The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-04-07

or falls with this fundamental doctrine. Paul
admitted this in his day. and wrote n l. Cor.
49, anu ma ch,nw vasn Wnur sai,h aIso
liz vain" He adds: And ff Christ hath not
raised your faith is In vain; ye are yet In
1t would have been to Paul and the people
to whom he wrote, as well as to all people.
dark, sad. gloomy outlook II Jesus had meyer
left tho confines of the tomb The heart shud-
ders at such dreary picture hut Paul whn
had with his own eyes seen the risen Christ
on the Damascus road, knew better than this,
and he confidently and clearly testifies TO that
glorious event.
In the present day the proof of our risen
Christ is ample and abundant There are wit
nesses to 1t In well nigh every country the
globe. II Christ had not risen from the dead.
We would have no Taste, but its annual recur-
renee IS proof that He did rise from the
tomb.
In the rejuvenescence of spring, with Its
cal songsters, have the resurrection beauti-
fully illustrated, The barren hills and fields.
and gladness beft the blessed day ushered in
with springs rejuvenating touch fields.
meadows gardens and forests. Who is il at
Easter that doesn't recall the days that are
gone and linger on tender memories OF loved
ones who have passed away? The heart is
to be pitied that such memories fail to stir.
But Oh, for the touch of a vanished hand
And the sound of voice. that is STILL
Like our word Sunday Easter. SO called from
heather origin. Some one has observed that
1t shows the wonderful Transforming power of
Christianity to change and make sacred such
heather names. Our Lords resurrection Is
one of the best authenticated events in all
history. The proof in the Bible that Jesus
rose from the dead is clear and unmistak ab BILE.
Not flaw be detected in the evidence of
that fact given by eyewitnesses whose testi-
mony any court would accept at
The church with Its sacraments and insttu-
tions and the history of its origin, the obstacles
1t encountered, the prosecutions 1t endured
and its trump and success attest the truth of
the doctrine. TIL s-e today millions OF wit
nesses to be found In every land who will tes-
tfy that they serve and love a risen Christ.
Enemies of the doctrine in all ages have
assaulted it, but like the giant oak, with
standing the repeated blasts of winter, Ii has
never fallen The whole Christian system rises
earth and the fierce storms In winter, are
hitting time for Nature to put on her morning
robes and 60 TO sleep, but when springs magi-
cal wand touches the air, vegetation and animal
life, there Is a glorious resurrection The God
of nature Is also the God who made man
ana he can work as marvellous changes in our
bodies as he works in vegetarian earth air
and sunshine
This consoing, comforting doctrine which
Easter so strongly emphasizes Is In harmony
with the desires and longngs of the deathIess
soul of man. 1t Is sane, natural and proper
to want to live, and we shudder at the strength
OF Death. We expect to know our loved ones
who have crossed the river before us We
sometimes long for the time when we shall be
reunited and never be haunted by fears of
pain. sickness, sorrow and parting
f. P, p
King George, Va