West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1893-03-30

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tributcd 10 him by Col. Ingersol9 IL
requires no argument 10 demonstrate
that the mistakes" IL real, would have
been fatal TO the commemoration OF tho
day Tho ages cannot pause to cclc-
brate the anniversary OF an untruth,
much less can Christian civilization
be pcrpetunted upon fallacy. Tho
highest flights OF American patriotism
would not be equal TO the task OF hou-
orin9 the Fourth of July IL there was no
nntecedont truth upon which Co base
the national jubilee. The nations natal
day means something; IL Is founded
upon n historical fact. and because Il Is
n fact mighty people unite In anthems
and peans OF national rejoicing.
Historically, Easter commentaries
risen Saviour. Spiritually, IL means
moro than that. For Rcdeemer, risen
from the grave, cnthroned I'm Henven,
typical of human hope and the assured
life beyond the tomb, Is the embodiment
OF all religious truth. jesus predicted
his Messiahship upon the truths OF the
Old Testament as well as those he came
10 reveal. A Mcssinhship based upon
"thc mistakes of Moses" and the other
prophets would be incongruous and
farcical. Easter, therefore, stands forth
ns the eternal signal light OF n great and
undying truth. Tho wnvcs OF slSepu-
cism In nll ages have beaten against
this rock In vain. Voltaire and Paine
and Hume assailed Il from varied stand
points, but there Il shines more luminous
than ever. Ingersoll would disdain the
tools of the earlier sltepticnl writer's as
others In turn will refuse TO use HIS;
but there stands Easter, century after
century, 10 herald 20 increasing millions
the glory OF the truth.
1t is sometimes helpful and inspiring
10 loolt upon truth from frcsh vantage
grounds. II we study tho truths of the
Old Testament as jesus studied and pro-
claimed them we got better insight
into NIL that Is meant by His descent
into the dark tomb and His glorious
emergence. The books OF the Bible.
written by various authors at different
periods OF the worlds history, par.
taking so largely OF local coloring,
nodded by tho environments OF the
writer's, unless inspired must have abb
sorbed inevitably some OF the contem-
poraneons beliefs, crceds. rpnxms and
traditions In morals political economy,
philosophy, astronomy, geology med
icinc and kindred sciences OF the pagan
nations. Outside Of the Bible all the
writings OF those ages are more or less
permcated with gross errors The most
fantastic notions prevailed about the
cosmogony OF the universe, the nature
OF the elements, the structure OF the
globe, the cause and cure OF disease, the
movements OF the heavenly bodies and
all the physical phenomena known 10
man. There was absolutely no escape
from the inhltration of these false con-
cepts into tho books OF the Bible.
written by variety OF authors un-
known 20 each other and living In
periods widely separated, unless the
writer's were inspired by superior ex-
ibtence whom we call Cod, and whom
Christ calls by the precious name OF
Father. There is no oscape from this
conclusion by any accepted rule Of
logic
But the Biblo Is FREQ from all these
errors. This one characteristic Of the
sncrcd writings is alone the greatest
miracle Of the apes. For though Christ
raised the dead He had not The power
70 raise such a tremendous historic fact
out Of the grave Of untruth.
Easter, then, in COMMUNICATING
Christ's resurrection, commemorates ali
truth. II is a beacon light Of tremen-
dous Significance reaching across the
ages 90 tho cradle Of mankind and
sweeping onward into the cons Of eter.
nifty. J. l.. WAITE.