The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-04-13

Rev. DIR. Wallace Radcliffe. pastor Of
the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church, preached his annual spring ser
mon yesterday morning. on Cherry bios
SONS"
Holding a branch Of the blossoms in
his hand during the sermon, DR.. Rad
cliffe said: THE japanese say, If you
wait. ambrosial weather viii come Win
ter does not stay. All days are not dark.
April is sure to come. and the cherry
blossoms appear. Pessimism is unnatu-
raj and unbelieving. We wave our branch
of cherry blossoms to-day as that throng
in Jerusalem waved its palm branches,
and sing with them hozannas to our King
The cherry festival awakens all Japan,
which eagerly seeks the forests and river
banks when the hlmy. odorous clouds Of
pinkness invite and delight All the ma
ton seems at play In the woods. They
have a beautiful custom OF writing coup
lets, and tying them to the trees for
others to read as they pass by. Among
these blossoms let Us look for couplets
watch may be interpreted.
-Four japanese Proverbs.
Il find four japanese proverbs; First,
One must go outside to hear Buddhist
doctrine or the sound Of rain on strong
roof.
we need the gospel Of out-of-doors
Much is TO be learned which the book
malers cannot teach. The American
must learn TO love the woods and
streams. It will keep him from becoming
hard and conventional. It will give
wider and fuller horizons. II is good 10
stand in the presence Of trees, and to
listen 20 song Of birds and ripping
waters. Give the nature study Of the
schools a large place. We must take
pains 10 encourage the beautiful: the use
full will take care Of itself The outside
means not only sounds, but doctrines.
The cherry festival is the result OF the
Shinto worship. But nature woi ship with
out the recognition Of natures God Is
only to make a Buddha without a soul.
Beyond the natural Is the supernatural
The japanese is in the habit of saying,
The end Of snow Is Nirvana meaning
that beyond that snow line is the void Of
the sky. The Christian sees beyond the
blossom and the snow. We hear ia the
silence the whlsperings Of the Divine
Spirit. and read In flower and rock the
loving teachings Of Fatherhood.
Warrior Among Men.
Second of these proverbs: As the
cherry blossom is among flowers. SO is
the warrior among men, But It does not
mean the mere nghter. The sword is
only an emblem. Bravery is not in kill
ing OF in manning. a navy is not the
greatest thing in the world. The best
hunting is often without a gun. The best
shot may be with a camera. Virtue has
a larger meaning than purity and honor
has more Of the fragrance OF blossoms
than the smell Of gunpowder. The cherry
blossom is the king Of flowers. It is the
symbolism. courage, chivalry. The war
rior is the king Of men. Courage is To
do. and be in the right. Tears are some
times better than blood. Bravery is some
times in submitting, rather than in as
sault Conquest does not always consist
in destroying your foe To be beaten
may be 10 conquer
we have transplanted this tree, and its
beauty may be seen to-day in Franklin
and other parks; and only the other day
one hundred and fifty were planted by our
sehoolboys. May 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.
Jesus was the knightliest knight, the
grandest guardsman.
Third Of these proverbs: Only by hav-
ing died does one enter into life. Every
thing has It's cost Nothing can be had
for nothing. The true life is by service.
BIessedness is in giving. Beautiful life
Is through sacrifice. The popular idea is
to get much and give little. The world
does not owe us a living. We owe the
world a living Prophets, apostles, mar
/ tyrs echo the principle Of Christ's own
life, BY blood you are saved Suffering
is the price of triumph.
Cannot Recall the Past.
Fourth Of these proverbs: The fallen
cherry blossom never returns The deed
cannot be undOne: the past cannot be re-
called. This life at its best estate seems
evanescent. But its little casual things.
kindness of deed and thought. its gentle
touch of love and thOughtfulness, its
passing word. its greeting smile and cheer,
may be only falling blossoms which long
and unconsciously carry TO other and
distant ones their beauty and fragrance;
odors floating 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.