Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
The Significance
s, of the Resurrection
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. ToMKINs.
Texts j. Cor. Nv. sO-SS.

Text, i. Cor. XIV. sO-sS.
W. Let tvs begin our media ton by pray
Ing to God with all our hearts in this
. time of stress and trouble. We have
been called to service. for our dear
5 {country's sake and for the sake of
\ those sacred ideals for which our coun-
S try has always stood. by n message
from our President which will go down
In history a fitting supplement to
the Declaration Of Independence. 1t
behooves us as citizens and Christians
first to pray and then bravely and
with no bitterness in our hearts to
do whatever God calls to do for
the worlds sake and for the sake of
Him Who died and rose again that
new life might come to all men. The
New Earth" has not come yet, but.
thank God. 1t is coming. and we must
( do our part to hasten its coming how
ever trying that part may be. Let us
use, a prayer of George Washington
for our country:
Keep. we beseech Thee, Almighty
God, the United States of America in
Thy holy protection. So incline the
hearts Of all citizens that there may
be In them spirit of subordination
and obedience to government and a
brotherly affection and love for one an
other. particularly for such as have
served their country in the field. And
eraciously be pleased to dispose us all
TO do justice. to love mercy and SO to
demean ourselves with charity. humil-
ity, and pacific temper that we may
grow in the likeness OF Thy Son. in
the imitation of Whom Standeth our
hope to be a happy nation. All OF
which We ask for Thy mercy's sake.
= Amen.
CoNoUERs DEATH AS
HE CONQUERED SIN
Christ rose from the grave. conquer
/. Ing death, as by the Cross He conquered
sin And9 so we keep the Festival Of
the Resurrection with JOY in our hearts
and with great gratitude to Him who
has brought life and Immortality to
Light For with the resurrection of
Christ the dawn began to break and.
in spite OF Satan's efforts. daylight
has come, and 1t is growing brighter
every day. We know now that we shall
live forever and that at last, with Glori-
ned bodies. we shall enjoy perpetual
rest and felicity. And we arc inspired
with now hope to fight against all evil
In ourselves and in the world, that we
may fulfill the desire Of our Lord and
prepare the earth for His second COM
ing. It is right that we should be glad
'as We lift our eyes unto the hills; for
though We are still human, and in the
midst of human struggle. yet we know
whom We have believed and the vision
(, sec not yet all things put under Him.
but I'VE see Jesus" tHeb. H.. 8, 81
Light shines from Heaven upon the
hidden future and we know that we
shall not die. but live. Light shines
upon tho graces of our dear ones, and
we know they are living and are happy.
Light shines upon our way and we
know human struggle for righteous
ness in the. name Of Christ will end in
victory. Life has become new, Cor It
has an ideal toward which 1t presses.
and which 1t knows 1t shall reach some
day. Tho old sins though they Cypress
us. do<not discourage us. for we know
they tan be washed away. and that as
we 'gfpw In grace. they will have less
and lefs power over US. 1t Is good to
be kirfd and generous and loving. for
we kLtow that whatever we do in His
name will come to fruition. We can
love cfir friends and know that love
VIII ntver fail Yes. we can hear the
songsiof heaven and join In them even
rs we battle. for already victory has
come, In the knowledge Of Him with
whom thousand years are as one day
We are in no losing contest Easter
sends us to our daily tasks with a new
song on our lips. 1t bids us hate evil
; with hope and courage. 1t opens op-
!, ,portunities for service with glowing
Inland. 1T by heaven. pointing the way
laWe can live now. o thank Thee blessed
splendid enthusia SIN, for II
g all worth while
HAS CHANGED THE IDEA
MEN HAVE OF DEATH
Wordsworth tells we'll the power
over sorrow when he sings:
The grave itself a garden u.s.
Where 1oveliest flowers abound;
Since Christ. our never fading life,
Sprang from that holy ground.
How changed is tho idea men have of
death! We sorrow when our dear ones
leave ne, even as Jesus sorrowed by the
tomb OF Lazarus. but we have no cues
ton OF reunion. We know that we
shall meet again In a happy, unending
life. And we know, too. that our
friends are living now and are happy
In the presence OF the King So we
! bf2ng our flowers to make beautiful
our sanctuary on Easter Day, and we
carry them to the resting places where
the loved forms sleep whom we love
still and will ever love, and we kiss the
blossoms as they look into our faces
with almost human affection, for are
they not messengers from God saying
to us: Christ is risen! Be not afraid"'
wonder II we realize how changed
life Is in connection with death since
that great Resurrection Day of long
ago! We look over the annals of his
and women who once lived. but they
are rather a procession of characters,
undying. indestructible OF people who
are living and working and loving still
in some other part of Gods great uni
verse. Everywhere the burial places
axe counted sacred. and 1t is not SEN
ti1Aent but truth that makes them
So Easter has brought a new mes
sage and whether men accept 1t scien-
uhca3ly and philosophically or not.
their hearts accept 1t in spite OF their
reason.
"A warmth within the breast would melt
The freezing reasons colder part,
4 And likei man in wrath the heart
Stood up fnd answered. Il have felt"
II shall see him again. Say what
you will. o doubter! l know my friend
lives and loves. and at last we shall be
!, reunited" So we cry. and the cry is
inspired by that open tomb Of PaIes-
tine. by the glorious Christ who passes
= from 1t in theo early da wn and cries 10
the ages. II am the resurrection and