Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1897-04-11

to and answers tho needs of humanity. He really represents an anthropomorphio deity, as 3i l1any Of LIS try to represent what VIC conceive to be God Jesus stands foa kumaHitarianism and ideal lcrality. He is our spiritualized, glori fled brcther whom we would resemble ii we might, and whom we elevate into the zenitl4.of our affections and aspifa- tions He always tynifies what is high est broadest, grandest in our possible selves, the best that is attainable in our conception, and yet wholly free from ob- scurity or mysticism Who hes ever heard any one complain thatgthc nature of Jesus is uninteiigiblc? No weEdef that most Christians have turned from the idea of the Father to the presenta- ton ofithe Son, the embodimentef char ity, the ultimate of beneflccnce.
 The majority of thoughtful persons have ceased to ponder the supernatural, which defies comprehension. They are emplcying themselves instead with the natural, still occupying immeasurable space and promising to clude complete apprehension for ages to come. Jesus will ever remain HI 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 tho law of eternal progress, and may finally reach the plane on which the t.to ,1s.a aH 1,r solved the mysteries of nature, and the supernatural, as now named, will be superfluous. The human and the divine will be absorbed i'll one another. aud will be virtually synonymous. The plan and purpose of the universe will be ill some manner disclosed, and faith be supplant- eel by knowledge. This will be the spiritual requirement. long foretold by the transcendentall
 Another reason, doubtless, why Easter appeals so much moro 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 19centuries since but as time has gonc on the mere doctrine has become less abstract, more
 
 and more concrete, taking tho form of feeling. The great majority of enlight- cncd beings in this era undeniably long for conscious Immortality, in part be cause life here has palled upon them, grown grievous tosbear Through science and philosophy having been made skep- tical of the future, they have US d result been mere eager for it. While they may not believe at all in the di- yinity of Jesus, they identify him with the doctrine, and such is the incongruity of man they adhere to the observance of Easter because 1t in some way an- swers to what they suppose to be their psychal need
 Strictly speaking, Easter and all it's concomitants belong exclusively 10 the Roman church Its celebration is i'll complete harmony with it's rites and methods, which are opposed to the sim pier, severer creed of the Protestants. The Catholic church regards the in= ereasing 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 sec why, from spiritual and social reasons, the ceremonial observation of Easter stead fly grows in faver.
 JUN1Us HENRI BROWNE.