Pleasantville weekly press., 1897-04-07

Dut tllS le6lluS mas D0euSt6dQlly wear
ing off. as is shown by all the denomi-
nations in the observance today of Eas-
ter. Congregationalists Presbyterians,
Baptists, Methodists, Unitarians, Uni
versalists, commemorate the occasion,
notably in cities, by special service,
with elaborate music and lavish decora-
tions of flowers. This is another tend
ency Of the time to the gradual har-
monizing of creeds and the fellowship
of creedists.
Since theology as such is generally
conceded to be declining the world over,
particularly in the republic, the wider
and wider acceptance of Easter may ap-
pear to be exceptional. Reflection. how
ever, will corroborate, instead of con-
tradicting, the opinion. A great many
church communicates who are counted
as orthodox do not believe in the divin-
ity Of Jesus-that is. in his being the
son Of God, coequal with him. The
Unitarians, for example, renounce that
belief altogether. But they hold him to
be the best, the purest, the noblest, the
most exalted of men, and, in such sense,
divine. They rank themselves and they
are ranked as Christians nevertheless.
Christians are, in any liberal inter
probation, all who love, admire, revere
the life and teachings of Jesus, his hu-
manity or divinity being of minor con-
sequence The Scriptural injunction
about believing in him has reference to
this, not, as they claim, to any theologic
assumption, rs Lord or Saviour. 1t is
essentially his human character, it is
thought, which has brought Easter into
so ardent and general favor. Jesus is
not wrapped up in form and dogma, is
not connected with any ecclesiastic bias
or patristic subtlety. His record in the
New Testament is clear, consistent,
convincing, practical. all goodness, sac
rifice, fulfillment of the highest duty.
Every body in civilization, be he Or
thodox or heterodox, theist or infidel,
skeptic or devotee, esteems and admires
Jesus. He is an incarnation of all the
virtues, not abstract, metaphysical, sub
limated, symbolic or allegorical, as are
SO many Biblical creatures. He appeals
to and answers the needs of humanity.
He really represents an anthropomorphio
deity, as SO many of us try to represent
what we conceive to be God. Jesus
stands for humanitarianism and ideal
morality. He is our spiritualized, glori-
fed brother whom we would resemble if
we might, and whom we elevate into
the zenith of our affections and aspira-
tions He always typifies what is high
est, broadcast, grandest in our possible
selves, the best that is attainable in our
conception, and yet wholly free from OBJ
scurity or mysticism. Who has ever
heard any one complain that the nature
of Jesus is unintelligible? No wonder
that most Christians have turned from
the idea of the Father to the presenta-
ton of the Son, the embodiment of char
ity, the ultimate of benefcence.
The majority of thoughtful persons
have ceased to ponder the supernatural,
which defies comprehension. They are
employing themselves instead with the
natural, still occupying immeasurable
space and promising to elude complete
apprehension for ages to come. Jesus
will ever remain an ideal, albeit so very
human, for man, strive as he may, dis
closes at present no possibility of match
ing him. But man. who has existed and
improved for hundreds of thousands of
years, will continue to improve for tens
of thousands of years longer, backed by
the law of eternal progress, and may
finally reach the plane on which the
good Jesus stands. Then he will have
solved the mysteries Of nature, and the
supernatural, as now named, will be
will be absorbed in one another and will
be virtually synonymous. The plan and
purpose of the universe will be in some
manner disclosed, and faith be supplant-
81 by knowledge. This will be the
spiritual requirement long foretold by
the transcendental.
Another reason, doubtless, why Easter
appeals so much more to the mass of
Protestants today than it formerly did
is its immediate association with the
doctrine of Immortality. The doctrine
is the same that was taught 10 centuries
since. but as time has gone on the mere
doctrine has become less abstract, more
and more concrete, taking the form Of
feeling. The great majority of enlight-
ened beings in this era undeniably long
for conscious immortality, in part be-
cause life here has palled upon them,
grown grievous to bear. Through science
and philosophy having been made skep-
tical of the future, they have as
result been more eager for it. While
they may not believe at all in the di-
vinity of Jesus, they identify him with
the doctrine, and such is the incongruity
of man they adhere to the observance
of Easter because it in some way an
swers to what they suppose to be their
psychal need.
Strictly speaking, Easter and all its
concomitants belong exclusively to the
Roman church. Its celebration is in
complete harmony with its rites and
methods, which are opposed to the SIM
pier, severer creed of the Protestants.
The Catholic church regards the in
creasing love of form and display in the
heretical denominations as~an evidence
of their gradual return to the pristine
fold, something Of which it has never
despaired.
At any rate it is easy to see why,
from spiritual and social reasons, the
ceremonial observation of Easter stead
lily grows III favor.
JUNIUS HENRI BROWNE.
Sports at Easter Time.