The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-04
Easter Sunday and the Failure" Of
Christianity.

From the beginning Of the war, thin
commonplace, some Of 1t, curiously
enough, emitted by clergymen, has
been dribbled about "the failure OF
Christianity" As at Christmas 80 at
Easter, this triumphant festival. it is
we'll for those Of us who, whatever
our religion or want OF 1t. wish to
understand things as they are. to re-
member that this rising from the
dead, this symbolical promise Of i'm
mortality, Is the essence Of Christian
ity and the hope OF Christians.
Christianity Is otherwOrld. The dog
mas, the ingrained and ruling IDEAS,
the passion of generations of the
Middle Ages yearned for the in
visible. Something Of Christian Pa
tonism. the view OF this world and
its phenomena but as the mask of the
real beyond it. may he felt in these
times For centuries men waited for
the end of the world. as many did UNI
Ill the eleventh century dawned. Great
theologians and mystics ike Hitch
and RICHARD Of ST. VICTOR. men like
plErRo DAMIANI. called from medita-
ton to he princes Of the Church.
taught common. illiterate folk, whose
Bible WAS on the wall and window,
To regard this world with contempt.
10 the next world. the city of Con.
the eject among them turned their
thoughts: the mass. believing I'M
p.ic,tly in Heaven and He'll. at least
had No Illusions that Christianity
meant peace and comfort here. Great
and slow social amclorationS were
effected. Charity had Il heartiness.
II broadne>s ana an uuinquiring sim
picity that our scientific >alaried
dole givers must despise. Art and
architecture lowered cousummately
planted upon religion. Medicine and
every science was cultivated accord
ing TO the lights AMI possibilities OF
the day For time the Truce Of
GoD checked the perpetual feudal
wars for few days in the week. In
short. from the earlier Greek and
Latin Fathers. and from AUGUSTINE
to AQUISAs and far beyond, the best
thought of the best thinkers was
devoted. so far rs they had time 10
give il, 10 the chief concern of thirty,
OF forty, generations. the Kingdom of
Heaven. without failing in vigorous
and manly action on all the affairs
Of this life.
Christianity. judged 10y secular dis
turbance and disaster. failed mis-
erably in the Middle Ages. But il
did not occur 10 people of hose days
that Christianity meant peace in Eu
rope. any more than that IL meant
freedom from disease or long life or
temporal prosperity. They believed
that CHRIST died and rose again OF
the third day to bring them to unend
ing life and peace hereafter. A lot OF
the present day Christians seem tC
think that His life and death and res
direction were to spare people from
grief and pain and make this world
thoroughly comfortable.
a perhaps instructive materialism
a childish looking to Providence as Z
cornucopia, a highly specialized aver
sion 10 the disagreeahle as well a.
humane spirit may perhaps be de
tected in this turning Of some Chris
tans against Christianity. They reaC
about shrapnel and they forget abou
the peace Of Con which passeth al
understanding. A good, easy, quiet
Here: little heaven on earth, takln,
the Cash and the Credit too; an ami
able dream. The sure and certain
hope" whereof today is the promise
the SYMBOL and the seal beckons from
such palaces Of Cockayne 10 house
not built with hands, Christlanit.
will not fail" while that hope !
in Christian hearts.