The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1882-04-13


were very imposing, and the music, as
well as the sermon of Father Meier, are
worthy of the most favorable mention.
The Presbyterian church was very
decorated with flowers, the
pulpit being EMPOWERED in choice
plants and adorned with bouquets. The
music furnished by the choir
was in keeping with the services, and
the discourse by the pastor. Rev. Mr..
Hendy, was eloquent and convincing.
The floral display at the NJ. E. church
was very tasteful, and the singing, both
by the choir and congregation, was more
than ordinarily good. Rev. Mr.. Hanna
preached to full houses morning aud
evening.
The Rev. DR.. Cordley, of the Congre-
gational church, took for his lAorning
subject THE Future Liie," and his adj
mirable discourse has elected so much
comment that we publish a synopsis of
1t as follows:
There is hope of a tree. if it be cut down, that
it will sprout again job xiv vii.
This is the first suggestion that has
come down to us, OF the argument tor a
future lite, drawn from the analogy OF
nature. 1t is n9t an independent argu
ment, but support OF other arguments.
1t clears the way for positive proofs IF
a man die, shall he live again?" at
may be-" replies Job; "for a tree will
sprout again when it is cut down. Its
vitality Is not exhausted and it lives on.
Mans vitality does not seem to be Ok.
hausted when he dies, nor does his work
seem done, May he not live again, and
fill up the measure of his strength and
purpose?
Since Jobs time the argument has
been expounded, and the induction has
been enlarged. 1t is found to be no un-
common thing for life to span the chasm
of death. Paul saw it when he said,
"That which thou sowest is not quick
ened except it die" When the grain
dies the new plant lives. Bishop
Butler refers TO the caterpillar,
who dies, and from his death
wings of scarlet and gold. So he ar
CUES that life renewed after death is not
contrary 10 nature, but in line with her
ways. Where vitality Is not exhausted,
or the destiny is not fulfilled, there is
given a second and higher life TO finish
what was left incomplete by the first.
The application of this TO man is
based on the thought that his life here
is incomplete. He often dies in his
very prime, leaving his work, and his
strength still firm. Moses died while
"his eye was not yet dim nor his natural
force abated." Even when the body
fails the mind often retains its full pow
ers to the very last. There is not the
slightest symptom of decay. The de-
caying body seems to drop away from
the still vigorous spirit and leave it in
the possession of all its powers. Must
the still vital spirit expire because the
decaying body tails?
The commOnest thing IN human life is
for a man to be taken in the prime of
his strength and in the midst of his
work a man from his activity, woman
from her children, a child from his
preparation If death ends all" this
life Is g continual waste of powers
and gifts and culture. 1t is as if
painter should leave his work
half done, and we stood wonder
ing what he was going to make of it
It is as If an author should begin to
write book and publish the first half OF
it and then leave it. We should stand
wondering what his plan was, and what
the great purpose of his book might be.
The death of Charles Dickens was pc:
culiarly impressive because he was taken
in the midst of his work, leaving book
half finished, with no adequate clue as
to how he intended to finish it. Other
hands have filled out the volume, and l
presume have filled it smoothly and
made pleasant story of it. But have
never had the heart to read Edwin
brood, either as Dickens left it, or as
his friends have finished it. In either
case, ! should be wondering all the
while what the idea of the great artist
might be. And men who finish their
work always finish it so imperfectly
A good work always falls below the mans
own conception of it. No painter ever
put on canvass picture half as beauti-
full as the image which dwelt in his own
| soul. No author ever sent out a book
that fully imaged his own thought. Nc
preacher ever preached sermon which
fulfilled mis- own expectation and which
| did not fall below his own conception.
There floats before every true soul
something better than he ever did
something finer than he ever executed
something far loftier than he ever at
tanned.
1 glanced over an article the other day
which did not have time to read, bul
my eye caught the words, "what become:
of unuttered thOughts?' hte thoughts
q man has, but for which he never findi
| expression; the book a man conceivei
and never gives to the press; the paint
| ing which lies in the painters soul bu
is never transferred to canvass; the mu
sic a man hears in his heart, bu
which no voice or instrument has eve
been able TO translate.
Il wonder if ever q song was sung
But the singers b. art sang swet ter;
| wonder if ever rhyme WAS TuDg
| But the thought surpassed the meter
wonder il ever 8 sculptor wrought
OriT ever 4 painter, with light and shade,
The dream of his Utmost heart portrayed.
But if tree falls in the midst of il
strength, it sprouts again and may fir
ish its career; when the caterpillar die
the butterfly comes forth. Everythin
Is allowed TO I'LL up its measure. Doe
the law cease when we come to man
He whose thought so far -outreaches hi
achievements cannot be the only e.
ception to the great law of God.
The theme of to-day is in sYmpath
with the season. Nature is everywhef
illustrating the resurrection. The tree
which seemed so dead are bursting int
life; the flowers which withered at 81
4
fields, brown and dead for these man
months, ere being clad again with lifi
Everything in nature is hearing voic'
crying, Awake, thou that sleepest, an
rise FROM the dead" That voice sha
. speak again. and not only nature sha
hear, but they that are in their grave
shall hear, the voice of the Son OF Co
and they that hear shall live.
The ladies of the church exhausted the
eonservatories in identifying the alt
place, and the music rendered by Il
Arion Quintette club was highly {
fective.
In the evening q praise service ",
held at the same place which was vel
largely attended. In addition TO Il
musical exercises which were most e
. joyahle, Rev. Mr.. Kirby favored the co
!. gregation with with one of the most el
8 quent and forcible arguments in suppc
? of the authenticity of the Scripture {
count of the resurrection which "
!, ever heard in this city.
-------.----
5; The Tanner building north Of I
Z Whitley opera house, which was col
: menced on the 18th of March was plac
g under lock and key Saturday. How
that for quick work..