The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-05-13
DR.. q. A. BEARD DELIVERED IN
SPRING ADDRESS YESTERDAY
MORNING ON JESUS THE SON
OF MAN AND SON or GOD
WELL ATTENDED.

AaN0S SAS ~AS w. ~ - SEAA N@O -SE
fist.
John 1881. NOW is the son of man
glorified.' These are the words of
Christ himself.
John 1856, Behold the man. These
are the words of PLATE.
Even to PLATE Jesus was nc ordi-
nary man. There was something
about Jesus that impressed PLATE, and
filled him with a sense of awe. After
careful inquiry into the accusations,
and into the character Of those who
made them, plate was compelled to
say, 4 find no fault in him.
"The skeptics and infidels Of the
last half century are agreed that the
tribute of Plate is a just one. Rath-
bone Gregg, in his Greed of Christen-
dom, has made one of the f~iercest at
tacks that ever was made on chris
tianity, and yet he bears this testi-
mony to the character of Christ. Tt
is difficult, without exhausting super
latives, to do justice to intense
love, reverence and admiration, for
the character and teaching of Jesus.
In reading his sayings we feel that
We are holding converse with the
wisest, purest, noblest being that ever
clothed thought in the poor language
of humanity. In studying his life we
feel that we are following the foot
steps Of the highest ideal yet pre-
scented to UP upon earth
ITO the same effect speaks Renan,
the French skeptic; John Stuart Mill,
the English skeptic. Hooykaas, the
Dutch skeptic, says, The name of
Christ shall be the mighty cry Of pro-
gress in freedom, in truth, In purity,
the living symbol of the dignity of
man, the epitome of all that is noble,
lofty and holy upon EARTH
Jesus, as a prophet, occupies a place
in the worlds history that is abso-
lutely unique. All religions, except
the christion religion, have sooner or
later outgrown the teachings of their
founder. Mohammedanism is what
Mohammed taught plus what other
great Mohammedan teachers have
taught. Buddhism is what Buddha
taught plus what other great Buddhist
teachers have taught. Whereas,
christianity is what Christ taught,
without any additions or subtractions
Of n kind.
Inc d1Ll VI every CHIlSlldn LSdSiGi
is to find out exactly what Christ said
and did twenty centuries ago. No
man ever dreams Of trying to improve
upon those simple principles which
Christ laid down during the three
years of his public life.
"In the case of every other teacher
and prophet that ever lived his teach
ings have sooner or later come to be
out of date. No so with the teach
ing of Jesus Christ. His teachings and
principles, spoken by him nearly
twenty centuries ago, are the newest,
freshest and ripest u~tterances of this
modern tine. They are never out Of
date. Then, too, not only did Jesus
lift up a standard of life the highest
the world has ever known, but he lived
up to his standard.
He threw out the challenge, Which
of you convinceth me of sin? and for
nineteen centuries his enemies have
hunted in vain for a spot or wrinkle
on his holy character. Here, too, he
stands unique among all the sons OF
men.
HE somehow possessed all the
graces and all the virtues of all men
Of all races and of all times. In a
very proper sense he was neither Jew
nor Gentle; neither Hebrew nor
Greek; neither ancient nor modern;
neitherd oriental nor occidental.
"Lecky, the historian, says, 1T wa
reserved for christianity to present
to the world an ideal character which,
through all the changes of eighteen
centuries, has inspired the hearts of
men with an impassioned love, has
shown itrelf capable of acting on all
stages, nations and temperaments and
conditions; which has been not only
the highest pattern Of virture, but
the strongest incentive to its practice;
and has exercised so deep an in
1uence that it may be truly said that
the simple record Of three short years
of active life has done more to re-
generate and soften mankind than all
the disquisitions of philosophers and
all the exhortations Of moralists.'
Here was a man born and bred in
obscruity, with no advantages OF edu-
cation; without rank, wealth, or assoc
| ciates; hated by the leading men of
his time; a man who died by the hands
of the law, and was buried by charity;
and yet kings and emperors are an :
nointed in his name; the most gorgeous
temples on the face of the earth are
consecrated tx his worship; millions
upon millions believe there is eternal
salvation only through him; and
there is 40 name in heaven or earth
that is spoken with the same rever-
ence as the name of Jesus.
1T is not at all strange that Richard
Watson Glider makes one of his char
acters in The Song Of the Heather
say:
IF Jesus Christ is a man.
And only a mani say
That of all mankind I cleave to him,
And to him will I cleaye Away.
" If Jesus Christ is q Cod
And the only God-I swear
7 win follow him through heaven and
hell,
The earth, the sea and the air.
EDO you wonder that men in all
ages have coveted the privilege Of
marching under his banner. and be-
ing 10 by his name?
do you want q noble leader2 Here
he is.
.sDo You want a true friend? Here
he is.
"Do you want q helper, when temp
tation overtakes you and threatens
your destruction? Here he is.
"He is the world s~avsor--your say
Tor ard mine