H. W. CARR by H. W. Carr

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Tacoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Mar 13, 1913

H. W. CARR

By H. W. Carr

Memorials

H. W. CARR

This world was created to be inhabited. The lights by night and day, the beauties of vegetation, the pleasant association of animal life, the purling waters, and all the charms of nature were set in order by a heart of love, that the children of men might love the Giver and enjoy the gift. But an enemy entered this beautiful creation and planted the seeds of selfishness. They grew; the roots fastened their tendrils in every heart, until man’s mind is absorbed in self, and the voice of nature and love for its Author are lost in selfishness.

There is a longing in every human heart to be released from this bondage of sin, but its bands are too strong to be broken without divine help. Intellect decides in favor of freedom, but worldly attractions ever suggest delay and blind the conscience to the real value of life.

The Creator has become the Redeemer, and he is able and willing to supply the help that man must have in regaining his lost estate. But he can not give this help unless the mind chooses to believe the Giver. In many ways he seeks to attract our attention, that we may continually choose to serve him.

Earth, sea, and sky proclaim with ceaseless voice the existence and power of the Creator. From Sinai’s burning top, men heard a voice proclaiming that in six days God created all; and knowing man’s weak nature, he wrote on stone, lest we forget: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. . . . The seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work.” Most fit memorial, while days are given to man, of the mighty power of God in creating these things! God commanded the head of every house that son, daughter, man servant, and all under his control should not fail to keep holy the Sabbath hours, meditating upon the Source of every gift and serving the Giver instead of self.

Blinded with foolishness and sin, the human race chose selfishness to that extent that only Noah remained faithful in remembrance of God’s love and care; and when the mighty flood destroyed the ungrateful race, God bent his bow of peace against the azure sky, with its beautiful harmony of colors, that children might admire it, and then be taught his great love and care.

The Red Sea opened for Israel to go through; bread fell on the desert sands for forty years; and the river Jordan stayed its flow for them to pass. Thousands witnessed these mighty works of God. A monument arose, made of twelve stones which marked the place, and children down through generations were to be taught, by this memorial, of the great deliverance and the love of God.

When the Redeemer gave his life on Calvary’s cross, entered the grave, and rose again, the act was finished that opened wide the prison-house of death. To show good faith in men’s acceptance of this freedom, their bodies must be laid beneath the yielding wave and rise again. Wherever the gospel is taught, this sacred rite must be administered, that by this act all may know and teach and keep in mind the choicest Gift of heaven to fallen man,—baptism, the blessed memorial of Christ’s death and resurrection.

The time had come when the Great Teacher’s work was done. From temple, mountainside, and vale, duty to God and fellow man had been made clear. Magnified and honored by his life and word, the law of God was written in man’s heart anew; and as the twilight faded toward Gethsemane’s awful gloom, he, too, took unleavened bread and broke and gave to the disciples, and poured new wine into the cup—emblems of body and of life, free from the leaven of death and the sting of sin. O, precious gift to lost and dying man which binds him to his God in truest love! And then he knelt before them there and washed their feet, and taught them so to do—an example of love and service to our fellow man.

These emblems of God’s law given anew,—the water, bread, and wine,—with plain command that man should keep these ordinances to the end, have been forgotten, and trodden down by the great foe who rules and reigns in human hearts. He who has made it possible for dying man to live eternally with God, has ordained these sacred services for us as covenant seals to keep the Giver’s gift fresh in our minds, and has commanded that we teach them to our children when we lie down at night, or rise at morn, or go about our daily task. Our talk must be upon his wondrous works, our praise upon his gracious power, that our day and the days of our children may be multiplied as God hath sworn to our fathers, when he shall dwell with us and heaven shall be upon the earth. Escape from sin and death is made complete by faith in his eternal word, and faith is shown by works.

Salamanca, N. Y.