New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-04-13
EASTER SUNDAY.

formed the simple creed on profession of
which, Peter, upon the day Of Pentecost.
admitted to the rite OF baptism three thou
sand souls. Those We're the days Of mir
acies. Signs and wonders were Of ordinary
occurrence. and were demanded Of every
man who protessed to speak in the name
Of God. Jesus Christ had prophe-
sled his resurrection from the dead.
and although in the state Of de.
preston into which his disciples were
thrown at the Sine OF his death.
they at first remembered not his words
but sorrowed as those having no hope left;
yet no sooner did Mary Aagdalen inform
them of what she had seen and heard il
the garden where his tomb was. than they
were filled with the belief in his sesurrec.
ton and the expectation Of seeing him
again. They did see him. and upon that
fact they built up His Church. Had il
not been so. tradition might have handed
down lis name as that Of great prophet,
more remarkable than any that had APP
peared before or since. but that would
have been all. His few followers would
have soon been merged into the rest Of
their nation. and the name "Nazarene"
would never have been changed to that Of
Christian.
There are three views taken Of Chr.st's
resurrection by the various Christian
writers who have treated Of it. The first
is that which prevailed among the early
Christians namely. that it was an actual
restoration to life: tina: the spirit had
truly LETT the body. and. after remaining
absent from 1t certain period OF time.
had returned to it, SO that the very same
flesh and blood which lad died upon the
cross afterward appeared to the disciples
on several occasions, and ultimately as
cended up among the clouds to heaven.
This was what the apostles undoubtedly
believed. and believed it SO firmly that
they persuaded others to believe it by
thousands and thousands. until the whole
world (as one may say came to accept it
as fact. Another view--that of Renan---
is that it was all deiusion. originating
somewhat as follows: Mary Magdalen
who was of ar enthusiastic nature. going
TO the sepulchre very early in the morn
ing, at that dim hour when the imagina-
ton is most excitable. and finding the
stone rolled from the mouth OF the tomb
and the body gone. fastened with this
news to Peter and John. and returning
with them to the garden remained alone
after their departure. and imagined that
she saw the Lord and that he called her
by name; that her enthusiasm inhamed
the rest of His followers. SO that immedi-
ately they saw and heard various prodi-
gies confrmative of her report. Angels
were seen by the other women. who told
them that Chris. was risen. and they
should see him again. Two Of the dis
ciples met Him on the highway. Finally
the deiusion spread so that all Of them
were raised to n frame Of mind so exalted
as to partake of it and imagine that they
actually saw Jesus and heard Him speak.
The accounts Of these wonders so
Renan explains the story grew in the
unit. finally they assumed the
form in which they appear in the Acts.
The third theory, the Swedenborgian. IS
that the Apostles actually saw the body OF
Jesus: but that it was his spiritual body.
released by death from his natural body
to which it correspondent in form; and
that they were enabled to see it by the
opening Of their spiritual eyes. This
theory, otherwise very plausible, leaves
the disappearance Of his natural body
still mystery. The explanation given
by the Jewish authorities that the dis
ciples had stolen the body and fabricated
the whole story Of the resurrection is not
worthy Of consideration; for if ever men
were heartily in earnest and impressed
with the truth Of what they told, these
men unquestionably were.
Accordingly. from the very first days
OF the Christian Church. the dis
ciples used to celebrate the resrr-
rection Of the Lord: meeting for this pur-
pose on the first day Of the week, from
which custom originated the Christian
Sabbath. The yearly festival of Easter.
in honor of the same event, was instituted
in the earliest ages Of the church: the
proper time of holding it having been one
among the veIed questions which disturbed
its harmony during the first century.
and continuing until it was settled among
other vexed questions by the celebrated
Council of Nice.
In Catholic countries. and among Catho,
lies everywhere. this festival is one Of un-
usual exhilaration. coming as it does. i'm
after the penitential season 81
Lent. The churches are elaborately deco
rated: the music is eXultingly joyful: the
worshipers are clad in the gayest holiday
costumes. The Episcopalian and Lutheran
churches also keep the day as high fos-
tiyal. and OF late a disposition is shown
on the part OF some of the other sec:s
toward "a healthfuI reaction in this respect.
--<sS-