Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1903-05-28

the matters OF secondary lmpOrtahce y"
which little or no reference need be MADE.
decline Of gertrude. and the hour arrived
long ago when the issue should be strongly
made and honestly met. If it is at all I'M
certain that the divine Redeemer Game
forth from the grave, it is just as well lot
us to know it and to fashion our. belief and
make our calculations accordingly. II the
old faith is in peril, or even IT II should
be held in allegiance, as lovers OF the truth
we should be ready and willing to accept
the result with the utmost candor and con
sistency. There has been entirely too much
reticence aid hedging; there has been
disposition to dodge the real question,
though perhaps with charitable purpose
that thereby the conscience and hopes CT
Others might not be shocked; there mas
been a sentiment that seems to advise that
the less this matter is emphasized the bet,
down the gauntlet; let it have this matter
out once for all with those who dispute ]
or who hesitate to accept it ex amino. "
the case is not settled let us settle it and
settle it right. Let us insist upon the facts
whatever they are.
Christians may we'll hide their heads in
shame if they feel constrained in behalf OF
their religion to ask any quarter, to accept
any favors of those who do not stand by
the faith once delivered to the saints, or te
take advantage of any technicalities. Bet
ter ten thousand times controversy than
to have this important part of the gospel
continue where it now is in the estimation
of so many good people. We may well at
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 the
church is sufficient warrant Tor the doc
trines of the church, but that authority IL
not universally recognized, and it surely
will be no mortal sin if people amid then
infrmities respecting religion demand otheI
considerations in support of belief in the
risen Christ. Are other considerations
forthcoming? Are there reasons which jus
tify timidity on our part? is there sus
picion that somehow if We could fully
know of this matter our creed would he
worsted? Such questions may seem to be
primary to those whose faith is sure, and
they may appear TO be hardly justitiabe at
this late day, but people will think. even
though they think wrongly, and ii they
ire the victims of a mistake or misundcr
standing it is human Kindness to lead
them to a knowledge of the truth. What
is the case of the resurrection of Jesus?
OF course the disciples believed that lie
surely died, a conviction which = now
shared by everybody. the Hebrew people
themselves UOl tNItDltN. II uIt 10 '''
posed to bubble 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. 1t is now
simply prepostcrons to impeach the Eenu
ineness of the Lords death. The outcome
H., 80
deemer tasted death for every man
If the Lord really died, is it fact that
He rose again? Medical experts can pro
nounce upon the story of His aeccasc, 50
legal experts will pass upon the story 81
His resurrection The testimony is all i'll.
Shall it be permitted to stand! Christians
need not hesitate to allow. the matter,
which is so supremacy sacred to them, to
be dealt with in this fashion. il tn1y
choose, they can 90 rcVcrently TO the Su'
preme Court that will review the testimony
of the Easter witnesses. All tAat they
ought to ask is that the tribunal shall he
absolutely fair and honest in The apphCa.
ton of the laws of evidence. Who arc the
witnesses and what is their Reputation
for truth and vcrACityf" lna5much as
their narrative is extraordinary IN MS char
actcr they must expect to submit to the
most rigid examination. They wall stand
were people who for integrity and religion
have never been surpassed. Not only were
they the incarnation of honor and pcty.
but they are entirely trustworthy on every
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 clthci
form OF deception. If the Master had ap
10 al ,t,I
sion, there might be place for a suspicion
of their absolute accuracy, but they saw
Jesus many times after the resurrection,
they talked with Him, they ate and drank
with Him, they even put their fingers INTO
the print of the nails. The list OF wit.
nesscs does not consist OF two or three
names, but includes at least 500 persons,
The church IL still another witness. ieT
organization, her beliefs, her sacrameats,
her unfaihng 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 reckoned with, for the doctrine
Of the Lords resurrection has produced
n race OF men, women and children who are
the very flower OF the human race. 1t has
brought forth all that is best and worthlcst
in every Christian country.
What Is the reasonable response to al,
this testimony! 1t cannot well be ruled
out. 1t cannot be discrcdited. 1t deserves
something better than the Scotch verdict
mot proven Although we do not rely
upon the force of argument for arousng
interest and changing opinions, 1t Is worth
while to show that the church's creed IS
supported by ample and adequate reasons,
and thai faith in the resurrection OF Jesus
is not blind crcdulity, but the acceptance
of an historical fact which is duly verified
by the canons of historical certltudc.
Human nature does not cnange essen.
italy. The needs of to-day are not very
different from those of 2OO0 years ago.
The gospel which st. Paul preached in
Athens he would preach this day in Great:
er New York if he were here. Jesus and
the resurrection is the blessed and tri-
umphant theme. How gricvously that
word of God is needed not only for the up.
holding of faith, but for chershing and
strengthening hope for an eternity of feic-
ity and bliss. OF arrant inhdeIity there IS
now comparatively little, but there is most
unquestonably at least partial failure TO
be quite sure of the souls immortality. The
prospect of everlasting life is not deucd,
it is simply not realized Many a heart is
saying, ';Would that might be certain of
it ALL" 1t is impossible to suppose that
the multtudes who are not actively assoc
ity. If they look forward to an endless ca.
reer beyond the hills of time they would
speedily change their attitude toward holy
things. And if the whole company of
Christ's disciples were to lay hold as they
ought of the gospel of Jesus and the res
direction" there would be another pate
cost and the kingdom of Gods dear Son
would come indeed in all its power and
glory.