The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-04-06

! pei. The hest Christian evidences may
be found, not by ransacking the library
/ but going down street to where mels
have been transformed iEto newness
| of life. That is the viIIdication OF the
resurrection. The repeat
ed appearance of the risen Lord to His
| friends, is proof that satisfies the de-
vout student of the Bible. Even more
convincing is the truth that Christ has
appeared to men and women today,
men and women whom we know by
name, and whose lives we have seen
made over by this indwelling Guest IN
every land there are Christians to whom
Christ is more real and living than
they touch elbows every day The
prayer of counties hearts is, the Eas-
ter petition.
Lord Jesus, make myself to me
A living, bright reality"
The Army of witnesses.
In the hazy fashion that some of
Us have of thinking about religion,
we assume that the resurrection is
fact or not a fact, according we
care to believe it or disbelieve it. We
think that our own judgment is Il
suff1cie--t test. This is ridiculous. we
are dealing with an historical fact. We
must abide by the testimony. Belief
or disbelief in the resurrection is not
question Of temperament or predis-
position. 1t is a question of know
ledge and of acceptance Of credible evil
dence.
What a long line of witnesses there
are to the reality of the resurrection
Here come the women by the tomb,
reporting a fact so contrary to all their
expectation: here stand the apostles
who have been lifted out of the depths
of depression to the heights of conf
dence by the evidence of their senses
that Jesus lived again. Upon this fact
they staked their lives. For it they
all, save one, surrendered themselves
smilingly to a violent death. Here is
the Apostle Paul the most gigantic
intellect of that imperial age of the
world, accepting ard demonstrating the
reality of the resurrection.
Still the army of witnesses come.
The church fathers, who had seen
the apostles in the flesh, or who had
flesh. stand fast for the resurrection.
These men had brains-keen, search
ing, analytical, intellectual power.
No easy fable could deceive them.
Before they would submit themselves
to the lions in behalf of this truth,
they wanted to make sure of it. For
long centuries the profoundest in
tellects on earth gave themselves to
the church and to the study of re-
ligion. These millions of scholars
who accept the evidence of the resur-
rection may not be brushed aside,
any more than the scholars of today.
Inc man on the street, WHO CynlCdily
says that the preachers and theologi-
cal professors are dishonest, simply
does not know human nature, or else
he has not the privilege of personal
acquaintance with any of these clear
eyed disciples of the last truth they
can discover. The testimony of the
church today, as in all ages. stands
fast by the truth of the resurrection. |
The Trumpet Chorus.
The magazines are fond of telling
Of a eyfo1- limo he -fa1-xy
of how the little Pennsylvania town
of Bethlehem celebrates the advent |
of Easter. The Moravians hail the
the church steepIes. Then to the
graveyards they go, playing trium- /!
plant music. Their Easter faith is
songful; it sounds the refrain of vic
tory. In that faith the early Chris |
tians so conducted themselves that
to cry. Behold how these Christians
can die Why not? The apostle |
voiced their faith in the magnificent
refrain that has been sounded jubi- |
lantIy over millions of biers, 80, |
DEATH where is thy victory? o death, |
where is thy sting?''
The Lord is risen indeed,
He is here for your love. for your need
Not in the grave, nor the sky,
But here where men live and die;
And true the word that was said;
why seek We the living among the
dead"
Wherever are tears and signs,
Wherever are children's eyes, |
Where man calls man his brother,
And loves as himself another,
Christ livesi The angels said:
"Why seek We the living among the
dead?"
Richard Watson Glider.