The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-26
AT THE SECOND pREsBYrERIAs.

An Exceptionally Pleasing Programme of
Music, and an Interesting Sermon.
The Easter services at the Second Presby-
terian Church yesterday were very elaborate.
Mrs. lowering and Mr.. Levy sang at both morn
ing ard afternoon services, and were ably rein
forced by the regular choir of the church. The
floral decorations remarkably profuse and
tasteful Among the designs we're large harp
and cross. Among the flowers were two or
three varieties Of lilies and the general effect
was probably better than that at any other
church in the city.
In the forenoon DIR. Mcleod preached upon
the resurrection Of Jesus. The resurrection of
Christ, he said, was an essential truth of Chris
tianity. If Christ be not risen, mans faith was
vain. IL His resurrection be a myth delu-
sion, then the Christian religion was a myth or
a delusion; and the best men in all ages had
been building upon an ''airy nothing their hopes
of immortality. The resurrection of Chrst inn
piled His burial His DEATH His life, His birth,
and therefore, his humanity. Chrlsts resurrec-
ton. taking place as it did. by His own power,
implied His deity, for who could raise the dead
but God only2 To reject the truth OF Christ's
doctrine was to reject the truth of Christianity
itself. The apostles well understood this. and
while they preached Christ and Him crucifed,
they preached also the resurrection.
Seeing. then, the importance of the resurrection
in the Bible and in church history, it was proper
to join the myriads of fellow Christians whose
attention was that day directed to the glorious
theme. Two points were to be considered: Il. J
The resurrection of Christ as an historical fact
Il Its practical value. Some great truths of
Christianity were incapable of historic proof.
The resurrection was not one of these, and no
fact was capable of more abundant proof The
Sabbath was changed from the seventh to the
first day of the week to commemorate the fact
The apostles and early Christians believed in
and proclaimed the fact of Christ's resurrection.
Paul testified that after the crucifixion Christ
was seen alive by many people. Paul and Peter
never doubted the resurrection The persecu-
tons to which the early Christians submitted
for the sake of their religion showed that they be-
lieved in their heart of hearts in the resurrec-
ton. But the skeptics had said that honesty of
belief was no proof of the thing believed. Many
people honestly believed lies. But the
skeptics did not tell how twelve men,
or Eve hundred men happened to be
deceived all at once and in the same
way, or how the whole civilized world came in
a short time to believe the same things these
people had. The theory that Christ did not die
at all made him an impostor. How could He
gain strength in SO short time after being
badly wounded to perform the feats He did, or
how could He be guilty of palpable fraud2
The practical value of the truth of the resur
rection was that it taught that If a man died. he
might live again, and that there was a person in
the universe stronger than death. The resur-
resurrection of man.
In the afternoon the children's service was
held. An interesting feature was the baptism of
several infants.