The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-03
truth md TRADITIONS.
REV. 4. ". MARTIN DRAWS Les
SONS FROM EASTER FESTIVAL.
Of ChFfss-Day Should Cem1ea-
crate Rising Of . View sense Of

AZ Earke ha1 last night Rev. Alfred
N Martin addressed his usual co.grega-
ton OF s'Ezsee- Traditions and Truths"
He said = part.
We are o<ter asked why we. wao
discard the thought ~ a supernatural
jesus. who derry MS sacrficsal character
ard his p-sestfy atoaernent. who dksae-
Leys thar the a-ady oEce dead and buried
viii ever be -eSu--ectei in the cd form
should celebrate the Easter festival The
surprise ought % BE- TIA. those who be-
Aave IN All exclusive christian revezs-
ten should have Use fer 4 festival 20
much Older taan Christianity. SO saSu--
sssd with what they would cali pagan
Ate ani thought.
TIE wonder Is that they should make
exclusive argument for immortality out
o. the s<ory CO Jesus resurrection. while
similar stories cluster around Ire name
ard fame % 50 many % earta's noble
ones We celebrate Easter BY prior
right. ours Is he primal claim: for the
EaSer thought rests upon foundation
SO ancient that Il makes modern Jesus
and Paul"
Mr. Martin then traced the origin Of the
Christian Easter hack 20 the old Roman
religion. thence % the sriI earlier Aryan
religions. showing that throughout al, q
them universal permanent element ex-
.sts and hat this justified a society for
universal religion in taxing cognszanea Of
Easter.
But" said The speaker. ''the fact that
over four hundred Millions regard Easter
as the festival % the risen Christ de-
uaan1s that We examine me evidence
on Mich TIE resurrection OF Jesus rests
Then followed Il careful, candid exam :
iratioa OF all the New Testament evi-
ese-ce. leading Is 20 the conclusion -
ne sad. that nowhere IS the evsdenee
sufficient TO justify belief n the physical
resurrection taught IN the Christian
cres1s and celebrated il the Christian
Easter Yet rad Il not been for -he rise
ties would never have rallied from their
despair and propag gated thssr Masters
felih- over against the E4sttr tradition
q payslca resurrection we would set
c-lciacd truth q JESUS and 81 the spirit
OF loyalty and service tha. was the ma
teT-passion II his ate.
We may not believe in that bodily
resurrection Which orthodox ereeds as
se-t, bur We 60 believe In the uprising
<--ssrst and me eternal progress tyyeS, IN
the valley and he hillside and promise,
by all the prophets OF the race The Eas
sung BY q sect, the Easter % the uprix-
ins soul q a grand chorus OF all the
naslons Of re sarth. IL = utterly vain
the rssssage because II means nothing 20
- But IN the first century IL meant
everything 20 the working world. because
jesus had promised TO usher IN rev
tsoc.al order HIS supposed resurrection
ard ascension meant that hoge OF The
establishment CT this new social order
had not gone, that the Chrt<s would re-
appear and bring in the kingdom Of
heaven on earth.
Ard what s wanted today is hopa
for the struggling. telling hosts Of men
To sing ar.s1 is RISEN when The spirf.
% Jesus Is absent from mems hearts
Wien men think 50 aleariy OF the future
or the race ard do SO Itsfe 10 rsr,ovs
the causes that produce suffering and
want. To pray for men fs easy, bu. rha
Koran nobly says enc hour OF Justice r.
~orta seventy years % prayer lie: Us
have an Easter that shall mean the -5s
ing OF new ssnse % justice in mems
hearts and a grand. worthy hope for the
futura OF mankind IL. Easter he ~a-
rtcted with resurrection from ss3rshnass
and apathy 10 q new life q. n.stfra !,
Industry. in society, in the state ara
then in truth viii the kingdom OF heaven
c1nae"