Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-13
ON CHERRY BLOSSOMS
REV. DIR. WALLACE RADCLIFFE
breaches SPRING SERMON.

Before a congregation which completely
filled the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning Rev. DR.. Wal
lace Radcliffe preached his annual spring
sermon. Cherry Blossoms was his
topic. and as he began his discourse DR..
Radcliffe held small branch of cherry
blossoms in his hand.
THE Japanese say, if you wait am
brosial weather will come the pastor
said. winter does not stay All days
are not dark. April is sure to come and
the cherry blossoms appear. Pessmism is
unnatural and unbelieving. We wave our
branch of cherry blossoms today as that
throng in Jerusalem waved its palm
branches and sing with them hosannas
to our King
DR.. Radcliffe also spoke of the festival
of the cherry blossoms of Japan THE
cherry festival he said. "awakens all
Japan, which eagerly seeks the forests
and river banks when the filmy. odorous
clouds of pinkness delight and invite. All
the nation seems to play in the woods -
He then commented on the custom of the
Japanese of writing couplets and tying
them to the trees for others to read as
t they pass by Among these blossoms s..
couplets which may be interpreted.
Il find four Japanese proverbs: First
One must go outside to hear Buddhist
doctrine or the sound of rain on a strong
roof
Gospel of out-of- Doors.
we need the gospel of out-of-doors.
Much is to be learned which the book
makers cannot teach. The American
must learn TO love the woods and streams
1t will keep him from becoming hard and
conventional. 1t will give wider and full
er horizons. 1t is good to stand in the
presence of trees and to listen to song
of birds and ripping waters. Give the
nature study of the schools a large place.
We must take pains to encourage the
beautiful; the useful will take care of IT.
self. The outside means not only sounds.
but doctrines. The cherry festival is the
result of the Shinto worship. But nature
worship without the recognition of ma
lures God is only to make a Buddha
without soul. Beyond the natural is
the supernatural. The Japanese la in the
habit of saying. The end of snow is Mir
vana.' meaning that beyond that snow
sees beyond the blossom and the snow.
We hear In the silence the whisperings of
the Divine Spirit. and read in flower and
rock the loving. teachings of a Father
hood
Second of these proverbs: AS the
cherry blossom is among flowers. so is
the warrior among men, But it does
not mean the mere fighter. The sword
is only an emblem. Bravery is not in
Killing or In manning. A navy is not
the greatest thing in the world. The
best hunting is often without gun
The best shot may be with a camera.
Virtue has a larger meaning than purity.
and honor has more Of the fragrance of
The cherry. blossom is the king Of flow
ers. 1t is the symbolism, courage.
chfvalry. The warrior is the king of
men Courage is to do. and be in the
right Tears are sometimes better
than blood. Bravery is sometimes in
submitting. rather than in assault Con
quest does not always consist in de-
stroying your foe. To he beaten may
be to conquer. Jesus vas the knight
Hest knight. the grandest guardsman.
Beauty of Cherry Blossoms.
Dr. Radcliffe. in commenting on the
beauty of the cherry blossoms. said:
We have transplanted this tree. and
its beauty may be seen today in Frank
lin Park. Massachusetts, avenue and
other places, and only the other day $50
were planted by our schoolboys Nav
they bring with them the best teachings
of the Bushido. and may We transplant
for them our rose of Sharon and the
lily of the valley.
Third of these proverbs: Only by
having died does one enter into life
Everything has its cost. Nothing can
be had for nothing. The true life is by
service. Blessedness is in giving. Beau
tiful life is through sacrifice. The p0p-
ular idea is to get much and give little.
The world does not owe US living. We
owe the world living. Prophets, apos-
ties. martyrs echo the principle of
Christ's own life. BY blood you are
saved Suffering is the price Of
triumph
In conclusion DR.. Radcliffe spoke of
the fourth of the proverbs: The fallen
cherry blossom" he said. never re-
turns The deed cannot be undone: the
past cNnnot be recalled. This life at
it's best estate seems evanescent. But
it's little casual things. kindness of deed
and thought, its gentle touch of love and
thoughtfulness. it's passing word, it's
greeting smile and cheer. may be only
falling blossoms which long and uncon-
sciously carry to other and distant ones
their beauty and fragrance: odors float
ing in the air. petals lying on the ground
which even in the judgment will be as
incense before the Master: The traveller
owns the grateful sense of sweetness
near he knows not whence, and pausing
takes with forehead bare the benediction
of the air.