ONE EASTER DAY IN ENGLAND

White Ribbon, Volume 20, Issue 2, 1 March 1948, Page 5

ONE EASTER DAY IN ENGLAND

\ irey mominf it v\a> Ml around mountain- were veiled. Derw< • r. that loveliest of lata uued tily through the fine drizzle, and rolled slowly among the i Mid opening! all round . The road ami a bttle muddy, •' - bit riously even the dimness that w< thing else The two miles, somei • the field path, and again on n a.!, seemed i mere nothing ; and . . neared the beautiful church, thwaite," the bell was still callt| , yrshipperi f*Om far and near it \m re removed, umbrellas and with a last look at the damp, colourless scene, we entered the Church.

It would be impossible ever to forget entrance. Suddenly we came into hi and beauty, The oir rid in>tant! •. tten - >- ; ,i gaap of wonder, wi ana k> wick parishioners had • 1 their Faster Morning Service. .i daffodils, golden, strong, |y hi, „ • athered in HI the hillsides, from the were just a splendour of lunltght in every corner of the dim old building Every window, railing, altar vase, altar rail, pulpit . and choir seal was gitlined, filled, ; with the exquisite the What a message they a* 'k|)K the truth of the Rfsiir ; Our Lord" reached our is 1 When Canon Rawnskv, that d of \Y th. Huskm. Shelley, vaid "Christ the Lord i>

risen today," one single organ note pealed •forth, and the crowded souation rose and hurst into that great Easter hymn as with one \ It wa> as though the truth and im Of the event heme celehrao dawned for tl ■ worship] word, every " \ih hn.-r seemed to he heartfelt in an almost overwhelming manner. \nl •ill through the service the simple, beautiful English servi nsed to know, the same deep Jo> and thankfnln< rued to be manifest. The sermon was filled with the same Spirit, and the Canon spoan thus- "Th« daFFi.- |; ls have lifted their golden

ns ol beauty in every vale, the birds have returned, and Chf -rom the dead enmunion follou inning with the singing of the I scare' all Communion hymns, •■ \ii. : now, O I atlu r mindful c That bought us once for all. on Calv'ry's ti How '■p.::*:, bow reverent, and bow intimate it all seemed, The urPresencf was with us then. And it wa« over. We went out ol the church to find moil amazingly, that it was rainin... it was darker and sadder than ever. We lad Iden sunlight all around ui during the time of Easter worship, snd had completely forgotten that outside were rain, n and cloud. But in taee a light shone that could not be put out.