National Republican., 1884-04-14
L1rE THE REWARD OF FAITH.

REV. DIR. sHIPPEN'S THOUGHTS ON MINOR
TALITY AT THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The Rev. DIR. Shippen, pastor Of All Souls
Unitarian church, at Fourteenth and Il streets
northwest, ofliciatod at the morning and even
ing services. The altar of the church was
embowcrod in flowers, evergreens and smilax,
which emitted q sweet fragance throughout
the sanctuary. Surrounding the pulpit wore
potted plants and in front large floral cross
and star Of white immortelles.
At the morning service DR.. Shippen, when
the hymn
Raise your glad voices in triumph on high,
For Jesus hath risen and man cannot die
had been sung, announced his text from the
gospel "He that believeth on Me, though he
were dead, yet shall he live"
After beautiful exordium in which tho
reverend speaker alluded to the memories
and inspirations which Easter Sunday brings,
he said that tho recurrence of the annual
festival of the resurrection brought with it
the cheering hone of immortality. Like
Christmas, tho anniversary of the birth of
the Saviour, it was the Christians day of re-
ioicing. 1t comes in the advancing year.
when the SHOWS Of winter are succeeded by
the emerald mantle and beautiful flowers of
spring, leaving behind the ashes and the dead
leaves of the past. 1t comes as the resurrec-
ton of the Christian out OF death into life.
The beautiful flowers teach lesson of i'm
mortality. They bloom and fade away, and
so we may be here to-day and gone to-mor-
row.
He that hath clothed the flowers with a
glory surprising that of Solomon hath given
them to us as natures symbol of our faith
and the lessons of faith taught us by the
blessed Jesus
DIR. Shippen touchingly referred to the
entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, when He was
.ioyfully received by the multitude and his
pathway strewn with palms how He was
Cilarad tha Mageiub WIN wOnll rnyiya tho
ancient glory of Solomon and dispcl the
Roman nation; His partaking Of the paschal
supper with His disciples. when He spoke to
them words of immortal cheer, and estab-
lished at that table q memorial OF brotherly
love around which we meet to-day; His agony
in the garden of Gethsemane, and the sealing
of His expression of that divine love which
filled His soul in being willing to give
up His life for the salvation OF man
kind, The cross, from having been an
emblem of ignominy and disgrace, is now the
crrsriGn uaith ala daarvf and ipm%SEtai e5%oa
property OF the church Tika the starry
flag to the American nation, the cross repre-
sents all that is good in Christian religion.
There has been, continued DIR. Shippen, a
wonderful transformation among the Jews
since the crucifxion of the Saviour. In
their Saturday Sabbaths they new enjoy
new hope of Immortality and in being
blessed hereafter in the presence of the
Messiah in Heaven. They believe in the
victory of immortality. They live in its
faith, and by it are ready to die. Cicero and
the pagan philosophers had an idea. but not
clearly defined one, of immortality.
This faith in immortality is shared by the
youth, the maiden, the mother, and the old
aged. 1t takes from death its sting and the
dying fall sweetly to sleep to find themselves
in that land where there is neither tears nor
parting. The martyrs of old died in the faith
ofa resurrection and Immortality and SO we
from the cradle to the grave, have that
innate hope inspired in US, not only by the
typical resurrection of Jesus, but by His
teachings
DIR. shippen, in conclusion, said This is
the anniversary of my third years pastorate
among you. Letit be a joyful Easter Sunday
with us,and may the sweet, fragrant memories
OF the past bloom as flowers of greater beauty
and brightness in the future.
At tho conclusion of the discourse the sac
rament of the Lords supper was partakon of
by the congregation.