Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-04-16

Ing JOYFUL on Easter Day.
Rev. C. B. Graham, ID. D., delivered
very appropriate Easter sermon to a
large and appreciative congregation at
the North Street M. E. church yester-
day morning, taking for his theme,
Easter JOY" His text was according
to John 20: 20, Then were the Discip-
les glad when they saw the Lord
The minister Interestingly pointed out
the purposes of the resurrection of
Christ and the reasons that man should
be particularly joyful upon the occa-
sion of Easter.
The Rev. Mr.. Graham began by
speaking of the Interchangeable
nature of God and the perma-
nency of the church as a di-
vine institution and also the benefits
to man of these characteristics of God
and His institutions. He spoke of the
difficulty of finding something new to
say upon the subject of these anniver-
saries of the church, were it not for
the fact that mans conditions are con-
tinually changing.
There are many people, he said,
"who are always seeking the new
the new religion, the new church, the
new pastor and indeed almost anything
that is new. They do not seem to re-
member that the salt in common use
to-day is the same old salt in it's ma
ture as was spoken of by the Saviour.
1t is true the manner of its use
changes to meet the changing condi-
tions of man, but the salt is the same.
The church is the same old divine in
stitution and there is no other name
given in Heaven or among men by
which man can be saved except the
name of Him whom we honor on this
Easter Day.
The Resurrection Foretold.
The speaker next referred to the
resurrection of Christ as foretold prior
to his incarnation. This he showed
by the presentation of the promises of
God made to man from the first re-
Duke of Satan in the garden of Eden
to the fulfillment of these promises in
the person of Christ He said that
there is a beautiful connection of the
promises of God as golden chain
from the delivery to the fulfillment.
He then dwelt upon the symbolical
presentation of Christ, commencing
with the pouring of the oil and the
sprinkling of the blood upon the
priests heads in their conservation to
the holy office of priesthood and in the
various symbolical services of the
church to the day when at the age of
thirty years John sprinkled the run
ming water of the Jordan upon Christ
head in fulfllment of the prophecy OF
Ezekiel. "Then will / sprinkle clear
water upon you and We shall be clear
from all your fllthiness, and from all
your idols, will / cleanse YOU. rms
language, the minister thought, lnul-
Gated the mission of Christ and Uhe
character of His work. He then called
attention to the descending dove, ac-
companied by the Heavenly voice, con-
firming that symbolica1 scene. he
presented also the prophecies, dWelllhs
especially on those of Isaiah as pre-
senting wildly the scenes that nave
their consummation to-day.
The minister then gave beautiiui
word picture of the way IN Whlcn
Christ has always invited investlga-
ton. and remarked that christianity
has nothing to conceal. When the
Narys came to the tomb of Joseph
they were seeking light upon the
great subject of the resurrection. III
would seem strange as we think OF
that first Easter morn as they sought
Christ in the tomb, they should have
done so at sunrise, when it was the
natural hour for the son of righteous
ness to rise from the tomb in fulfill
ment of His prophecy. Blessed
thought! They looked into
An Empty Grave,
although they had gone there to an
ONT Him. The evidences of the re-
surrection continued to increase dur
ing that first day until every one that
obeyed Him was convinced. Inc text
is an expression of JOY at his first
public appearance with his disciples.
| They had assembled to await develop
mentS with closed doors, Tor Tear that
the enemies who had crucified him
would continue their murderous work
by Staying them. He said: Peace be
unto you.' and also requested them
to examine him and be convinced,
saying: Behold my hands and feet.
Handle me and see, for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones as We see me have. :
He then gave as further evidence of
his resurrection in its realities, the
eating before them. He requested of
them food. They gave him part of
a broiled fish and a piece of honey
comb, which he ate before them and
their skepticism was dispelled.
These evidences broadened until
Paul speaks of five hundred witnesses
at a time. but this all is as an atom
| in space compared with the witnesses
of to-day. In our opening services we
repeated together the apostles creed,
instituted at the close of the second
century, which has expressed the car
dinal orthodox principles of Christian
| ity through all these centuries, and