The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-03-31
EASTER AND IMMORTALITY.

Easter and the message of the res
urrection-the springtide of the soul,
the season for the renewal of PROM
Uses and the budding of larger faith
in what lies beyond the mists. Now, as
perhaps at no other time, the whole
world considers the question of I'M
morality with a renewed interest and
a ouickened heart beat. Is there d
lie after death, we ask, and faith nor
skepticism can give reply which is not
to be strengthened or weakened by
farther argument 1t is question
never to be satisfactorily settled on
earth and yet, much as we shove it
aside, occupied with more material
affairs of the day and the week ana
the year, it slumbers half wakefully
in our minds ready to present itself to
us in a new phase at the first OPP
portunity always alert, introducing
itself with the most startling map
propriateness in the midst of con-
iversation on vitality removed subjects
or in the watches of the night or the
short-spelled leisure of the day. And,
when all is said, is it not the most i'm
portant question which man has to
ponder? Is it not, perhaps, the vital
purpose of his life-to live that he
may enjoy a life after death and to
deny himself the pursuit of those
things the performance Of which will
forbid him the privilege according to
the teachings of his faith?
And, though he refuse to commit
himself on this side or on that, he can
not escape it. His every day, the
routine of his life, his lightest word,
his deepest thought all bear witness
/ to his belief or unbelier IN a life be-
/ You'd life and he cannot get away
! from the confession. There eman-
ates from him, unconsciously almost,
that faith or cynicism which inspires
/ his neighbor and his friend to Drawer
belief or awakens fresh doubts. Con-
sidering the subject in this light, The
outlook meditates thus:
ut was said of a distinguished man
, who lately died that it was impossible
to recall his spirit, his nature, and his
career without believing in immortal
ity There is perhaps no finer test
of the nobility of a mans spirit and
life than the quality and kind of COM
fort he bequeaths to his friends when
he leaves them. There are those whose
lives have such compass of interest
such uplift of tone, such power of ra.
dating faith and hope that it is i'm
possible to think of them as ceasing
to be. Their beauty must be preserved
O.. their vitality must continue to beal
fruit. 1t has been well said that faitl
in Immortality is not a great bridge
across an ABYSS it is row of step
ping stones into a river so yelled il
mist that only one step can be seel
and taken at a time. Every man b!
the manner of his life reinforces O.
dissipates that faith. Every man OF
the day when his friend bid him good
by inspires them with that faith o
leaves them with questionings.
There is perhaps no greater ser
vice to be rendered to our fellow
than the reinforcement of the belle
in immortality. A man living afte
what we call death IS not merely
/ matter of speculative interest. 1t i
, the supremacy interesting question
with which the mind has to dea
] Aside from the light. which stream
: from the empty grave in Jerusalem
. there is no reinforcement of this grea
consummatlon of human hopes so con