| Show lt it 16 IV N 1 77 5 v a 40 E C 11 U 1 42 1 01 ey a N 40 ikall W av 0 X AN 4 AN SOW or by ELMO SCOTT WATSON A MONO the thousands of easter V services that will be held through out tin the christian world on april IS 8 there are several la in the th united states which ellch ore orthy of special pedal Y mention because of their unique VY 1 character to california belongs ay the credit for originating this type n of easter nn outdoor wo service on easter morning attend v ed by thousands and since ince th the IX time the first ohe was hold held there th 0 idea has spread not only to other parts pais of 14 A california orala but luto into other states e on i the summit of mount ru rubidoux doux near riverside calif there stands lands a ross which has hai Z j az a double uble significance it was erected on the top of the e mountain in 1007 in honor of F fra ra Juni peri serra i the pious franciscan who first brt brought ht the cross to california and who founded 7 the missions there which have since become V world I famous but its greater creater significance li Is associated with the eastertide for at its foot on n easter r morning nt at sunrise a veritable host of e assemble each year to celebrate the au of christ the central fact in the Christian on jacob ob ails the famous writer Is said to have baa first conceived the idea of an easter sunrise service ee on mount rubidoux doux and atas it 1 said laid to have bavo sprung aiom a recollection of his childhood in cieli denmark when biben hla his people were accustomed to make a pilgrimage at yuletide to the summit of a vene venerated mountain nearby hearby edging Chilst christinas mas carols as they went during a visit to riverside rita Is said to have made the suggestion that la a similar service be held on mount rubidoux doux on easter morning mar ning mount dous Is held in particular veneration by the people oe of riverside it is a small mountain rising some 1837 feet above sea level sheltering riverside on the west and towering I 1 1000 feet above it ever since there has been a riverside the people of that city have made frequent trips to te the summit of i this great mass of granite with its huge boulders bowl ders scattered about on its rocky slopes and top because of the superb view from there the first easter baster service was held at the foot of the serra cross on mount rubidoux Rubt doux on easter morning 1009 A little group of bess ess than people had made their way up the slopes of the mountain from riverside in the darkness before dawn so that the service could be held just tit at sunrise the first service was a brief one simple but sincere and impre impressive salve but as rita alls had predicted the religious feeling brought about by an gaster sunrise service left an impression a which guaranteed its it continuance each year the interest and lat attendance at this service grew in 1017 1917 more than persons ascended the summit of dous at eastertide and the next year saw the same number of pilgrims there they hafl arme noi not only from riverside but abbt from other cities in california some some of them traveling near ly lyall all night in order to be there at sunrise among the thousands who assemble there each year are many notables one part of the ceremony Is the reading of henry van dykes poem god of the he open air by some celebrity in and again last year van an dyke himself attended the service and rend read his poem oil oils skinner the famous actor has also read it at oneff the celebrations and BI arcella craft a riverside girl who has become a famous opera f singer Is tt tta 1 soloist for the services ez whenever she Is in that part of the country although the mount rubidoux doux ewer easter morning service erv je was w ais as the first in california it I 1 Is s now one of the taij several that Is held each year in the iland land of 7 sunshine i ast year it Is estimated that worshipers had gathered by five easter morning in the great los angeles polls coliseum euin for the alie services in memory of tile the resurrection another were present at the great reat outdoor services in the hollywood bowl famous for lis its symphonies under the stars conducted by nationally known directors during the summer months lis its pageants shaker shakespearean pearean plays a nd grand operas the bowl Is a large natural outdoor amphitheater with a seating capacity of flad a stage IDO feet wide alde and with the ali of worshipers facing the great while cross outlined on a bill back of the ilage on easter morning this service jares presents atsa n scene of almost indescribable beauty and solemnity east L ast year also some 2000 persons assembled k before tl the ic tower of f bends in glendale for an easter E asier morning service and similar con grega eions chocked hocked to a number of other gathering places for such services in pasadena john stevens steves colorful pageant the first vastor ill fornis was wag t presented before several tai e spectators ecta tois on GO the lawn of i hotel mr mcgroarty la Is the theauthor author tin and d producer of age the ramous famous mission play a 11 pageant drama of the early days in california from the coming coining of frn fra gunipero pero serra in 1769 to tile the feinle tho the stars and stripes were uni unfurled uncurled over that state Is presented in the deslon playhouse in fry san gabriel annually ani and which tins has run for li consecutive years the city of Alha mima also or for many years has presented an easter play ton in the ahe lawn stage behind its public library and through throughout opt kou southern bouthern thern california other similar easter celebrations are held field one of the most interesting 17 easter astar cele celebration bratin i in california although its lebale Is for far removed remada from the preceding Is the one which was staged in the famous death valley last year and which will probably become an annual event at stove wells in that grim region of death and desila desi lp don a cross was erected and there a special sun rise service was held in memory of the pioneer who lost their lives on its burning sands during the period of three quarters of a century ago after the services those who attended I 1 it t marched atway away from faoro the cross scattering lowers flowers on death valley sands as a 0 loving tribute to the trail blazers blackl rs in the march of empire across the continent dut but california cannot claim all the distinction for being the diate where unique it itaster easter aster services are arc held each year colorado another state of sunny skies also has its ita claim and its leading celebration of this character Is bec timing nationally known because of its ita belag being held in a world famous scenic depot the garden darden of tho afie gods cheri 66 year between and per IW sons from almost every state in the union take part in the impressive ceremonies in which all religious denominations are represented rev albert W luce pastor of the west pikes peat peak christian church in colorado springs was the originator of the idea for an easter service in the garden of the gods and the first service was held six years ago the following graphic description of last years service was written by jack burgess a staff correspondent af the rocky mountain news in denver more afore than persons lifted their voices to in easter anthems sunday morning in the garden of the gods colorado springs at the 11 fifth rth annual easter sunrise service long before the street lights blinked their last sunday a steady stream of automobiles rolled along th the mesa ib r oaland and over oer the skyline trail to merge into one rill river er of humanity a the gateway of the garden in busses and on foot the easter worshipers poured into the natural amphitheater Lice license fise plates on automobiles testified to the countrywide trek that had been made for this special occasion 6 grouped in a solid mass of humanity many with land camp stools the waited it was a beautiful morning as though gaiu nature re had tried her best to fit the day to the occasion then As the first beams beama of tile the morning sun filtered inep the amphitheater between the kissing ca camels niels ther conic carne a silvery peal of trumpets heraldina the hie dawn from froin behind their nn natural nave the lie trumpeters trum peters hooded flooded the little valley with the he strains of christ arose by lowry george L miller directing a chorus from the united chu churches rabes of colorado springs led the gf of unfold ye portals 1 by gounod then the huge impatient aud audience lence joined in the morning hymn the light Is breaking from every rock and rill from the topmost peaks of the camels ears cars through canyons and from incoming automobiles came came tile the voices the e invocation cation was made by rev charles A pulton fulton pastor of the first baptist church li the messianic nic prophecy w wa s rend read h by rev S ic tompkins gnip of tin alie first congregational church and then the gospel 1 l story of first raster easter was wan retold by rev george AN W McDon mcdonald ild of a the lie first methodist church owing to the peculiar acoustics acoustics due to natures own sounding bonard blitch the huge red rod provides every syllable abs clear anti and bell like in all parts pans of the amphitheater this was particularly true and even startling when nhen bernard vessey tenor rendered a solo open the gates of the temple by knapp vessey stood on top of a small portable organ mounted on a truck and his voice filled the valley every rift and chasm and carried for far back into the bills tim the easter sermon was given by rev samuel garvan minister of the first presbyterian church outlined against the rocks with the early rays raya of the worn morning ilig sun fijn playing on his uplifted face the grandeur of the spectacle was obvious to to the listening crowd as was indicated by nn an awesome hush that settled over the pageant elint rev albert IV luce pastor of tle lle ll e west pikes peak christinn christian church who is the originator 0 of f the gar garden den service presided and introduced t the ill I 1 j various fors and the order of the me service 1 |
