the pater- nity of God—of God at lax dawning through the darkness of the world—God as friend, a brother, a savior, a guide? In reading this aramatic to story one 1s struck at the way in which it is re! oy LITTLE TOUCHES OF LIGHT, If the writers had been instructed in pnw they coula not have ROS aenraly be brought in these wouches of relief. Was crucified pee bal tells were a iy? ocd pa oe Gare been ulstory an 0 t this story is sul ime My its simplicity. And then conversation. bet! perth fall of rellet and beaut; farewell that he Dreathes to A BEAUTIFUL nowne BLOSSOMING at the foot of the cross. Around this scene ate women; the men, with a single exception, stu away, but the women watched with tender eyes 4 love.’ 1 suppose the Ouer our natures the more exquisite the rules of criticism, the more wul this history stand out as inspired. It isa eau hat ¢: fy Bi pe ibaa a ie tender has Mother transition that angels are introduced at the grave; weg oe at the head and the foot, as a wore thé where cau you angel of hope and of memory; an auch & PICTURE OF ANGELS ° sketched in atone stroke? We shall vot tina here one misadjustment, The most stupendous work to be done, and all perfectly done, As I read this tis- ey itseems to me that the crucifixion 1s like one Be Wala anc deen igo when ew a 5 i ce not s cloud in the alr, steeped in san- en I read the tumult of to the peaceful, serene, the crucifixion, and “0, on sweet scenes ay ce obs does and all the signs of His. presence arc gladness and eace, The scene of the ascemsion 1s m: 1n its grandeur and simplici Among the discipies there was an intense pewil jent; yet there was nothing bar ae nothing - what we mien on nature, nH in the scene ‘between John aman nature, Peter, whe started for the aepuicute and Joon batran eter. fe nere is anotlier scene where there fated the rs fat iis 4 Pere Fars ping ako ths og vee) mains tape tu the ata ee THE OLD TIM® LOVE into. nis ve Jesus, who was there, said, “Mi An, that voice! She knew I waa ce ts ‘There ie fo anotnes eee bere he ese them for ‘her ual iene pieen an ee apr a ary.” 1? ee nae yoa Assored my preven Task you if, tn reads fay itis History, ye can concalye ot anything more trfuscen dant, aytat more ear Where before was there a m; foal history 80 Lo wy ap he Aca 4 ERE astary could aot y a ni is What must the fet ‘theme! es have been these ie wins ite deen tenet isto best lor ond, out in the end the confirm this bis ., of @ au) tata event Buk RIGRD ARK who do not neat historic evidenee find belteve from rowan . reach tha higaes ean es wien tho ag won o Ming a f aoeyanos, ‘heist comes to ua and pal ‘Peace ™