The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-31
CENTRAL -UNIvERsALIsT.
h Rev. Marion CrosIey breaches an
Easter Sermon.

At the Central Universalist Church yes
terday morning Rev. Marion Crosley's sub
jet was THE Resurrection and the I'm
mortal Life" He said in part:
The resurrection and the immortal life
are coming 10 be viewed as soundly natural
and reasonable. Instead Of looking for
proof from the outside OF a mechanical or
miraculous nature we are beginning 10
look at life itself. The nature and purpose
Of life go far TO solve the problems OF a
continued existence. We find in our very
being the elements and possibilities OF an
endless life. Human life on the mental or
moral side never becomes complete or fully
developed here. The body finishes its ex-
istence this side OF the grave, but the in
tellectual and moral nature. when in it's
most advanced stage Of development. is
just beginning to get ready TO live and TO
appreciate and enjoy the fruits OF a we'll
spent life. No life can become complete
here. None OF the hopes. dreams. visions
or aspirations OF the soul can be entirely
revealed here. The work and influence OF
Jesus did not stop when His life went out
on Calvary. The tomb carved out Of solid
rock, no set Of guards could conf1ne His
spirit within such narrow limits.
The scientific method of investigation is
throwing much light on this matter OF life,
death and the resurrection. Nothing lives
except as it dies. and death itself in the
physical world. where natural science does
it's chief work. is only a process OF change.
only a link In the continued chain Of ex-
istence. Death does not in any case blot
out or innihilate anything. In the realm
of matter death simply changes the form
but does not destroy the substance. The
answer OF nature then, is, by the way OF
science. 10 the effect that nothing Is lost,
wasted or destroyed. and that. with the
aid of fact. we can also sing: That not one
life shall be destroyed. or cast as rubbish
TO the wind, when God hath made the pile
complete
1.-THE desire to live is so strong tina this
life of ours. bearing the image Of its Maker.
cannot go out OF business at the grave.
The elements and resources OF faith and
hope, the aspirations and the longings with
in are substantial evidences Of an existence
beyond the grave. This life of ours can
not be snuffed out by the death angel nor
by any power in heaven or on earth
Christ did not come 10 the earth 10 make
IL possible for us 10 live after death. lie
was not the author OF Immortality; lie
simply revealed il, brought II TO light, en-
phasized il. mace IL all the more real. lie
was not raised up in order that we might
be lifted UP from a state OF unconscious
ness. He was raised and lives to-day be-
cause it was in Him TO live. We rise up
and live on through the ages TO come UNI
der the new and improved conditions or the
after death life because we are immortal.
Jesus affirmed. That as / live We shall live
also This affirmation has a double mean
ing. That because He lived we shall also
live: as He is immortal, so are we. The
other meaning. that when we are raised up
we shall be like Him, for we shall see him
as He is. Nature and revelation also de-
clare with one united voice that God Is not
"A God Of the dead. but of the living, Tor all
live unto Him. The great apostle cohiiimS
all this when he says that as we have
borne the image of the earthly we shall
also bear the image of the heavenly. And
as the twentieth century translation has
him say, There is a resurrection OF the
dead: but that which is sown IS ~perishable,
that which rises is imperishable; that which
is sown is disfgured, that which rises iS
beautiful: that which is sown is frail, that
which rises is strong; that which Is sown
Is an animal body. that which rises Is a
spiritual body. AS surely as there is an
= ~ -. Sc leo a GnNFffNT1I nod
This apostle assures us that the dead shall
rise, rise imperishable. and we shall all be
changed, and thus death shall be swallowed
no i'm victory. Life is victorious every time
and everywhere over death. The life be-
yond what we call death will I'm every way
be an Improvement over this The facul-
ties and agencies OF growth and progress
will be more efficient and rapid In their
work there than here"