The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-15

, cd to cheer the hearts OF his disciples.
Then as now the salvation of man is the
absorbing subject with him. He must
ascend. Heaven is above the earth.
His life was a life of ascension-glory
completed in the scene now about to be
presented on Mt. Olivtt. He will as.
cend, not in appearance only, but
in reality. IL is visible TO the natural
eve. 1t is the upward movement of the
body that was nailed. and the side that
was pierced. The disciples can't be
mistaken, for he is standing with hands
/ uplifted, a position Of body familiar TO
them.
They listen: the voice is familiar; it
is sweeter than the electric chords of all
the rich harmODies aud precious melo'
dies Of earth. He blesses them. 1t Is n
parting blessing; doubtless SURPRISING
in richness, fullness and sweetness any
benediction before received. No won
der they returned to Jerusalem with
great Joy, having worshlpped Him.
And now, with hands uplifted aud
/ tongue employed I'm words Of blessing,
invisible forces gather about the body
of Jesus. | imagine he moves slowly.
majestIcally, gloriously. Silence per
vades the company OF wit
nesses. Behold multitudes of Angels
crowd the air. The silence is broken
by their shouts and hallelujahs Of
praise. The pageantry is sublime.
The forces of earth geatest warriors
gathering about them 10 do them honor
IN dress parade, pale into insignihcance
before the display of angelic glory that
fills the presence of our ascending
Lord.
Moving up the path of ascension.
through the angel throng ere he is lost
to sight, a cloud meets him. All the
forces in the air would vie and combine
to do him honor. The cloud sent on
mission of mercy to refresh the earth.
is permitted 10 defect from its course
and serve as chariot for Him who di-
reefs amid all forces.
lie gathers its foldsas garment about
his person, and is lost to vision as the
ascending cloud fringed with golden
beauty passes higher and higher still,
till only spark or scintilatlOn marks
the spot III the heavens where the men
of Galilee fix their gaze.
The curious are now at liberty to pro-
pound questions relating to the won
derful transaction on Mount Olivet.
Who were the two men in white ap.
parel who stood by the disciples as they
stood gazing up into heaven Were
they Moses and Elias? Had they been
watching and lingering near ever since
they appeared ON the mount Of trans
figurati0n
The curious may enquire, the oracle
divine is silent.
The natural, material. substantial
body of our Lord, by the exercise of d.
vine power. waI lifted from the earth
and lost to view in tie cloud. When,
where and by what method did it as
sumo the character Of spiritual body?
This question we can never answer, till
the bright light of a glorious eternity
shall chase away the mist and shadow
of time.
At present we must be content with
the assurance that flesh and blood can
not inherit the kingdom Of heaven. We
are sOwn natural body and raised a
| spiritual body. This cOrruptible must
put on interruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality.
7 The blessed results of the ascension.
as enjoyed by the true follower of Je.
sus, who can estimate?i Having ascended,
he has opened the way for us. Where
| am, there we shall be also. He stands
as the risen aud assembled Lord before
the high court of heaven as our advO-
cate and friend. The Holy Ghost,
whose coming in full measure as sane
tifier and comforter, was conditioned
on the return to heaven of Jesus. takes
up the work where Christ ended and
moves on in the marvellous displays of
his power and glory.
The ascension of Christ was "a mira
Gle in which divine power and authOIi-
ty asserted the mastery over the laws Of
nature. These laws and forces are but
servants who yield a ready obedience
TO the will of Hin who ordained them
and gave them their legitimate sphere
of operation.
BY the attraction Of gravitation all
material bodies tend towards the earth Is
centre. and cling to its surface. This law
Of gravitation was reversed by Christ
in lis ascension. May we not conclude
that there is "a centre of spiritual as well
as a centre of material gravity! Is not
this fact established?
As the centre of our earth is the point
toward which material objects are
drawn and gravitate, SO Heaven Is the
centre towards which the spiritual is
drawn. The body of Christ, assuming
its spiritual DatuTe. Is drawn up to
Heaven, the centre of attraction, over
coming or ignoring the laws that affect
gross material. Our risen and spirit
ual bodies will tend Heavenward. They
will 90 to Him, for whom they Will
have a spiritual affinity. Il will re-
ceive you 10 myself May these
thoughts make us superterrestrial in
aspiration and hope.
Sir Knights of Richm ond, com
mandery No. ., we greet you most
cordially. The year just gone with all
its blessings chronicles for you a
mournful experience. Since our last
AscensiOn-D Day, which was ushered in
mid storm. flood and disaster, eight of
YOUR number have obeyed the inevita-
bic call and passed 10 the spirit land.
Past Commanders George a. Ainslle
and Lucian l.. Bass, with Sir Knights.
George A. Hundley, John l. Dodson.
John +. Stevenson, James ID. Duval.
Rev. Henry Wall and john I. Siser,
are no longer with Us, but the memory
of their virtues we cherish as a precious
heritage.
Peace to their ashes and bright for
ever bright be the sumbeams that Will
sport and play above the graves that
hide within their bosom all that 5 NOR
tal of our loved and honOred dead.
MAY your every step along liie's pill
grimsge be under the direction of di'
vine wisdom: and having completed the
march may you be taken up TO the pre-
sence of Him, whose ascension we cele-
brate, there to pour out your last and
richest libation in eternal thapksgiy-
ing.
UINDRANCEs TO PRAYER.
A man head may be wrong " He
that turneth away his ear from hearing
the law even his PRAYER shall be an