The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-30
EASTER SERMON DELIVERED BY THE
REV. +. W. GOLDEN -HOWES, RECTOR OF
THE ST. PHILIPS EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Easter is day of universal re-
jocng. Songs of eladness, praise, and |
gratitude ascend to the heavens from |
every quarter of the christian world. |
Easter announces the passing from
darkness into light Of the human race,
the opening Of the door of the future,
of the Life Eternal it announces the
/ first step in the Immortality Of man
| kind In it is found the completion Of
the plan of the Father for His children
The consummation Of the purpose oi
| lie.
In the progression of the Cross by
Jesus and from the Cross to the bless
ed fulfilment OF the promise in the
Resurrection. we have as symbol OF
the progression through its upward
struggles to the final fulfilment in the
realization and acceptance at the hand
Of Col, the sacrifice Of the Son of
Man as all sufficient and atoning 1t
is the story of the life of the indvic-
ua as well as that of grouped human
ity
The lilies remind us that the black
and ugly past is gone and in its place
the perfect beauty of the flower OF the
present, full, blooming white, beautiful
and pure before the eyes of man and in
the presence of God. As the emblem
of Easter the lily is to the black and
ugly bulb which rests in the slime and
mud so is the promise of man as seen
in the resurrection from death to life
of the Son of Man. AS the beautiful
butterfly is TO the black ugly and form
less chrysals 50 is the promise to man
in the light Of the resurrection Nature
provides us with innumerable ilustra-
tions Of this stupendous fact. Why need
: we countenance one moments heslta-
tion in accepting a like possibility for
the noblest of all Gods creations, man.
| This is all true as seen through the
eye of grouped humanity, that is group
ed Christian humanity. But what doest
| it convey to you detached and isolated
from grouped Christian humanity. Put
| this question to yourself and stand
isolated when you make reply. Easter.
| great Christian festival. Does it stir
me personally? Does It have such a
| part in my life that it compes me TO
look at each dawning day and think
that OF just such a day and at jus'
=, such Il time the Resurrection of the
Savior oecame a fact Resurrection from
. death to life for me. Does it compe,
0 me to i0ok at the glowing light of the
) sun from day to day and find there a
n symbol of the resurrection Of the Say
Z iour and its most amazing promise (,
= me. with its benefits foretelling the
= full tale Of the benefits Of the Atone
% ment TO me Does each Sabbath com.
n as a 'nhilee Of that great day
& Have you separated yourself from
!; the group that you can make it your
s own concern survey the resurrection
accept it with willingness and under
- staining and accord to ii the same ex
>, preston of joy Of gladness and of graf
,t itude that is being shown b. groupe'
humanity today throughout all Chris
10 tendon.
80 "The old-time greeting on Easte
10 was 'Christ Is risen today the answe
nj Christ is risen indeed Allelulia.' Cal
10 you make that reply to the greeting
II with a swelling heat. n heart that ca
in sure of love. This is the test Us I
g. whether or not it is your Easter o
IN the church's. Is there peculiar il
eXpressble joy in your heart today,
Joy that YOU would share with other
were you capable Of its expression;
n joy that shines through all the shadow
of the past ami makes all things bright
Is This is your Easter and not that q
ce grouped, disciplined and custom obeyin
Christianity, not that OF the Church
" only. A day to cast the brightness G
oil promise and fulfilment until the neN
he Faster day shines forth for you. Th
60 reservoir from which the light Of you
-, life is poured out
80 80 you see. the matter Of Jesu
eS as Saviour, the incarnation and III
ds atonement is very personal matt,
en- or nothing. He must enter into yol
heart. Your life must interpret II
cd presence in its every expression. W
must live in the light Of the resurre
of ton.
,s- There Is no security in grouped HI
on manity. There is no salvation in grou
be ed Christianity for me. The churC
lin Is not merely a security or salvatiC
,il- league for men and women. not
ley social or religious club for the masse
he II operates. brings its message 4
rat me. for me only.
.g- There Is of course feeling Of S
es- curlty in ones churchly association
in This feeling OF security can become
lth menace to the point Of permitting
is dlvidual responsibility ami danger
become becloudcd or dulled. II ca
de- become false security in which '
OF are no longer duly sensitive to tho
asst things which assault and hurt q
soul. Each stands alone before O.
ore TO answer for ones shortcomings al
sins, each stands before the Gre
White Throne when the book Of 81
Is unfoldeI. You cannot then III
ign shelter behind your church or In tn
Ia which | now call group Christianity.
leo ut Is true that We all benefit In o
re- civilization. II Is builded upon al
to- around the facts now before Us Il
ea- Eastertide. The facts Of the incarnati
'or' and the atonement. These benefits al
oy however directly speaking. intellectu
lou material altogether worldly unless
are detached from the group AMI
M tached to these facts individually. /
the member, the intellectual, material pl
in ,,c,l do NOT count In ihe finnlItv
puV things. In the final analysis IL is I
'ue spiritual that counts
Face the amazing facts Of the r
direction, embrace the opportunitI
-, thus held cut before you. Make 4
M. Eastertide very personal time. Bu
I'e, IL into your lives. govern your actiC
anN by these great truths, express tn
D@,n @ in your living from day to day.
W. III anything in your past restra
"' Vn,, from thie fnkn IL and inV IA nj