The Washington herald., 1921-04-04
STIRRING AFTER
EASTER SERMONS
ARE HEARD HERE
Lesson of the Resurrec.
ton and Gods Motives,
Two Topics Chosen.

Two Topics CHOSEN.
The variety of human motives
was the subject of the sermon yes
tcrday morning by the Rev. Charles
Wood. minister OF the Church of the
Covenant.
Motives. rather than deeds. are
used by God as the basis of his ap-
praisal Of human actions, Mr.. Wood
pointed out
Christ rebuked the Pharisees for
their loud and hypocritical prayers,
said Mr.. Wood. Their prayers were
not offered from a sincere desire to
praise God. Instead. they made long
and sonorous petitions in order TO
appear righteous in the eyes of the
multitudes who beheld them at
their public prisons. Prayers may
be beautifully worded. they may de-
light tho ear with well rounded
phrases and choice words. but they
are valueiess in the eyes Of the
Deity unless they spring from the
heart and are uttered in a spirit
of humbleness and contrition-"
pts~u..e. Human Motive.
In discussing the variety OF mo-
tives which form the propulsive
forces behind human actions. MI.
Wood said In part:
Human motives include q wide
gamut Of wants. desires and emo
tions, from the purely physical ap-
petites OF the savage to the highly
spiritual ideals OF the civilized man
of strong moral convictions.
The savage thinks only Of phys
ical needs-hunger and thirst. meat
and drink, pain and pleasure. He
rises to a loftier mental plane when
he is animated by loyalty. as Illus
trated in his desire to serve his
tribe leader. II Is at this point that
he rises far above the brute.
Progressing up the ladder of
civilization. the actions of man be-
come more complex. The motives
which impeI these actions grow
more diversified. One man Is moved
by the desire to attain great wealth:
another is anxious to secure the
esteem of the world; another is i'm
PEELED by patriotic motives. There
is always a motive. whether II is
noble or mean, at the base OF every
human action
Motives Sometimes Pushing.
And as the complexity of human
motives grows we are often puzzled
to account for some things men do.
- Is Mr.. So-and-So. candidate for
mayor, running for public office De-
cause of a sincere desire to serve
the community in which he lives? i?
Or is he interested in serving the
- a.
poets to get from the position ?
"hen We give to the church. do VIC
not often wonder whether we give
from a sense OF duty, or from the
heart?
Duty is one OF the greatest mo-
tves in human life. The sense of
duty spurs men on to deeds to
which they would never be impelIed
by either love or benevolence Being
obliged by a sense of duty Is what
the Apostle Paul would have called
living under the Jaw"
Love-" Mr.. Wood said in concIu-
sion. lis the motive which creates
martyrs. saints and heroes. Il Is
love for ones fellow man that
brings out the highest qualities of
Gods human children-it Is the mo-
tive which ennobles, purifies, blesses
and sanctifies- 1t is the motive
which brings man into closer kim
ship with the Deity. 1t is the mo-
tive which finally brings him into
the Kingdom of Heaven"
Reviews the Resurrection.
The nonexistence of death was
emphasized by the Rev. ]. ]. Dimon-
rector of St Andrews Church. in
his Sermon for the Sunday After
Easter" yesterday morning.
Taking as his text st. John, II:25
i am the resurrection and the life,
saith the Lord" Mr.. Dimon said in
part:
Every year on the festival of
Easter. Christian people gather In
their places of worship to celebrate
the glory of their risen Lord. They
stand with the watchers in the gar
den. and as the glow of dawn
oriSntens into day they see the open
tomb. They behold there Mary
hagdalene, wistful and eager; Simon.
Peter and John, impetuous but prac-
tlcal- and then they hear the tidines
me Is risen; He Is net here; be-
mold the place where they laid Him
II IS all a most wonderful story.
Ana as people return to their homes
they carry the conviction in their
hearts: Jesus Christ Is risen. indeed
1T has seemed appropriate on this
Sunday following Easter Day 10
bring to your attention another
aspect of the Resurrection, and to
point out the fact that in the
thought of the New Testament, and
OF Jesus Himself. His resurrection
was the proof rather than the
basis of the future life. 1t is the
will of God reaching back to the
beginnings of human life and con-
sciousness that his children should
pass through the gate OF death to
life eternal.
The Truth Verified.
Jesus did not establish a new
principle. but demonstrated the
truth of the old principle. To be-
lieve that Christ rose is to accent
only q part of the truth which God
has revealed. The resurrection Of
the Lord is not merely a yindica-
tion-it is tidings of great Joy to
all people.
Notice. IL you will, how the
thought stood in the mind of. st.
1iauI- Writing to the Corinthians,
e says: If there be no resurrection
the dead, then is Christ not
tsen.' The two facts stand or fall
,ogether. Still greater light is
Thrown on the subject of the story
81 the restoration of Lazarus. Stand
ding before the tomb where the body
OF his friend had lain for days. the
Master says: Lazarus come forth
nof "a AZ Lazarus were really dead