New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-26
coon FRIDAY.

if we could put it before our readers, would
show to them as no words can do what tins
DIV ia TO the Christian world. Tie Mysterious
horror of the Cruciixion is not visible; group
Of disciples in an attic chamber look ont
through narrow window toward Calvary. An
unnatural darkness IS about them; the sun 1t
self refuses to look upon this sight. Dut tle
men stare aghast, ncredulous; the women faH
unconscious on the floor. They are not APP
nailed because the earth shakes or the dead Iise'
or because the great impey OF al time ms just
been corsunm ted. Each of them IS thinking
Of himself. They have left 40 much behind to
follow that man upon the Cross. They have
turned then backs on home Wife c'u'ren'
money. for Him. lie Was the sum OF goodness
of power to them. lie was 20 bring b.ek the
glory of their race. They we're to slt uPo.
thrones beside him. Now, be IA but stlil co.d
carpse hanging o. crossed timbeis between two
thieves wonder Their senses and ordinary,
reason tell these ueunilcss Iiliterato peasants
that their hopes of IL coming kingdom are vain;
tllat the earth is hut place in which To starye
and suffer; that Heaven IS empty. Their Goa
is dead.
Into every mans life there comes day Of
crncfxion like theirs, a day when some int"i-
erab'e loss. or some food of cold doubt leaves
him standing alone and helpless as those poor
fishermen and tax-gatlercrs Stood, 'ooAl"S a.
their dumb hfeless leader. With many a man
r. is poverty that drives him to THIS extreme
s,rait. lie works 50 hard AID has so htte
HIS nu,n,scs nre honest, he IS faithful 20 the
ms, he knows: yet he ia showed into the mud
in the struggling crowded highway, while
fbicycs roll bv I'm their gilded chariots. Tie sees
frud and corruption going on all about uIlh
unchecked; even Chnst's Church is tainted
with il. ii Christ were alive would these
things be He is not alive. II was only man
who lung upon the Cross. The world Is but I"
Mace in winch to suffer uujustly and TO starNei
there is no justice, no God above.
Or. it may be that tAe doubt comes because
t.c world ia not governed according 10 our
oriuions of right ard justice. If God were nv
4. 2. the disciples might have s1ld 90 th't u'y,
vould Caesar rule over Jerusalem would
PLATE and Judas have their VIII with jesus
There came a dly even to stout-hea'ted
Inther when he felt as If God must be asleep
or gone urQn n journey, thus to leave tie
world I'm tie hold of the Catholic Church; ma
ON that vcryd4y this Church. fit had had divine
nower would h We b'ottcd Luther md his Alud
/ an, of the world meaning TO set matters night
/ for all time.
Or. il is death which has killed God for u'.
/ The baby ling there in it, colin or the "ltr
who walked and worked aud laughed beside us
vesterdly-thcv are dumb drmb today. They
/ viii not hear nor answer, call We by what name
we will. Then the doubt comes: will thev ever
hear or answer again l. not this cold lump of
matter nil that il Lott Is there anything be-
yondq That story of heaven. of the new Jesus
| Of the loved ones waiting yonder for NJ to
come. is not all that beautiful dream-a driu-
sion2 SO the earth grows vacant 10 Us as we
Law down our decaying al in it, and when we
nray there is no God in heaven 10 hear MS 10
every man comes this day, whether he he be-
lever In Christ, or Budiha or Darwin. No re-
ligion. no philosophy, no science can save him
from that passion of despair and doubt. Even
fine human weakness of Jesus cried out,
ANY God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken
:" Me n
But out of that group of ignorant Jewish
tradpsmcn and laborers came the Church which
has civilized and enlightened the world, and
from the srpulchre in which was lail IA bloody
soreiy abused dead body rose the Saviour Of all
mankind If each man with honest heart holds
TO The best faith he knows when the day oil
doubt and drath passes over him, he will find
! beyond Resurrection and Il God.
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