The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-10
EASTER SUNDAY.
Beautiful Day-Beautifuli Churches
Full Houses Of Worship.


Last Sunday was Easter. The day was a
beautiful one, and all nature seemed to re.
joice. Religious services were held in all the
churches, except the Presbyterian church,
which was closed In consequence OF the SICK
ness OF the pastor, DR.. j. Lowrie Wilson.
The Episcopal church was elaDOrateiy ana
beautifully decorated.
The Methodist church bore flowers and
other evidences Of preparation for the cele-
bration OF the greatest event In the Chris
then your faith is vain.
Al the Associate Reformed church simple
pot of modest flowers bore testimony OF The
loyalty and love Of humble followers OF the
Nazarene.
Flowers and our Saviour are inseparable.
He likeped himself TO the Rose Of Sharon and
the Lily Of the Valley, while he com manded
us to consider the lilies of the field. When
he was crucified women brought spices to
mbalm his body, and rested the Sabbath
day according to the commandment. When
be was TO be buried he was taken TO q
repulchre, and laid 10 the tomb amid the
fragrant the garden belonging to Joseph, In a
city Of the Jews.
And ever since the crucifxlon and ascen-
sion of our Saviour, flowers have been asso-
ciated in mind and action with all that per.
tain TO the important issues OF life and death.
When we are born flowers are welcome
when we rejoice In feastlng or In banquetting
flowers greet the eye and lend their charm I;
when we marry flowers give an added pleas
ure; when We die the flowers that make
fragrant the air about our graves also give
consolation to the mourners.
Then flowers should adorn our gardens,
they should beautify our homes, and they
should make fragrant the holy atmosphere
that pervades our temples which were erect
ed and dedicated TO the worship Of the Holy
one. Did he not set US an example by plant.
ing flowers on bill and valley, even far from
AT The Associate Reformed church Mr..
Sloan preached on the subject OF "Tht
Empty Tomb" using the words OF Luke 24:3
not the body OF the Lord Jesus"
He spoke substantially as follows:
Human beings never suffered sorer dis
That they should find the tomb empty, was
surely one thought that did not occur TO them
The perpleXing question was, "WhO shall
roll away the stone from the door OF the sep
ulchre?"
It was too great for the women to move,
still 1t had TO be moved, for they had bought
and brought spices and ointmeDts; and for
the sake Of the old love and friendship, they
were going TO embalm the body for It's "last
long Sleep"
first thought was OF graVe-robbers. They
we're assured, however. that the body had
not been stolen. but that Christ was rlsen."
We are confronted by the fact of the resur-
rection. We call 1t fundamental fact in the
Christian system. Is IT a fact? Some deny
that the Savior did come forth from the grave
How do we know that the dust OF Mary's
wondrous son does not sleep somewhere In
the hills of Palestine?
There is evidence, abundant and indisputa-
BILE. 1t is said that the way TO establish Il fact
Is to find somebody who can Say, IL know 1t,
for saw It,"
The resurrection has such testimony, and
the witnesses were trustworthy, and many,
and unanimous, and slow TO believe what
they were compelled TO believe and bear wit
ness to.
significant. 1t means, so far as the risen One
Is concerned, that be was what the Scriptures
represented him to be, what he claimed TO be,
aud what four hundred millions of the hu-
man race to-day believe him to be-the true
Christ of God. the hope OF Israel.
The empty tomb is the browning evidence
OF bis Messiah ahship. He was declared to be
the Son of God with power by the resnrrec-
This resurrection means something to US
also. Itputs an end TO doubt about the reality
Of future existence. DOUBT Of this kind is a
dark, dreadful thing. +. w. Robertson says,
There are some who have never thrown
their hopes with such earnestness upon the
world 10 come as to feel anxiety lest II should
not all be true" But those who have believed
In great way, and therefore doubted, know
what 1t means TO look into grave with
momentary feeling at least that the grave
may be the end of all. But the broken tomb
in Josephs garden does dispe doubt from
the thinking mlnd, ana makes our way
through this world radiant with the fore
CLEANS of an immortal existence.
The broken tomb means, too, that our 30.
journ in the grave will be temporary, not
eternal.
In Venice there is q marvellouslly beauti.
full monument. Within II rests the body OF q
little child. On the door these words are In.
scribed, It'll He Come" An angel, carved In
pure white marble, stands by the door with
one hand upon the latch, the other holding q
trumpet, with face upturned as look Ing for
Him who said, ~ will come again." That
work Of mason and sculptor is the product OF
an intelligent faith.
His rising assures our own. "Now is Christ
risen from the dead and become the firstfruits
Of them that slept"
Thia must be. The word of the Lord de.
clares 1t. Cut out of the Bible all about the
resurrection, and the book Is mutilated al
most beyond recognition.
A complete redemption requires 1t. You
are q composite creature. Not soul, not body
alone. A disembodied spirit is not a man; q
spiritless body Is not a man. 1t takes DO tn to
make q human being. The body must be
saved as we'll as the soul, II salvation Ia com
plete. Hence the apostle says, we walt for
tie adoption, TO wit, the redemption Of the
body"
The universal hope of man calls for the
resurrection. God creates no hope like that
without satisfying II.
This is the message Of this glad Easter day.
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