The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-27

:he matters of secondary Importance tc
which little OF no reference need ne made
lust here thcro has unuues.iorab!y been
decline Of gertrude. and the hour arrived
long ago when the issue should he strongly
made and honestly met, If it is at all un
certain that the divine Redeemer cams
forth from the grave. it IS just az well for
us to know it and to fashion our belief an@
make our calculations ACCORDINGLY " the
old faith is in peril, or even il It shonH
be held in allegiance, as lovers of the trutf
we should be ready and willing to accept
the result with the utmost candor and cor
sistency. There has been entirely too much
reticence aid hedging; there has beco 3
disposition to dodge the real question,
though perhaps with charitable purpose
that thel ebv the conscience and hopes ol
others might not I've shocked; there has
been a sentiment that seems to advise that
the less this matter is emphasized the bet.
ter for the church. Let the church throw
down the gauntlet: let it have this matter
nut onre fer all with those who dlaputs u
the case is not settled let us settle it and
settle it right Let us insist upon the facts
whatever they are.
Christians may well hide their heads in
shame i they feel constrained in behalf oil
their religion TO ask any quarter, to accept
any favers of those who do not stand by
the faith once delivered to the saints, or to
take advantage OF any leCnnCdHJlts. llct
ter ten thousand times a controversy than
TO have this important part of the rosneI
continue where it now is in the estimation
Of so many good peopc. We may we'll af
ford to seek all the light that is available.
and we need not be afraid to accept the
consequences. There are those, thank
God, who feel that the authority OF tho
church is sufficient warrant for the doe.
trines of the church, but that authority is
not universally recognized, and it surely
will be no mortal sin il people amid their
nfirmites respecting religion demand other
considerations in support of belief in the
risen Christ Arc other considerations
forthcoming? Are there reasons which JUS
tify timidity on our part? Is there sus'
picion that somehow it we could fully
know Of this matter our creed would be
worsted? Such questions may seem to be
primary to those whose faith is sure, and
they may appear TO be hardly justiliable NJ
this late day, but people will think, even
though they think wrongly, and If they
are the victims OF n mistake or misunder.
standing it is human kindnes, to lead
them TO knowledge of the truth. What
is the case of the resurrection OF Jesus?
OF course the disciples believed that He
surely. died, conviction which is now
shared by everybody, the Hebrew peonlc
themselves not excepted. II one is dis.
posed to qubble over the story of the Saw
iour's passion and to suggest that perhaps
the Son of Man did not die, he should be
referred to medical experts, who will tell
him that if Jesus died OF heart fracture it
was only natural that the water and blood
flowed from His side when the soldier,
spear pierced the pericardium. It is now
simply preposterous to impeach the genu
ineness of the Lords death. The outcome
of the cross was not a trance. The Re.
deemer tasted death for every man
If the Lord really died, is it a fact that
10 S,ts MA
nounce upon the story OF His decease. so
legal experts will pass upon the story oi
His resurrection The testimony is all in.
Shall it be permitted to stand: Christians
need not hesitate to allow the matter,
which is so supremely sacred to them. In
be dealt with in this fashion. II they
choose. they can so reYerentiy to tae SUI
preme Court that win review the 'estiirony
of the Easter witnesses. All thai they
ought to ask is that the tribunal shall hc
absolutely fair and honest in the applica'
tion of the laws of evidence. Who are the
witnesses and what is their reputation
for truth and veracity?' Inasmuch as
their narrative is extraordinary in its char
acter they must expect to submit to the
most rigid examination. They will stand
the test. The apostles and their followers
were people who for integrity and religion
have never been surpassed. Not only were
they the incarnation OF honor and piely,
Dul lucN dTe tuLlIG4N lIuSl" tNg Oll t'ti y
account. They investigated the matter
with the utmost care. Although excellent
folk may be deceived by others and even
by themselves, it is impossible to suppose
that these men were the victims OF eithei
form of deception. If the Master had APP
peared to them all on only single occa.
sion, there might be place for suspicion
of their absolute accuracy, but they saw
Jesus many times after the resurrect ion,
they talked with Him, thev ate and dTanl;
with Him, they even put their fingers INTO
the print OF the nails. The list OF wit
nesses does not consist OF two % or three
names, but includes at least 800 persons.
The church is still another witness Her
organization, her beliefs, her saciaments,
her untailing testimony from the beginning
and to every generation that the Founder
OF the Christian religion came forth from
the dead is worthy OF the utmost consider.
alton. The results of this Easter creed
should be rcckoned with, FOL. the doctrine
OF the Lords resurrection has produced
| q race of men, women and children VINO ara
| the very flower OF the human race. 1t has
| brought forth all that is best ald worthiess
! in every Christian country.
/ What is the reasonable response TO al,
| this testimony? it cannot well be ruled
out. 1t cannot be discredlted. IL deserves
| something better than the Scotch verdict
mot proven" Although we do not rely
upon the force OF argument Tor aronsing
! interest and changing opinions, u Is worm
while TO show that the churchs creed Il
supported by ample and adequate reasons,
and thar faith in the resurrection OF Jesus
is no. blind credulity, but the acceptance
of an historical fact which is du.y verified
by the canons OF historical cerhtude.
Human nature does not cnangc essen
italy. The needs of to-day are not very
different from those of 2000 years ago
The gospel which ST. Paul preached in
Athens he would preach this day in Great
er New York if he were here. 'Jesu; and
the resurrection" is the blessed and tri
umphant theme. How grievously, that
word of God is needed not only for. the up
holding of faith, but for cherishing anl
strengthening hope for an eternity OF felic
ity and bliss. OF arrant iniidelity there .
now comparatively little. but there Is mos
unquestionably at least partial failure L
be quite sure OF the souls immortality. Th'
prospect of everlasting life is not denied
It is simply not realized. Many heart i
saying, Would that ] might be certain o
it all" 1t is impossible to suppose tina
the multitudes who are not actively ossQ
ciated with the church believe in immortal
ity. Ii they look forward to an endless ca
reer beyond the hills OF time they woul;
speedily change their attitude toward holl
things And II the whole company o
Christs disciples were to lay hold as the'
ought Of the gospel of Jesus and the res
urrection," there would be another p-hte
cot ana the kingdom of Gods dear Sol
would come indeed in all its power AM
glory.