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Show The EasterAfmiversary TOMORROW the world should be all gladness. It is a sacred anniversary. The ancients on the day of which tomorrow is the anniversary, anniver-sary, laid offerings upon their altars to their gods and poured out libations to them; because the icy grasp in which the winter had held the world had been broken and the coming again of the buds and flowers; the putting on by the trees of their new garments; the softened air and the reawaking of the songs of birds, were all harbingers har-bingers of the spring; all witnesses that the winter win-ter had again been driven back to .his icy caves; all promises of the summer's fruits and flowers, and the harvest's full fruition. So they praised, their gods and' brought for them rich offerings to their altars. : But it was for their material benefit, for the increasing blessings that were to be theirs in this life that they were glad. If they nursed any hope that extended beyond this life, they could not trace that hope to any substantial foundation. The seal had never been broken; no voice had ever given back an echo to break the silence from beyond. But there came a day at last when one who had gone down to death, rolled back tho stone that made the door of His sepulchre; came back in human form to those who knew Him and in the old voice proclaimed that death was at last vanquished; that mortals might look up, for indeed in-deed there was another life to which they were heirs; that beyond the folding doors of death, there was a land filled with music and free from pain awaiting them; where the hopes in their souls should never be clouded by a fear, and where increasing joys would come with Increasing knowledge, for the souls of men were divine. This is the anniversary of that day. Why should not men dress their altars with lilies? Why should not all that is sweet in music or divine di-vine in eloquence be rendered today? For tho Lord is risen, and has led the way up the path to the everlasting golden fields, and men may follow that path if they please, even to the end where the environments of this life are put aside and progress to higher and higher splendors goes on and on forever. |