Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-04-21
PROOF EVIDENT
OF RISEN CHRIST
Rev. W. L. Essex of Trinity Epis.
c0pal breaches Easter Sermon
on Victory Over Death.
CHURCH COLLECTIONS LARGE
st. JOseph's, Sacred Heart and
Church of Peace Receive Lib
eral Contributions.

resurrection of the Lord was the
sermon delivered yesterday at the
10:45 service at Trinity Episcopal
church by the rector, Rev, w. L.
Essex. Speaking from the theme:
Then were the disciples glad
when they saw the Lord" Rev.
Mr.. Essex said in part:
I'VE are glad, likewise. Year
by year we welcome Him in His
great victory, so glorious to all
His friends. And our Joy issues
not from a dream, not from a
theory, but from a fact We have
not followed cunningly devised
fables, but we have known and
experienced the power aad coming
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and are
eyewitnesses of His majesty.
And how do we know? Well,
the accounts of His rising again are
historic and authentic. Every book
of the New Testament has passed
through the furnace of criticism
in this age of doubt and has come
forth with the mark of sober truth
upon it as to all the main facts.
Besides, there is nothing else to
account for the observance of
Sunday for almost nineteen CEN
turtles except the resurrection. 1t
is the Lords day, Jesus day, be-
cause He made it so by His vic
tory over sin and death. And
again, why has the holy Eucharist
been offered up to God without
ceasing, on many an altar day by
day and week by week since Pen
tecost, proclaiming the Lords
death and resurrection until He
come again in glory? We can
trace this service of praise and
thanksgiving back to apostolic
days. finding even the same words
which are used in the liturgies of
the historic churches of our time
Nothing but the resurrection can
explain the existence of Chris
tianity. without it the disciples
would have lapsed back into Ju-
daism.
ITO us the return of Christ
from the grave is the most won
derful event in history. But to
Him 1t was a passing incident for
which He prepared as quietly as
fer a night of sleep. With Him
a great well of new life came into
the world. Over Him death had
no more power than a wall o.
sand before a rushing, fathomless
flood. The very borders of His
garments charged with vitality,
His simple touch healing the lep-
ers. His mere word calling back
the widows son, and Jairus'
daugter, and Lazarus, how could
death be more to Jesus than a
passing shadow? 1t only revealed
tally.
ITO us the risen Lord reveals
our true destiny. We are meant
to die to sin and live unto God.
No one need despair in the palms
of whose hands fingers the touch
of Jesus Christ. In every case,
the man or woman who falls has
left hold of Christ's hand first.
We cannot expect His power to
be ours If we give up our prayers
and communions.
NO wonder we deck the church
with flowers, and rise up early to
meet Him in the holy communion,
and sing His praise. We do not
'falter more or less, in our great
task of happiness It is our trib-
ute to Him who with His own
right hand and with His holy arm
hath gotten to Himself the vic
tory"
Collections Large.
Services in the churches were
attended by congregations that
filled the edifices and they were
peculiarly beautiful and impress
sfve. The rendition of cantatas,
special musical programs and
masses marked the hours of wor-
ship throughout the day.
In the Catholic churches special
collections were taken, st. Jo-
seph's Catholic parish contribut-
ing a free will Offering amounting
to $2.440. At Sacred Heart Cath
Ole church the collection received
amounted to S1,65O, both of which
sums go towards the general
funds of the parishes.
At the Evangelical Church of
Peace the voluntary collections
throughout the day totaled 81, 800.
This sum will be applied on the
church debt.