Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-18
EASTER THOUGHTS.
THE TEST OF NEARLY NINETEEN
HUNDRED YEARS.
Tho Parable Of the hesurrecuon In
the Grnss and Grain-Comfortfng
Renectjons-A Touching Incident
Enster Eggs. rI,liJJis.

ALTON. VA. April le.-tspecial)-Ihe
world is indebted 70 Mr.. Andrew Lang
for the newest logical explanation OF
the religious instinct in rlan-viz., that
"the very idea OF God first arose from
the terror aud amazement OF an ape at
the sound of thunder-and the apes made
man."
Mr. Lang f. welcome TO the first part
of his assertion, and no one quarrels with
him about the latter clause-if he feels
that way-but though a great deal or
poetic license may be forgiven the poet
laureate in his own kingdom, this idea
in prose is as ridiculous as its subject.
In the first place how does the poet
know? He cannot remember so far
back. and the Oldest monkey language
is unwritten.
This age is analytic. More and more
are we drawing back from theory and
bald assertion, and demanding, even in
our spiritual faith, that which bears
practical deduction.
"In the beginning was God" This Is
the evidence of the one Book upon which
every other truth and fact pertaining
to the Christian religion hangs. The
Bible is neither n myth nor legendary.
there is too much light out Of the East.
Bricks from the mounds of Assyria and
tablets from the Valley Of the Nile prove
it to be history. straightforward and SIM
pie, though a history. as ii claims to be,
OF the word of God: the visible express
sion of His invisible self toward us.
Only fools decry religion. Even Bob
l,.- lrt,l.f a
own relative to the great First Cause and
some sort of an existence beyond the
grave. If he could weed it out from his
fiowery rodomontade. Christianity is pre-
eminently a religion of facts and doc
trines. and IS not all sentiment. OF
all religions. the great criterion Of Di-
vine origin is Che sacred festival the world
celebrates this week-the resurrection of
Christ from the dead.
HAS STOOD THE TEST.
For nearly 1900 years this fact has
stood the test of the most minute exam
ination. If it is certain. Christianity is
certain. for Christ himself made it the
test. IF Christ be not risen from the
dead" says St. Paul, your faith is in
vain" The proofs are overwhelming.
with no excuse for incredulity. Christ's
death was absolutely certain and most
public. Not only was He cfucified upon
the Friday-which is to-day-but he was
entombed in a sealed sepulchre until
the morning Of the third day-Easter,
a name derived from "Oster," rising,
and which is emblematic Of the resur-
rection.
No fact in history IS better attested
than the fact of the resurrection. The
very pains that the Roman Government
took to prevent any attempt TO remove
the body Of Christ from the tomb pre-
cludes the idea of deception. There
were many witnesses among his enc
mics who did not wish to believe that
Christ could escape from that safe tomb,
fastened with the great seal that gave
must unwilling admission to the fact at
the time. These had every opportunity
OF knowing the truth-a conviction of
mind which was totally at variance with
their own beliefs or desres, or, what
was then as potent to move mankind as
now-an admission that was against
their own interests.
More certain. II possible, than the
death and burial of Christ, is the fact
Of His appearing alive afterwards. His
disciples saw Him. heard Him, felt Him,
walked and talked and ate with Him.
one one occasion more than five hundred
saw Him at once, and the great Apostle
wrote and many OF these died testifying
TO the truth. Men do not, and never
have, died for a chimera. They must
have belief. When there is only one
way of accounting for power that no
one denies, that way must be accepted.
From apostolic times TO our own there
is only one way of accounting for the
facts of Christian history; that way is
the recurrence of Christ. If He arose
all these might truly be- If he did not
arise, why have any of these things
the extension of the Christian Church
or the place it holds this Easter in the
hearts Of mankind-cOme into existence?
Year after year the beautiful parable
Of the resurrection repeats itself. In
each tiny blade of grass or grain of
wheat we may read the lesson of eternal
life. The little shining grain, which,
dying, springs up into a harvest hun
dred fold is symbolical of the higher,
eternal life. We live, we die. and we
live again. The principle Of life, as with
the seed. which animates this body, be-
lieve, will animate the body always. L
believe it is something OF sin to de-
spise too utterly the body. which Is
of Gods own making. Asceticism is not
from Heaven. We should honor the
body and use II healthily and well. hoping
for that resurrection day when 1t shall
shine in heavenly splendor, just as