St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-03-30

tesque. uneven. boisterous as all
under similar conditions. But in
its hopes for man. its estimate
of man, its estimate of duty, its estimate
OF nature, we find the ordinary man feel
ing the pressure of doom, the probability
of adverse. conditions developed by the
hand of fate. He was sad and despair
ing. Favored man was arrogant and
aSsumptive TO the last degree. There
was 4 rude JOY, but it ran so close 10 the
lines oil pain and despair that even the
JOY had n savage aspect.
The Christian festival in the early
ages gives US an entirely new view.
Now the lines have been broken down
by hope. Earth is looked upon as a
place devoid of value. Its %greenest
spots are Illusions. lis rarest promises
are only snareS to catch the feet. But
Christ Is risen. This means hope and
nelp. This means 4 world "here the
storms of this life are unknown-there-
fore men willingly suffered, sacrificed,
bore all priyatiOnS. They built monas-
teries; they went to the tdesert; they
wore garments of hair that lacerated
the flesh: they stood on posts year after
year. and all to prepare them to desplse
this world and hope for the next. And
" ~ a LAAAoO was a JOI lCSltNdlt
although we may feel that their ideas
we're crude, and their method Of life not
entirely ~cOmmendable.
The same general idea prevailed at the
time of the brilliant advance of ideas at
the time when Elizabeth was queen of
the realm, and young Will Shakespeare
was master of the rising literary empire.
The morning was at hand. Faint
streaks were already flashing OH the
Eastern sky, but the church was Just
passing its reformation period. and the
real period of success in the solution of
the question of life was not yet at
hand.
The modern idea of Easter as the Joy
festival adds another idea to those al
ready had: but this addition changes
the whole foundation of our beliefs and
opinions Of mans nature, and his rela-
ton to the world and to God. If we are
to choose one man who was instrument
tai IN uShering in the new idea through
literature we should choose Robert
Burns among English-speaking people.
He came TO the rescue of the common
man. He taught the man to feel
his w value, and to find in
his every day conditions the means of
happiness. He clearly showed that it
was not in palaces, mot in title nor in
toAAh AZ III wealth. IlhG LullIlOil
bank" for, IF happiness hath not her
seat and center in the breast, we may be
wise or rich or great. but never can be
blest." lie taught us to love nature and
to feel the throb of humanity that makes
the world kin. Others followed him
Doth with prose and poetry, and finally
the pulpit began to echo the sentiment.
, he did not eXemplify his teachings, and
this made his sermon all the more i'm
preSsive; it was the bitter experience of
a sad heart. But the modern idea was
now firmly fixed. Man is not to try to
get away from the world. He is to live
in ii and try to make it better. He is
to make the most of his environment,
and will be surprised to find how
well he fits into the place where he is,
and how much he can get out of it.
The present Easter is full of d life that
is flooded with social problems. They
all relate to the improvement of man.
They all deal with his welfare here and
now. And while we would be glad to
see them all adjusted so as to give
equal justice to all, we must remember
that we can only have that condition by
taking an active interest in the good of
mankind. Nor should we forget that
we are standing in the light of this
singular event in the worlds history,
and it calls us to think of Immortality.
III a few days our work here is ended,
and then we shall take u places in a
world that lies beyond; but the best
preparation for that world is to faith
fuIly do our duty now and here.