THE RADIANT CHRIST

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 273, 24 December 1909, Page 4

THE RADIANT CHRIST

(By Ella Wheeler \yilcox.) Mrs. Wilcox writes an earnest plea for a shifting of emphasis from the Christ crucified to the Christ living and triumphant —to what the new theologians call "the imminent Christ." We quote from The Delineator:—

Arise, 0 master artist of the age, And paint the picture which at olicc

shall be Immortal art and blessed phopheey. The bruiw'd vision of tile world assuage; To earth's dark book add one illumined page So scintillaut with truth that all w ic

Shall break from superstition and stand free. Sow lei this wondrous work Tliy haml engage. The mortal sorrow of the Nawirene Tqq long has been faith's symbol and Hs sign, | Too long a dying Saviour has sullioed, Give us' the glowing emblems which shall mean I Mankind awakened to the self divine— The living presence of the radiant Christ. Too long the crucifix on Calvary's height Has cast its shadow on the human heart. I,et now religion's great co-worker, art, liiinu on the background of departing night The shining face, all palpitant with •light, Aaid Hod's true message to the world impart., Go tell each toiler in the Mums and mart, "1.0, Christ is with us yet, if ye seek aright)"

The world forgets the vital word Christ taught, The only word the world has' need to know, The answer to creation's problem—love, The world remembers what the Christ forgot—llis cross of anguish and His death of woe, Release the martyr, and the cross remove,

Vor, "now the former things have passed

away, And man. forgetting that which lies behind,

And ever pressing forward, seeks to find The prize of His high calling." Send a

From art's bright sun to fortify the day And blaze the trail to every mortal ininilr" The new religion lies in being kind; Faith works for men where once it knelt to prav.

Faith knows but hope whore once it knew despair, Faith count? its gain where onto it reckoned loss. Ascending paths its patient feet have trod, Man looks, within and finds salvation there. Release the suffering Saviour from the cross give the waiting world its radiant | God!