The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-16
Reflections Suggested
By the Lenten Season
BY REV. II. III. WHITAKER.

connected with the miraculous birth,
life, death, burial, resurrection and
ascension of the Christ, is very dear
to every Christians heart; for, he
realizes, as the world cannot, that
Christ is the end of the law for righte-
is none other name under heaven
given among men whereby he can be
saved. but that of Jesus.
1t is good time, in this Lenten
season, when the minds of the follow
efs of Jesus are being specially direct
ed to those last days of his life, when
the weight of the worlds sins was
pressing sorely upon Him-when the
gloom of Gethsemane and the horrors
of Calvary were so nearly confronting
Hint say, it's a good time, when
our minds are being directed to the
agonies of the Garden and of the
Cross, for us, for whom He suffered,
to put on sackcloth, and, in deep
penitence, for the sins which made
Him suffer, to renew our covenants
with Him and begin new and better
lives. If, after Easter has passed, we
return to our old sinful ways we
must not expect the world to believe
that we have truly repented; or that
the solemn occasion which we have
celebrated has made any impression
upon US. But if from the Lenten
season and the Easter service, we be-
gin, as never before, to exemplify and
to magnify the religion of the Lord
Jesus. what a blessed thing the keep
ing of Lent will>prove to be to us.
Lent (Anglo- SaXon-lencten) is
the fasting time before Easter which
is observed in the Roman, the Greek
and other Oriental churches. 1t is
certainly a very ancient institution, as
the earliest illusions to it speak of it
as an institution handed down from
the Fathers. The forty days fast of
our Lord, in the wilderness, and Incl
dentally the fast for the same num-
Der of days, by Moses and Elias, sug-
gested to the primitive Christians the
idea of keeping Lent, which, while
not intended to be an absolute fast
was to be partial one.
In our country the Catholics and
Episcopalians observe Lent and, /
suppose, if properly kept, it is to those
who thus keep it, a means of grace
drawing off their minds from the
cares and frivolties of the world;
. while, by q prayerful contemplation
of the tragic events, which are cela-
brated. during the Lenten season,
they are closer drawn to God, whose
great love for the world was so won
drously manifested in the gift of Ills
Son to be the worlds Redeemer.
We Methodists do not observe Lent,
as does our old Mother, the Episcopal
church, but we retain and practice
many of her doctrines and l hope,
many of her good qualities as we'll;
and rejoice with her and all Chris.
tianS, on Easter morn, when we are
reminded that the crucified and buried
Christ is risen indeed and is at the
right hand of the Father. And our
rejoicing is intensified when we re-
member His words: Il go to prepare
a place for you" And new zeal is
kindled in our souls when we remem-
Der those other words, He left on
record for our comfort and joy: ITO
him that overcometh / will grant to
sit with me in my throne, even as
overcame and am set down with my
Father in his throne"
What an honor! Christ in his Faith
er's throne, and poor fallen man,
saved by grace, sitting beside him.
Well might John exclaim: Behold
what manner of love the Father hath
bestowed upon us that we might be
called the Sons of Cod"
AS we approach Easter, may the
Holy Spirit incline all our hearts to
reverently keep the day,-the day of
all other days-the anniversary of
Heavens victory over the powers of
darkness
And will there be an Easter ball
on Monday night after Easter. Not
! by Gods people-not by those who
have been fasting, and praying for
more holiness of life and a closer
walk with God. They would not think
of making such a mockery of religion
of engaging in such sacrilege.
Some worldly-minded church mem
bers, representing all denominations,
will, doubtless, go out, from the Len
ten and Easter services, and. Judas
like, betray the Christ by joining in
with the rabble who hate His name
and love His enemies.
If Jesus meant anything, he meant
it all. when he said: mo man can
serve two masters HE that is not
for me is against me- HE that
gathereth not with me scattereth
abroad" IF any man will be my
disciple, let him deny himself, take
up his cross and follow me-" That is
very plain talk; but, in spite of it,
some who claim to be Christians do
not seem to heed much less care for
His words.
I always did admire that petition in
PauPs prayer for the Ephesians, that
Christ may dwell in your hearts by
faith That suggests the idea of a
permanency in contradistinction to
weakness, vacilation, cowardice n.y.
pocrisy and treachery. Christ dwell
ing in the heart is the normal condi-
ton of a Christian; and st. Paul says.
IF any man have not the spirit of
Christ he is none of His
/ have often thought of the utter
folly of a mans expecting to be saved
who depends upon occasional, spas
modic efforts, when it is SO clearly and
Enthusiastically taught, we are to keep
our lamps trimmed and burning, and
be ready, all the time, for the COM
ing of the Bridegroom And, to close
on this thought, / will say, there is
nothing more beautiful than a con-
sistent Christian life. while, on the
other hand, there is nothing more
hurtfill to the world than that incon-
sistency which brings reproach upon
the church of Jesus and puts it to
open shame.
There is nothing more aggravating
to writer than to have the printer
change his language and thereby
change the meaning of sentence.
People who read books and newspa-
pers, after the proof has been cor
rected and revised, have no idea what
the writer's would have been made to
90 af III