New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-25
T1YSTDE SACRAMENIS.

Inc lnllrcUpS lo-uu. VIII iNh'"''~
story Of redemption and resurrection and all inc
miracles of grace which preceded ana 1oiloweu
thc rolling away of the stone from the sepul-
chrc. But one may go far adeld where neither
anthem nor the tolllng of church bells can be
heard. and find books in the running Droohs'
sermons in stones and good in everything
In these early spring days Nature cup Vi
blessing is trimming full with premonitions OF
retention and resurrection. In Woodlahu'
meadow and swamp fen new life comes from
the expiring touch Of old life. The earliest VIII
flowers are bursting into bloom in the shcltereu
hooks. where the swirling autumn leaves ha'c
found their last resting place The last sum-
mcrtdc of glorious vcrdurc contributes Ill dea'h
and decay Il large share of the vital force re-
quircd for evolving fresh revelations OK Color
and beauty during the coming summcrtlde
The earth is redeemed from the torpor OF sus-
pended vitality. As one stands on the sunny
slope Of a woodland bog, looking for the purple
hoods of the atrOcOusly named skunk CABBAGE
and breaking oft stems Of pussy-willow' lie
seems 10 feel the stir and throb OF creative
fierce In the earth beneath and the sky overhead
For how true ii il that the earth IN this
sprinCtlmc season Of revival and resurrection
* ouckcncd with the spirit of light and life
There Is the same bamy atmosphere IN iate
October the same movement or purifying
breeze. the same rich mists of sunlight, the
same chemical properties of soil and moisture'
Int growth there II none, and life Is paralyZed
and SUSPENDED All these agencies OF light,
heat, air. water and earth are supplied In spring
and there Is life, resurrection, growth ana re-
ncwal Of beauty and vertlure The most con-
vincing and unanswcrablc OF the Easter SER
mons IS preached by Nature at her waysidc
sbrincs I'm forest and swampland; and 1T is
sacramcntal teaching. Worshippcrs at those
shrines not only receive limitations Of the great
mystery of life and redemption after DEATH but
they NAV also find evidences OF grace divine III
all the agencies of light and life which are
working the transformation Of the seasons, the
oldest OF miracles, yet always new, fresh ana
awclnspirng
For who that rcjoccs in the scenes. sounds.
scents and all-pcrvading consciousness of re-
ncwal Of life in early spring can believe that
this world OF ours IS machine wound up for
all eternity and warranted to run automatically
by means Of its own mechanical resources!
Wonderful rs Is the orderly universe which sell
cncc reveals. ii bears evidence not only OF oriSl-
nal creative design. but also Of constant super
intcndcncc and repair and the operation or the
lifc-giving mlnistrations OF snow and rain
storm and fog. wind and calm. sunlight ana
shadow. warmth and moisture. The world lives
anew In every springtimc resurrection by virtue
OF the cooperation Of llfc-glylng and lifc-sus-
tanning forces. Not more certain Is II that the
tides Of the maintain life within their
depths by keeping the waters In motion, ana
affect the conditions Of continents by drawing
winds after them, than il Is that lightning.
heat cold rain. storm. light and cloud are life
giving sacramcntal agencies in the redemption
and resurrection OF the earth after the wintry
gloom of death. Every year the earth IA born
again and enters upon new and glorious after
life: and there is a lf~givng spirit In all the
operations Of natural forces. The orderly Gre
atcd world is not clock that runs down late in
the autumn and winds itself up again In the
spring. There is a qulckcnng Spirit of Life
always broodng over land and sea