The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-04-04
EASTER LETTER.
Contributed to the Club by Ex-Prcsi-
dent yin r. Strnvn.

dent yin +. Strnv,n.
Dear FriendLI send you all warmest
greeting and best wishes with the follow
ing Easter renections-not in the form
Of carefully prepared paper. but simply
as the result of a brief hour of medita-
ton. inspired by another Easter ami
versary. so dear to every Christian heart.
If. as proverbially stated. a busy life
is the happiest, l have my full measure
of enjoyment However. 1 frankly adj
NIT that selfish endeavor, to which all
human energy with my own is largely
directed, is not closely allied to the
greatest happiness. But to give YOU the
letter as read at our Sunday-school mis-
Sionary entertainment:
1 praise God tonight for the unfadng
beauties Of revelation He has by grace
enabled me to enjoy. Prompted by a
fervent desire TO honor His commands,
as | claim His promises, / appreciate
this privilege of trying to present a few
thought-or truisms-in favor of an earn
est devoted Christian life as the only
means of the greatest earthly and eternal
happiness. How strange that man will
yield to satanic influence enough to
doubt the inspiration of the bible the
divinity Of Christ, the fact of His resur-
rection from the dead, or the claims OF
Christianity upon all who have heard the
glad tidings OF great joy" With ever
increasing brilliancy the Light Of the
Ages" as the rising sun of righteousness,
illumines the century's evening twilight.
for He is risenr Fondest thought Of
mortal man, 10, l am with you al
ways" Because 1 live We shall live
Also sublimest consultations. Christ's
sinlesS spirit suffered to show us how
10 suffer: He lived on earth To show us
how to live; He prayed to show US how
to pray; He died to show US how To die;
He assembled TO heaven to allure us 10
that almost boundless circle of brightest
radiance above, where revelation tells
MS there are pleasures beyond our COM
prehenSiOn, as the seashOre sands are be-
yond our number-pleasures that shall
fully satisfy beings in which are found
all beauty. and all purity. And we may
reasonably conclude that God exerts per-
petual creative powers for His own glory
and the enjoyment of His saints. to
whom is given the power Of endless pro-
gression and joyful discovery.
Human life was a rich endowment to
the parents Of the race.
Darkness and sin. the rival forces OF
the universe, o'ershadowed the will
power of man, in dense confusion mid
satanic shouts, and still to the masses
makes life beyond death but an interro.
cation point. oblivion Revelation
sends a messenger from the skies. not
as a sacrifice, but as an example-as a
means of communication between God
and man. Consoling- thought! that God
sees every conquest over self-every vic
tory Of love and grace. And every true
Christian would love to be as free FROM
self-interest and vanity as Christ
Doubt is the deep. dense satanic
shadow between humanity and things
spiritual and eternal. The world cares
little for the love Of Christ, whose re-
sponsive echo in the heart alone can
produce the greatest happiness. love
and wisdom. Mere formaiity OF the
church is mighty rushing. surging
tributary of the vast ocean of vice. Sin
is everywhere found under the mask of
virtue, self-interest under the guise OF
friendship SHAM" is written i'm bold
letters across many a cunningly con-
trived satanic imitation of intelligence
and goodness. The world rushes fever
ishly along i'm sensual drunken de-
liTium, its affections centered on stony,
hard featured idols OF human invention
They are considered fairer than truth
love and friendship.
But people do not mind being deceived.
They hate being instructed. And to