The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-08
ON CHRIST THE REDEEMER
The President Hears a Sermon by
the Rev. L. VI. Bristol.
What the Resurrection Meant to
MagdaIen and the DiscipIes-Les-
sons for Todny-Sfory of the saw
iour Risen Told the World Over.


Jour Risen Told the World Over.
At the Metropolitan Church yesterday
the Rev. Frank NJ Bristol spoke, taking
as his text ST John X:16: She turned her
self unto him and said Rabonai which is
Master
President Mckinley occupied his pew
and was accompanied by Mrs. Carrot
Hobart, Carrot Hobart. jr., and Miss Bar
Der, who is a guest at the White House.
The church was beautifully decorated,
and the pastor preached from a pulpit
almost completely hidden by Easter lilies
and by palms
DIR. Bristol said in part:
In the celebration of Easter time the
tomb of death is hidden behind the flow
ers of hope. Thousands of children of
man are brought together to celebrate the
power that brought Jesus from the grave
and will bring from the grave all who
believe the gospel of the resurrection.
1t is the gospel that has triumphed all
over the world. and the promise of the
hour is that all tongues are TO acknowl-
edge Jesus in the years to come and cry
with Mary Magdalen 'Rabonai. About
that poor weeping woman have gathered
millions 10 witness the victory of Jesus
over the grave. On and on the crowd ap-
pears to stretch over the hills and valleys
of the earth until the multitude seems
limitless. Countless millions seem to
hover in the air with wingless fight and
in every tongue is Mary's salutation to
her Lord. 'Rabonai.'
THE greatest power in the world is
that CONQUERED tomb. 1t is the power that
kindles human hope, and fires human
faith. 1t means the power of Christ to
wrest victory even from the grasp of
death That Nanquished tomb has been
Transforming man and enlightening the
world for ages. and from it radiate the
influences which are Frightening exist
ence everywhere.
"On the morning when Mary went to
the tomb she nor the disciples, nor any
human, knew the meaning of the empty
sepulchre. II was for others, higher in
the dispcnsation of the divine spirit, 20
reveal the relation of the resurrection to
ever life and to every home; 10 say that
Jesus lives and that death can no more
appau us There was not heart that
understood. that first morning. the mean
ing oil lie resurrection. Now it is clear.
In the resurrection of Christ. we see the
resurrection of all men, and the flowers
we bring to the tomb of Jesus we bring
sing are for Jesus and they are for our
own dear departed ones. The flowers we
bring remind us of our buried loves.
Mary Ma gdalen, with Mary, the mother
of Christ stood by the body when 1t was
suffering its last death agony, despite the
rough treatment they received from the
Roman soidiery They were so near the
cross that they heard Christs last word.
When the place was all deserted by the
rabble and even the disciples had gone.
in the dying twilight we see the bowed
figure of Mary crouchIEg in the shadow
of the tomb The Sabbath she spent in
preparing spices and unguents, and when
she went in the morning of the next day.
she found the tomb empty-and she fear
ed that his enemies had taken Christ's body
and were inticting upon it the last indig-
mites. She did not know that he had
exercised his divine power and arisen
from the dead.
The disciples came and they were mys-
titled they feared. too. for as yet they
knew not the Scriptures. Mary returned
to the tomb She was not satisfied. She
stood weeping. for she felt that she had
been robbed of her friend, and she wished
once more Ia minister to Christ As she
stood she looked into the tomb, and there
she saw the angels. John and Peter had
not seen them. IL was given to this spirit
ual woman first to see the angelic mes
the first mortal to tell the wondrous story
'The angels asked Mary a significant
question. Woman. why weepest thou?
and she might have answered, 4 weep
because of death In all the ages that
question has been coming to the human
heart. We weep because of death, pc
cause death has striker down loneliness.
The very angels Of heaven ask the ques-
ton. and We point to the tomb IN an
swer.
Men and women sit weeping in the midst
OF graves. Mary answered TO the angels,
They have taken away my Lord, and L
know not where to find him. on. it is
the mystery of the grave that taunts us.
Oh, let have some light on this ques-
ton. The whole philosophy OF the world;
every creed dogma, and theory ever pro-
pounded as religion by thinker mas Deen
made simply to answer this fearful ques-
ton that every soul is continually asking.
Yet all speculations are vain, and We must
know something more than human WIS
dom can teach iiS before we can answer
these questions.
But Mary whe>n the Lord put to her
the question. w oman. why WeepeSt tnou,
as she met him going out of the garden,
did not know her Saviour There were too
many tears in her eyes. and IL was only
when he called her, Mary. why weepest
thou that she knew him. Jesus comes
to this world asking this question OF ev-
cry man and woman and the answer is,
We weep for death, and we know not
the mystery of II.
As Mary went forth she told the good
news to all she met. She could not keep
II TO herself for the meaning Of the res
direction had become clear to her. She
went gladly telling everyone she met
that Jesus had risen from the dead. And
those to whom she told the good news,
! told 1t in turn TO others. and thus the doc
| trine OF the resurrection passed from
mouth TO mouth. II grew by the COM
polling power contained in Itself, and that
made the breasts of those who heard OF
| il swell and Obliged them to go forth
and share it, as had Mary.
There is a resurrection of the nation.
| the people. and the world; We have gone
1 forth as a nation and as a people to tell
the world that Christ has risen. There
| is today a girdle OF flowers around the
world, and a girdie Of song. In every
| tongue and to every race the doctrine of
the resurrection is being preached, and
the comforts of that doctrine are being
received. IL is answering the question.
| Why weepest thou2' i'm all countries, and
| it is wiping away all tears. The mas
| ter of death and the grave Is the master
of the human heart. He who has CON
qucred the grave has conquered humani-
| ~. 1t is Christ and his resurrection that
| have done this
WITH ELABORATE CEREMONY.