Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1883-05-31
The Witness of Templarism to the AS
censiOn.


We are here, Churchmen and Sir Knights, fo
common purpose. We meet in a common
name. We commemorate in common spiri
and with like faith, the same occurrence. l
is before a supreme event of history that WE
stand to-day.
Speaking to Churchmen-You have followed
in our Church's Christian Year the steps of ou
Lord closely from Bethlehem to Calvary. Yo,
have bent adoringly over the cradle; you have
stood tearfully at the grave; your eyes at las
have been lifted heavenward Now they are
fixed, wonderingly, upon the cloud that has re
ceived Him out of their sight
Speaking to you, Sir Knights-Wnh the fact
which has given the name to this day, and its
| character to these services, you are peculiarly
familiar. That Ascension Scene described by
the few graphic verses read from the Holy
Evangelists for the second lesson, should make
before your minds at least, vivid picture 1t
represents to you, as your imagination dwells
upon it, the splendid conclusion of that hal
lowed sacrifice made by the Redeemer of the
world to propitiate the anger of an offended
Deity. You are informed by the Holy Scrip
lures that our Saviour having suffered the pains
Of death, triumphed over the grave, arose from
the dead, and in due time assembled with trans
cendent majesty to Heaven, where he now sits
at the right hand of our Heavenly Father, a
mediator and intercessor for all those who
have faith in him. Of that faith, as of the
Order, the cross is the fit emblem. And among
the reasons for which it ever adorns the person
of the Knight Templar this is pre- eminent
that it may be to him constant memorial to
initiate the virtues of the Immaculate Tesus
who died that we might live.
Out Of this story, then, in which all of us
here have a common interest, we are to draw a
lesson for the occasion.
Among class of men who have broken
away from the traditional forms of Christianity,
and yet are possessed strongly of the religious
sentiment, there is much said about human as
piration. Their phraseology has become sort
of idealistic cant. Yet it is not without mean
ing 1t is but one form Of expression for
feeling that is plainly universal. The Gnostic,
whose curious creed was made of ideas gath
cred from Greece and India, from Egypt and
Palestine, looked for redemption and the re
turn Of all to the purity of the Creator The
harmony, now broken, should then be happily
established in the union of all in Cod In
Brahmanism and IN Buddhism, its offspring,
there is equally the supreme aim. In one, it is
re-absorption into Deity, in the other it is ami
hilation. Towards the far-off goal, which may
lie beyond millions of existences, the devotee
of each devoutly presses. Modern Pagans talk
Of the ascent of the divine in us to its native
element In the mind and heart of man there
is want which these things unquestionably
indicate. The desire is real. And this desire,
the fact and the doctrine upon which we are
dwelling this morning, meet. Towards this
these all looked. The present science Of chem
istry grew up out of the absurdities and super
stitions of alchemy. The present knowledge
of astronomy developed out of the extravagan-
ces and distortions of astrology The real
truths the alchemists and astrologers but rudely
apprehended. Thus it is with the Christian fact
and doctrine Of the Ascension. 1t is the real
truth amidst the grotesque caricatures. The
story as it comes to us, is the plain, unembel-
lished recital of fact. The men who relate
it were business men called directly from their
occupations to the discipleship of Christ. 1t
changed at once their characters and their aims.
And what it did for them it can do for us all.
1t was not dream that beguiled those early
Apostles. The ascent of Christ was the visible
translation Of tangible form before their eyes
1t is not fancy that deludes us; and if you
do not permit this fact to come in among the
that are constructing your character,
if you are in earnest at all, you will be always
trying to realize some vision of better life.
But it will be shadowy, unsatisfactory, change
able vision. Take this, and all becomes simple
and plain. You will not strain after fanciful
ideal Heart and mind, as we pray in this
days special collect, will ascend with Christ,
anu Will uiHl Sohtihuoiiy u"SA' Aoo WA
look beyond the narrow limits that the natural
sight ordinarily circumscribes around the life.
The boundless future will be opened to you
An inspiration will come to you from beyond
the clouds that sometimes overshadow, from be-
yond the sky that is oftener bright and sunny
above you. Thinking and waiting, laboring
and praying in the present and doing the duty
Of the hour, your thoughts and efforts will all
have reference to the great final future which
Christ fills. What you do in the present is
lone hoping it will tell in some way there.
The business man is greater, if not better,
when he looks from the little fluctuations of
he market up to the mighty laws of trade
which sweep the financial current in ebb and
low, like the force that moves the tides. He
Uses to higher standpoint, he gains wider
new than the unsuccessful men below him.
lust such a grasp of life, of its present and its
uture, this faith in the Ascension gives.
If anything, such in brief, Sir knights, is the
.reat lesson which this day, with the event
which has been the theme of its services, teach.