The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-04-16

not wrapped up IN form ana 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.
Everybody in civilization, be he Or
thodox or heterodox, theist or inhdel,
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
joSnd 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 II
we might, and whom we elevate into
the zenith of our affections and aspira-
tons. He always typifies what is high
est, broadcast, grandest in our possible
selves, tho best that is attainable in our
conception, and yet wholly free from OBJ
security or mysticism. Who has ever
heard any one complain that the nature
of Jesus is unintelligible? No wonder
that lost Christians have turned from
the ,ea of the Father to the presenta-
ton of the Son, the embodiment of char.
it., the ultimate of benefcence.
The majority of thoughtful persons
we ceased to ponder the supernatural,
Which defies comprehension. They are
inc
natural, still occupying unreasonable
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 wears longer. backed by
the law of eternal progress, and may
finally reach the plane OH which the
good Jesus stands. Then he will have
solved the mysteries of nature, and the
supernatural, as now named, will be
superfuous. The human and the divine
will be absorbed III one another and will
be virtually synonymous. The plan and
purpose of the universe will be in some
manner disclosed, and faith be supplant-
ed 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
Professionals today than it formerly did
or OF wit, fha
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 a
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. It's celebration is in
complete harmony with it's rites and
methods, which are opposed to the sim
pier, severer creed of the Professionals.
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 in favor.
JUNIUs HENRI BROWNE