The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-24
THE SPIRIT OF. EASTER.

than any other feast day OF the church.
Christmas, as the anniversary of the birth of
the Savior, is replete with thoughts of the
work of redemption about to be undertaken,
while Easter sees the work completed and
the Son Of Man triumphant over all obsta-
cles-the prosecutions of men, the tempta-
tons OF sin and the forces of death and the
grave. When Jesus came into the world re-
ligion was bound as with iron bands within
the narrow confines of Journalism and
held down by the traditions of the
elders. These, on account of race
Interpretation of mystic prophecies, would
not accommodate themselves to the needs of
mankind. The life and death of Jesus
swept away all excuse for these letters, and
in their stead was given broader and more
generous religion, one that was adequate to
the needs of all the world of Jew and Gen
tile OF Greek and barbarian, of bond and
free That the world did not avail itself of
the new dispensation was the fault of the
world and not of the Redeemer The work
has been slow, as measured by human expert
ence, but it has been sure and each recurring
Easter Day finds humanity drawn nearer
lily, among whose members no distinction is
made.
There are churches vet in ell denomna-
tions that are uncharitably narrow in
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bigoted in their interpretations of the
great message to mankind But the
evangelical world is ahead of all this, and
the church and preacher having nc adequate
idea OF the mission of Christ are left far be-
hind, while the great mass of men grow
wiser and better the years go by. The
foundations of mere human creeds are
crumbling away, and the people, conscious
of a common birth and a common destiny, are
coming together. Time was when the doors
of one denomination were not swung open
to a minister OF another. Baptists never met
with Presbyterians, and neither of these
with Methodists. Heresy to human regula-
tions and articles of faith was an unpardona-
bic transgresson, and the omission of any
of the formalities of worship was one of
the gravest sins that could be commit
ted. In the broad light of religion
founded en- a sublime faith these petty dit
ferences are fading away, and better higher
nobler sentiment prevails. The creed of the
great world of to-day is summed up in
IL
living God? 81 do most sincerely" All
else is subservient to this-al else vain with
out it. 1t is not for men to hedge this about
with thorny creeds that repel, nor to sink it
to the level of puerile prejudice that requires
some peculiar form of worship, or Dress or
manners. The nineteenth century, profting by
the teachings of Jesus, is too wise not to see
through the mask of cant, too enlightened to
be frightened by dogmatic chaff The spirit of
the life of Christ has enlightened the
world. Where one man read
the Bible by the dim light of a cloister
during the dark ages, hundreds of thousands
and millions now read it in the broad light
OF day. Once interpreted literally, and there
fore confused and confounding it is now I'M
derstood in its spirit and appropriated in all
its power. 1t is vain for anyone to attempt
to stay the tide of humanity. Tomorrow is
the anniversary of the day when the price OF
the worlds ransom was fully paid and the
ransom gloriously completed The people are
free, and they know it. The vail OF the tenn
pie is rent from top to bottom, and no high
priest can presume to stand between the
people and their God From the holy of
holes the Spirit has entered the hearts of
men, and if those who build the tenn
poral church make the doors too small,
the earth and all its inhabitants
know the way too we'll to lose it. The mis-
sion of Christ was triumph, and in his res
direction was rounded up to perfect compile
ton. 1t cannot be defeated 1t may be re-
tarded for a time but like mighty river it
will break over all dams and dikes, and at
last carry every drop oil its great food
to the sea- Easter is pre-eminently the peo-
pies festival day. The resurrection is the
crown of life and death for the redemption
of the whole world, the sure guarantee that
the great undertaking was not a failure. A
world redeemed from the thrall of SIM and of
bigotry as well, remembers its observance,
and as time rolls away its celebration will
will become universal as IMPLYING universal
emancipation.
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