The Van Buren press., 1894-04-21
IN MEMORIAM.
Sermon Delivered at the Funeral Of
the Late J. w. Kerr by the
Rev. T. J. REYNOLDS.

The following discourse was deliv.
cred at the methodist Episcopal
Church, South, Van Buren,, Ark.
Sunday April 8, 1894, the occasion be-.
Ing the funeral of the late lamented
James w. Kerr. At the urgent re-
quest of many friends, who were pres
ent and heard the discourse, whose
intelligent judgment >can not be ig-
nored, have consented to furnish
the matter for publication, after re-
casting some portions of it. And en-
larging some thoughts, 1t goes forth
In this form with the earnest hope
that 1t may do good.
IT,. REYNOLDS.
THE PHILOSOPHY OF DEATH AND THE
RESURRECTION.
TEXT: Verify, Nrily, say unto you except
a corn Of Wheat fall into he ground and die, il
abideth alone; but Il it die il brinqeth forth
much fruit. JOHN XII: "a.
God man. was philosopher Of the highest order,
II indeed ne does not stand forth as the greatest
philosopher known to the world will be con-
ceded oy all men, scientists and sceptics not eX-
cepted speaking TO the multitude which stood
On tne shore or Gennessaret he accommodates
his simple utterances to their understanding;
speaking for the cultured ear of the Greek, who
sought after wisdom, his words have profound
philosophic import Here we have the two great
schools Of philosophy face to face In his utter
ances on this occasion the God -man epitomizes
the Philosophy OF Death and the Resurrection.
What was all their boasted wisdom in compari-
sou with the lofty utterances of him who spake
as as never man spake" In Him dwelt all the full.
all ages, He speaks simple yet sublime words.
In this one short sentence He cOmpacts truth that
reaches backward to the beginning and forward
to the end. He clearly sets forth the whole pro-
cess of nature in Its work Of reproduction. This
Is seen in:
1.-THE SEED.
The seed contains the embryonic plant and
fruit In its nascent state-"abiding alone" sur
rounding and attaching to this germnal element
and wall of protection to ii, is that part, or
body, which must fall into the ground and die"
that 1t may feed the atomic life. Hence this
to protect the frail life. q. As store of food
How delicate that life
So easily destroyed, yet possessed of such
potency Life Life !. is ! but breath, Lying 10 its
delicate fabric that covers its face; arrived at
manhood 1t may blow a storm that will disturb
the nations Of the world. Drop this atomic life
ment in congenial soil, and meeting favorable
conditions, It will develop force that will widen
the cleft and Lift hundred tons in its arms. In
this world to confound the mighty" But TT us
dismiss this now that we may give attention to,
2-THE UNIVERSAL LAW OF PROPAGATION.
The law may be thus stated: All things of
which life and growth may be predcated have
well defined origin; that is. In principle anal
rule admits of no exception. II Is not the pur-
pose to discuss evolution In its bearing on the
question; there Is form or kind of evolution
which is true there is another form or theory,
which is baseiess and. therefore, untrue or false
The first has its beginning in the principle ele-
ment Of seed life, or germinal principle. No
evolutlonist will deny this proposition: OF
series OF negations forever. There must of
necessity be change of the law by which a
negation, or nothing, is governed-the introduc-
it may in which are the possibilities of being.
generation and reproduction Each species Of
animal or vegetable life is traceabe to this ini:
origin and place under the law Of being, genera
tion and reproduction, the terms or conditions
OF which law are; Everything In Its own order
and aiteT Us snd ih Any violation - Of this law
the loss of It's identity-in the latter case it is
development in the former death Beyond this
initial pointit is wholly impossible to investigate.
the decree of Him who has set bounds thereto.
Whether all life is from floating molecule,
millions Of ages In the past, does not affect the
question A child would ask. "wno MADE 1T ?
a philosopher would ask BY what means did
1t come into the possession of the power to evolve
from its microscopic proportions all lifc-to fill
tne uulVeTSe VIII ACbVe tnrOUDluB lie, prOuuc.
ing sentient and nonsentient beings giving 10
| each the form and power of being as 1T s,verally
elected, and laws by which each fell into its Sc
| lected place to move In sphere distinctly its
own. developing on lines widely at variance and
neither encroaching upon the right or realm OF
the other 7 AS the centuries came anu went
some individual life has scaled the highest pin
nacles and ruled on thrones as gods; others are
doomed to exc out lone, silent existence at
tached to the cold. bare rocks in the sunless re-
treats Of the ocean, Amid the infinite mazes OF
nent, uncertainty and guideless, without the
lamp of revelation. Who is blind and stupid
but he who refuses to see the energizing. direct.
ing and controlling power Of infinite mind and
to adore the same If man had accomplished
tithe. however small, of what is attributed oft to
blind force. operating under no well defined law
other than that known by the poor name of
he would have been dcfied and the scientific
world would be seen gathering about q thousand
alters In rs many fanes. But because the infinite,
this, He Is ruled out amid the shout There is
no GOd!" and Nature, so called, receives the
honor. What. after all, is nature but the thought
9f God in actyityUthe expression Of Gods
claims for superior wisdom may be, and as they
relate to the wisdom of this world'-"which is
fOOlishness with God'-the claims may be just
and may receive due acknowledgement; yet.
Just how amid these unfolding splendors To the
investigating mind, splendors that kindle and
blaze at the approach of the christian scientist.
| y
they escape or evade every thought of God. or
shut out the thunder of His voice, having eyes
and ears and neither seeing or hearing this Is
mystery no less wonderful than those of which
In the heart Is necessary to correct intsrpreta'
ton of the thought of God as revealed In nature.
There Is, also, another law as universal in its
operation as the one just noticed. 1t Is this:
WITHOUT DEATH THERE IS NO ORGANIC LIFE.
Owing to limited knowledge of the laws of
prOcreation as they relate to Man and all animals
| IA - ~NaI hat III w,la 1,r
holds good as it regards them; by parity of rea-
son, however. it would seem to be true. But
this statement will not be challenged Destruc-
ton Of life, which means death Is essential 10
day was led to the slaughter yesterday where Its
life was sacrificed for maintenance of ours. Riy-
ers Of blood which Is the life" flow through
the earth or Is swallowed up by iti these GRIM
son streams tel! the story of slaughter for man
and beasts aud birds of prey. Then why should
the greater and nObler sacrifice made by The
Lamb slain. "as II were from the foundation OF
the world" be questioned, scorned, rejected.
But speak more particularly Of the earth,
whose power Of reproduction is made perpetual
py tne qnaa'y OF esad mas.er M consumed me- py ;s ~
manner the richest soil would become poor and
barren An unfed soil is robbed Of its power to
give and support the life Oft nations. To make
It prolific Of life feed it death. For death it
gives life In exchange. Compost and other
effect matter cost the farmer millions; their ap-
plication to the soils multiplies and returns the
millions In grain fruit and grasses. The seri-
| Gus question is, from what stores shall the races
of men draw the former to multiply the latter,
seeing an unfed earth means an earth dying of
hunger; the world dead carries with 1t the ami
But the Infinite wisdom Of her Creator has not
neglected this essential condition; vast stores
of earth food have been arranged under the pres
ent constitution of nature, upon which the earth,
with her teeming life, subsists, and to each is
distributed portion according to its kind and
widely variant existence. A new world comes
t..A> r<,fsV pt cd hrvtV
| only adore benefcient wisdom and pass on If
| He made thing and invested 1t with life IN any