The Topeka state journal., 1920-04-02


Recoving somewhat from its war
numbedness, the world is more alert
to the Easter idea than it was last
year, and during the tense times of
actual conflict We know that Eng
disappearing peoples are giving more
attention than ever before within pres
ent memory TO the question OF life
beyond the grave. The subject has
reached the stage Of dinner-table dis
cussion. All sorts of publications and
persons have dealt with it. in print.
The dead are a living issue.
Easter this year finds the world
reader than usual for its deeper mes
sage. The historic Christian teaching
now has its special opportunity.
All Christian churches part COM
pany squarely with the modern spiri-
tualistic conjectures and phenomena.
Concerning those who have died,
Christianity does not offer a specula-
tion but an affirmation. Pillaring its
faith on one central fact, the resurrec-
tion of Jesus, it proceeds to set forth
logically that since Jesus rose from the
dead and lives forever, He has won
the same privilege for all men. Chris
tians see the subject of Immortality
in the light of the open tomb of Christ.
The Men Who Made Nations.
This topic is not a theoretical or
fanciful one, for neuresthenic old
ladies or for book-blinded scholars.
elections, or than an international
economic readjustment. For faith in
the resurrection-the confident eX-
pectation of living after death. forever
with the Lord-undergirds ai! OF life.
1t makes souls great. Who gave
America her historic character, eX-
cept the men and women who sailed
TO these shores in search of a larger
freedom to serve God? They were
great nation n-builders, because they
labored in the. present power of an
eternal life. It was their spiritual
faith that wrought into the fabric of
this new world its distinctive charac-
ter. We may WelI recall that this
Eastertide is in the year 1920. the
third centenary of Plymouth Rock.
The same faith that made that sub
lime experiment a success may give
victory for constructive Christian
statesmanship in the face of our pres
ent grave conditions
Even the Resurrection can scarcely
be considered nowadays except in re-
lation to the hours acute problems.
Whatever truth we hold must express
Itself in terms of immediate endeavor.
Just now the task of tasks is how to
make our own, country so spiritually
great that she will be equal to the
obligation to deliver mankind from
existing or impending catastrophe.
Therefore we need a citizenship that
faith. Only saints-fighting saints, If
you please-can serve as the salt of
society. Men and women who are
building for eternity can alone build
we'll for time. Only lives undergirt
by the sense of Gods reality, and by
the hope of immortality. are strong
enough for the serious business of this
day. In a very real sense, Easter may
save1our world.
Niagara and the Carrot.
AS everybody knows, the power Of
Niagara has been. harnessed to man S
service. All over that area. including
Buffalo, the weight of the waters,
transformed into electricity. has be-
come<the servant of human. needs. 1t
does vast tasks. like lighting the streets
of city and propelling its street cars;
but it also does little errands. like
running a single sewing machine or
lighting a lonely garret. In all it's
greatness. the power of Niagara is
not too great for the smallest of tasks.
In that respect. it is a parable of the
power of the Resurrection. The Eas-
ter victory may be shared by the man
who wants. to control his temper or
his appetite, and by the woman who
seeks to rise above the habit of fret
ting over petty cares. There is no
task of life too small for the employ
ment of the might of the risen Re-
deemer.
Lay this truth down alongside of
our times as we know them and what
do we discover Nothing less than
that here is an ADEQUATE remedy for
all that is wrong with us. The world
does not need programs. but power:
we have almost as many new pro-
grams as we have philosophers, and
each is as impotent as the others.
What weN really want is a dynamic
that will change human nature, or else
iT1cr hum to Tfc Sf
expression. The truth of the Resur-
rection does just that. In matters
great and in matters small, it imparts
new life. Two thousand years ago it
conquered the rottenness of Rome: by
so many times as it's numbers have
Increased Christianity is able at the
present time to overcome the materials
ism and ight-mindedness of the year
1920. The Near Eastern question. the
Balkan question. the Russian question,
the Egyptian question, the Far East
ern question, the labor question: and
even the high cost of living question.
NAV be solved only by the principle
of the Resurrection life.
Paul, Down to Date.
This is Paurs great thesis He con-
tends that if Jesus lives, then His own
must live also, and thru Him. He
speaks of our being risen with Christ"
Again. "If We then be risen with Christ.
seek those things which are above"
Wrapped up in the Easter message is
ell the holy living and heavenly
mindedness of Christians that is need
ed to Eft this slumped world out of
its slime and sardidness and small self
ishness If the Resurrection is real,
then life on a resurrection plane is
incumbent upon all who believe God.
There is a moral momentum in the
Easter messs ge which raises man
above himself
OF course. If there IS no Resurrec-
ton, then there is one logical course
for US all to follow. and Paul has
stated it clearly and fearlessly: IF
the dead do not rise, let US eat and
drink. for tomorrow we are to die q"
Follow your faith by your works; if
you Go not believe that Jesus rose. and
that we, too. shall rise. then go the
pace; do as you please. Then is justi-
e