Evening journal., 1913-05-02
DIR. SMILEY
EXPLAINS The
ASCENSION
Tells Knights TempIar Plan
Was Necessary to the
Salvation Of the World
MAKES BRILLIANT, YET
IMPRESSIVE CHURCH SCENE

West Presbyterian Church present
ed an appearance of unusual impress
siveness at the Ascension Day ser
else last night. Two hundrd mem
bers of st. Johns Commandery,
Knights Templar in cleaning re-
gala, entered The church in single
file to the stirring music of onward
Christian Soldiers" played by the
First Infantry Band, assisted by the
church choir.
The Knights occupied the center Of
the church, while the main audi
torium and galleries we're filled al
most to overfowing with congrega-
tion which had assembled TO par
ticipate in the services.
The program, as printed in THE
EVENING JOURNAL yesterday, was
tcarried out in full. and the different
hymns sounded most impressive sung
by the vast congregation to the music
OF the band and orchestra. The large
church choir was heard to advantage,
especially in the offertory, Gloria,
from Mozart's Twelfth Mass.
knights and church members
alike keenly enjoyed the stirring ser
mon delivered by DR.. U. Franklin
Smiley, on "The Expediency of the
Ascension of Jesus Christ"
In his introduction, DR.. Smiley
spoke of the great disappointment
caused to the disciples by the an
nouncement that Christ was leaving
them, and, continuing with the SER
mon, he said in part:
80, Hp
church, the four cardinal points In
the exaltation of Jesus Christ, are
the Resurrection, the Ascension, the
Position of Christ at the Right Hano
OF God in Glory, and the Coming OF
Christ to earth again, to judge the
world in Righteousness.
"ln this galaxy of divine glory, th'
Resurrection is the most important
event, because upon it depends tho
hope of the church and the redemp
ton of the world
Christ, however. at the time di'
not speak to the disciples OF th'
Resurrection, because he recognized
the sorrow such an announcement
would bring to the hearts of thes'
men. and also because he had planne
ned to make such definite revelation
of himself after the Resurrection tina
there could be no doubt in the mind
of the disciples of the great event
"But after the Resurrection, His as
} cension would have caused evel
greater grief to His followers thai
! did His death; hence, Jesus begal
early in His ministry to prepare tn
! disciples for the ascension. While W
J today occupy higher ground than d
these men, and have been let deepe
J into the mystery of the providence G
e God, and. therefore, are permitted
see things with clearer vision, ther
is one great question common alik
to the disciples and TO us. Tha
question is. Why should Jesus, who !
three years did so much good in IN
world and who is coming again
Judge the world with Righteousness
why should He have left the world a
+ all?"
In answer to this question, ID
Smiley pointed out three reason
which made the resurrection of Jesu
b Christ expedient The speaker Wen
back to the ceremony of the sin oi
= fering in the Old Testament, Shove
! how this was a type of the sacrlnc
! Of Christ He said: Just as IN
{ High Priest entered the Holy
5 HOLES, bearing with him the blood
] the sacrifice, and on his person, tn
names of the twelve tribes of lsrae
! so Christ must appear in heaven
/ make proof of the consummation
his redemptive work. The secon
reason was that the ascension
Christ was necessary in order that th
Holy Spirit might be given to men
+ and lastly, in order that way migt
Il be blazezd into the Heavenly Home