The San Francisco call., 1899-04-02
EASTER Day.


cepted by them as established by incontrovertble
evidence which also proves the Immortality OF IN
dividualized life and thus furnishes inexpressible
consolation for the struggles, the pain, the separa-
tons the disappointments under which from the
beginning of time mankind has groaned. II to this
enormous mass of human beings we add the total
number who have lived and died in the same belief
since the dawn OF the Christian era, the whole CON
stitutes such demonstration OF faith, such man-
festaton OF what Mr. Gladstone called the influence
OF authority in matters of opinion, as renders Easter
central point in history and reduces materiaism In
all its forms insignificant factor IN CIVILIZATION
1t is not for a secular newspaper to discuss the theo
logical aspects OF this festival but of its phases
are OF universal interest and Importance. From the
earliest records of the human is apparent that
the law of contrast the opposing elements and forces
set loose in the world visible and invisible, have de-
manded explanation and solution. Light and dark
ness heat and cod storm and calm, and other similar
natural phenomenal each OF which was obviously es-
sentia to the comprehension OF the other, were ex
plicabe to the simplest mind. But the mysteries OF
good and evil the successes of wickedness the tal-
tres OF virtue the nroads OF disease, the poignant
torures that were the accompaniments of developed
intellect and sensbility the brevity OF those close
relationships of which love was the cement, wrought
humanity into ntolerable doubt, fear and anguish
that from within itself, beyond relief There
seemed to be a necessity for prolongation OF life
beyond the grave to recty apparent injustice and to
supply compensations for misery and for failure
Thus out of individual experiences and reflection the
world was prepared for the doctrine of the
ton 1t has been sometimes claimed that the Old
Testament does not refer to the perpetuation OF
human life but there, in secular and contem-
poraneous literature, this aspiration Of man is ex-
pressed and its truth declared and Illustrated. Cen
tures after their death it is recorded that the divine
proclamation issued, fraught with the assurance
OF immortality, Il the God of Abraham and the
God OF Isaac, and the God OF jacob When Job
was in the depth OF his agony he is accredited with
saying, And though after my skin worms destroy
this body yet in my flesh shall l God" Isaiah,
in his majestic phrase, gave the same assurance
The dead shall live together with my body
shall they arise" Habakkuk, in his impressive me-
morial, some passages in which the climax Of
eoquence tersely expressed the desire of nations"
in the declaration I'VE shall not die" David stung
with grief while his child was in mortal agony ceased
70 mourn when he was dead, and said, Il shall go to
him. but he shall not return to me-" OF Elijah it is
related that he accomplished the work of raising
from the dead for the widow OF Zarephath The
soul OF the child into him again and he re-
vved." similar miraculous resuscitation is at
tributed to Elisha in the case of the child OF the
Shunamte.
These references are made in this place not es-
pecally because they are found in the Bible but for
the reason that they gather up and enforce the an
swer the deepest problems to which the intellect
and the heart OF the were attracted. 1t
these lines that the education OF the world advanced
toward the higher civilization that the festival OF
Easter emblazons Belief in the indvidualized inn
mortality OF the human soul is not monopoizcd by
F~t. . =
fc doctrine OF the Resurrection which is common to
all orthodox believers however discordant on other
points When Paul confronted King Agrippa he in
CURED, ''Why should ii be thought thing incredible
with you that God should raise the dead?" And in
order to show the pivotal importance OF the Easter
conception 10 the higher life OF man, both spiritual
and intellectual, he that unequaed chapter in
his First Epstle to the Corinthians in which he CON
centrated his underlying thought in the question: If
after the of have fought with beasts at
Ephesus, what advantageth it me it the dead rise
no? and as the alternative to his faith reproduced
the language OF Isaiah Let us eat and drink for to-
morrow we die
In its practical influence upon human progress and
upon advancing civilization Easter is the festival OF
festivals. Ii meets the deepest necessities OF man.
1t hits him above himself and into the faithful recog-
non OF responsibilities and duties that distinguish
10 the embrace of an aspiring fraternity It sancti-
es the domestic affections and him that death
is but temporary separation and that reunion with
those who have reached his heart earth is not
delusion but certainty 1t assures to him the growth
and the identity OF MS soul, protects him against
the virulent evils that aSsai him. and fits him
for the future that prophet sage and martyr have
ticipated Tor him.
Easter is set as jewel in the bosom OF spring. 1t
surrounded by analoges which strengthen the
victions that ypifes Nature is resurrected from
the death OF winter, and the sprirging grass, the
protruding bud the tinted flower attest the univer
salty OF life and that the lapse OF vitality is but pro-
cess OF quickenng and OF reorganization. There is
Irish legend that on Easter morning the sun dances
in the sky and it certain that wherever the har-
monous chimes OF this mighty tribute TO eternity are
heard light and warmth touch the human heart to
finer issues and to nober ambition