The Raymer enterprise., 1923-03-29

So said Jesus to His followers be-
fore He went to His death on Calvary. Later they
saw Him fiinching beneath the weight Of the cross
as He went forth from Pilates Judgment hall along
the Way Of Sorrows to Golgotha. Still later they
saw Him dying on that cross. And finally they
saw Him risen from the dead on Easter Day.
To Jesus disciples the cross symbozed the
power Of imperial Rome over those who offended
against her. Rome stood for material achievement.
for oppression. Jesus stood for spiritual things.
for love. for human freedom and brotherhood
To the Christian Of today Easter Is celebra-
ton Of the belief that Rome was wrong and that
Jesus was right. And he knows that he must car
~ the cross, as well as cling to the cross.
Man instinctively yearns for life beyond the
grave. IT'LL death do part" reads the marriage
service. There are some who would have 1t so
that not even death can part them. Wrote Robert
Browning:
o. thou soul of my soul. shall clasp thee again.
And with God be the rest!
Many feel that II there Is to be no future life
tor them then Is this earthly life hideous lniquity
Q prodigious failure. Wrote Tennyson:
Thou wilt not leave in the dust;
Thou madest man. he knows not why
He thinks he was not made to die;
And Thou hast made him. Thou art Just.
1t seems inconcelvable that man should toll up
ward with sweat and travail until Lincoln could
say, with malice toward none. with charity for
ALL and then should come annihilation. Wrote
Darwin:
It is an intolerabe thought that man and all other
sentient beings doomed to complete annhilation
after such long-continued and slow process.
So the Christian of today sees In Easter the an.
swer to the ages-old question: "If man de- shall
he live again"
This is an old. old earth and man has lived long
upon it-so long that he celebrated Easter ages
before Jesus died upon the cross and rose from
the dead. The Easter that man celebrated before
Christianity came was an instructive expression
his Joy that winter over and spring was on
the way. To him the sum- II not God himself was
light and warmth and springing life. So at or
near the venal equinox early man celebrated the
change in the seasons that renewed his slender
lease on life and comfort.
Man instinctively turns to a god II not to the
God. In the beginnings OF the race man saw god
In light and darkness; heard god In the thunder
and the wind; felt him In the manifold manlfesta-
tions Of nature. Perhaps most of all early man
saw god In the sun that drew nearer In the spring
and gave light and heat and food. So It Is no
wonder that modern man rejoices as of old at the
coming Of spring. He would sing II he could, with
Bliss Carman:
.. ......... Well know
The sun will shine again and spring come back
Her ancient, glorious. golden-fowered way,
And gadness visit the green earth once more
For many city man does Berton Braley speak
when he sings Of the tunes Of the first street
plano Of the spring:
They build me vision of meadows Elysian
OF brooklets that babbie and breezes that Groom.
And wstful and tender young spring In her splendor
Comes dancing to me on the wings Of q tune.
Russell Mott, poet Of long ago. spoke for all
nature lovers when he wrote:
Godde helpe allie good adventurers
Who love strange roads sac wels.
Whose prysonne W q city street.
Whose counting celle:
Send them safe deliveraunce
That each may lyte his tyre
With only the starres for gaolers
Inne the lande Of hys desyre.
So 1t Is that outof-doors on Easter morn offers
lure for many that no church can equal.
Easter morn at sunrise. should you be In Los
Angeles and one Of those nred by the out.of-doors
hasten to Eagle Rock park. You will finu many