The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-04-17
WHAT shall we say to
Inc historical Paul's testimony to
Testimony. the Resurrection of


Inc historical Paul's testimony to
Iestlmony' the Resurrection of
Christ? What can we say? Is it credible
that five hundred of the best and bravest
of men-men the most devout and with
the most awful reverence for God-lied
about God and conquered the world
with their lie? If we are not to believe
the historical fact to which they bear
witness with one consent. what can we
believe? To what historical fact more
than a century old can we produce so
many witnesses of character so high
and noble? IL we are not to believe the
Twelve and Five Hundred we can be-
lieve no man, and least Of all ourselves.
To reject their testimony is to reject all
testimony; it is to reduce the whole
realm of historical fact to mirage shift
ing for ever into new and still deceptive
forms. To suppose that men OF their
character banded together as false wit
nesses of God to palm an imposture on
the world, and that they succeeded in
their attempt is to accredit miracle
the most monstrous, malignant, incred-
ible; it is to seat the dark spirit of evil,
the very father of lies. on the throne of
God. Unless we are prepared for that,
We may meet all the forces of scepticism
with the triumphant conclusion. "Now
is Christ raised from the dead, the first
fruits of them that sleep."-Samuel Goa.
author of "Salvator Mundi."
500
In these revival times
Edwards on Re- when the churches
VlValS' are expecting large
acc essions through the efforts of pro-
fessional revivalists, a modest estimate
nse DIS to be placed upon the net results
of such membership. Jonathan Ed
wards, the prince of high Calviniste,
whose terrific sermons gave the impulse
to one of the greatest revivals this coun-
try has ever seen. did not base any very
large expectations on the net results of
revival movements. His testimony is
now seldom quoted, but it is worthy of
remembrance. The great Calvinist
preacher put it in this way-a rather
poetical statement of what he appre.
hended as the exact facts: II cannot
say that the greater part OF supposed
converts give reason by their converse
ton to suppose that they are true con-
verts. The proportion may perhaps be
more truly represented by the proper
ton of the blossoms on tree which
abide and come to mature fruit to the
whole number of blossoms in spring."
800
THE developments of
Inc uloDe oaV- last week in rela-
ings Bank. tion to the suspended
Globe Savings Bank of this city, fur
nishes another evidence of the pressing
need that exists for savings institutions
coming in some way under government
control. The more the situation of the
broken bank is understood. the more
clearly it appears that there has been
gross Encouragement and criminal ap-
preparation of funds. Some three hun
dred depositors, many of them of the
class that need their savings for imme-
diate expenses, are left destitute, and
much suffering is the result. In the
meantime the president of the Globe is
in hiding and only accessible to his
bondsmen and personal friends. The
president of the Globe was also treasurer
of the State University at Champaign,
and has apparently made way with
$4,000 ready money belonging to the
institution, and about $4,000 of the
University securities are also tied up
in the wreck of his financial affairs. AS
a consequence the University will be
seriously embarrassed and no one at
present can tell what will be the ulti-