The Dispatch. [volume] (Provo City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1891-03-28
THE PRESENT HOUR.

The three days, commencing yester-
day, known to all the civilized world
as Good Friday. impress significant
thoughts upon the mind of the Chris
tian world. They embrace but a very
brief period, yet to the devout Chris
tian, it is the supremest, holiest in the
wide range of the worlds history-the
august moment Of eternal time. Nearly
two thousand years have passed since
CalvaTy's hill absorbed the blood of
Christ, since the consecrated sepulcher
of Joseph was tenanted by the Majes-
ty Of Heaven in the embrace of death;
but in all that period the cross has
been sacredly reyered, and the tomb
Of death watered with the tears Of
multitudes. Out Of that willing saCri-
fee of life sprang hope and joy TO
countless millions; out Of the dark
grave come conquest and comfort. The
dead Christ arose a living Savior.
Great reformers have arisen in diff
ferent ages of the world, some OF wLom
were endowed with very h gh concep-
ton of the duties of man towards him
self, society and his God, and SO great
has been their power and SO extensive
their influence. that since the incip-
iency Of their creeds numberless MI
lions of conscientious devotees have
accepted their doctrine and have
proven their loyalty and patriotism in
many sanguinarY encounter, by self
sacrifice and a devotion born only OF
sincerity. Their systems took charue
not only Of the individual. bat reru-
lated society and showed their wisdom
n accomplishing political organiza-
tons which command our attention
from their prodigious extent. the
union Of their parts and the philosophy
of their laws.
Instance the great Arddha Chiddis
of Capila, the founder of Buddhism.
This peculiar but enduring sect owes
its success to the wonderful foresight
OF its founder, which gave expression
to it in the absolute equality of all men
and this, too, in a country that for
ages bad been oppressed by castles. In
the twenty-nine centuries that have
passed since the organization of this
sect it has had more followers than
that of all other religious teachers.
Another reformer, Mohammed. sur
named by Europeans, ''the Imposter. =
He raised his own nation from Fetch
lSm-the alteration of a meteoric
stone, and from the basest idolatrv. he
introdI cd monotheism which quick
~ scattered TO the winds the empty
disputes Of the Arians and Catholics.
wrenched from Christianity more than
half her possessions. Africa and a
very large part of Asia, after the
lapse of more than thousand years.
still remain permanently attached to
the Arabian doctrine. With the ut
most difficulty, and as if 10y miracle.
Europe itself escaped.
To be the religious head of many
empires, to guide the daily life of one
third CT the human race, may perhaps
justify the title Of mot Imposter'' a
messenger of God. And did he not
appear at time ripe for his coming?
When the influences Of pure religion
had ceased and an incomprehensible
theology substituted; when personal
virtue or vice was scarcely considered;
when sin was not measured by evil
works but by the degrees Of heresv:
when legiors OF monks carried terror
into the imperial armies and riot into
the great cities; when hideous clamors
arose for theological dogmas, but never
a voice for intellectual liberty OF the
outraged rights of man? Is it to be
wondered that so called Christianity
had Lost its hold and men could not be
expected 10 give help to a system tnat
had lost all ho'd on their hearts? Thus
superficial Christianity lost its power
lost tie ancient anu iIlus.rious
Carthage, Alexandra. Jeru, lem. An
tioch and Constan,jnnple. and was
compelled TO fall back Vi Gaul. Ger
many, Britain and Sc;niiaar:o
Indeed. no one can stuay the then
condition Of religion without discover
ing how completely lis * strHee de-
pended on human agency a:d there
fore bearing upon it the treatments of
human passion, human virtues and
human sins.
But the seed of tie cross was not
destroyed, nor the virtues of the tomb
Long ages after arose
mighty men, John Wycliff, Huss.
Jerome, Tyndale, Latrimer and host
Of others.
immortal names! Men with unfet-
tered minds and hearts devoted to the
highest aims and engaged in the most
glorious purposes of the race. To them
is due the emancipation of oar race
IfoIn4he CALLING fetters Of priestcraft