S C R I B N E R ' S M A G A Z I N E Important ... - Rparchives.org

October 29, 1913.
A FAMILY PAPER.
3
GimiSTItN NATION PUBLISHING GO.
IIOS Tribune Building, N. Y.
E D I T O R I A L
John W. Pritchard, Editor.
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 29, 1913
for forty years."
On the other hand in worldly things it is
the tiine of great achievements. Inventions
multiply until one thinks nothing impossible.
Wealth accumulates in immense fortunes,
buildings tower almost to the skies. Great
armies are trained, great navies are built,
great canals are dug, great railroads are cjtribined
and men are even learning to ily in
tbe air. It is true that great revivals oL religion
are projected but great results are not
secured. Faith, hope and love, it seems, are
not to be ordered up by telephone, bought
vvith money or produced in quantities, so this
age is not very successful in matters of religion.
The scholar who spends hi-', i:igenuity
on religion is more than likeiy to lose
what he has and to hinder others who would
iearn the ways of God.
This should not lead us to believe that energy
in religion is of no value; it is rather
for us to remember that those who will ente
this kingdom must come as little children.
The gate of entrance is straight and the way
so narrow that pride and self-sufficiency m^ust
be left behind and humility be carefully cultivated.
Energy is to show itself in prayer
which prostrates oneself before the throne
of grace. It has its work to do in fighting
our besetting sins, in leaving behind our bad
habits, lit is to have its perfect work in our
striving to be like Christ Jesus, our everyday
following of his footsteps. There is for
the most parti nothing spectacular in this,
nothing which the world will applaud, or
Even see. The greatest and most important
battles Avhich a man will ever fight are with-
"1 him, are unseen, are unappreciated because
unseen by human eyes, but courage
may be there, perseverance may be there,
deathless energy may be there, yes, must be
there, before the kingdom is surely taken.
The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence
311(1 the violent take it by force."
"^ll this must precede or at least accompany
any true manifestation of spiritual en-
^••?y to the world. It is God's blessing alone
that gives true success in religion and this
blessing is seldotu given to the unsanetified
worker.
The outside energy shown by tho.-^e
who have never won the battle within may
make a great stir and show, but not secure
lasting results.
It will pass away hke the
morning cloud and the early dew. It is the
painful, humble, devoted struggle after holiness,
the living in all good conscience toward
God, that brings real power and lasting re­
.\SSAULTING THE KINGDOM OF sults. If we Avere holy, the Spirit of God
HEAAEN.
Ours is a time of energy in many directions,
would come into us and dwell with us in hi.-,
fullness. He came but once to Jesus and he
but not in relig'ion. Christians seem remained in his fullness, |for Jesus neve:
rather to be at ease in Zion. 2\Iost of us are drove him out by sin. If we were striving
like the man whose little son said of him, for holiness, the Spirit would come and dwell
"He is a Presbyterian but he isn't working Avith us also and Ave would be strong and
much at it;" or like the man who said of do great things for our Master, ior! our
liiipself, "I have been a Christian, off and on, church and for our cause.
THE BIBLE IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tiie iLa Kemp Mirror, of Beaver County,
Oklahoma, recently published an editorial
discussing the question: "Shall the Bible be
taught in the Public Schools ?" The editorial
contended that it should be so taught, advancing
the following reasons:
Because, Jesus Christ was equally as great
a Jew as Alexander Avas a Macedonian, Caesar
a Roman, Napoleon a Corsican or
Washington an American.
Because, Jesus Christ was equally as great
a teacher as Socrates, Aristotle or Plato.
Because, Jesus Christ Avas equally as great
a reformer as Armenius, Calvin, Luther or
Wesley,
Because, Jesus Christ was equally as great
an ethical character as was Mahommet, Pope
Gregory, John Knox or the Puritan Priest
of Plymouth Rock.
Because, Jesus Christ was equally as pure
as Joan of Arc, Queen Victoria or Frances
E, Willard.
Because, Jesus Christ Avas equally as much
a God as Zeus or the other five gods and
six goddesses of Rome and Greece,
Because, the lives and Avriting of such as
Homer, Bunyan, Voltaire, Payne, Milton,
Sbakesipeare, Longi/ellow, Whittier, Bryalnt
and myriads of others are taught, why not
the sayings of Jesus Christ?
Because, the lives of all those referred tn
above are taught in the public schools, then
why not the life of Jesus Christ?
Because, the teachings of Jesus Christ emilDody
all the good and exclude all the bad
in moral ethics.
Because, if any man's life or teachings are
taught, that either conflicts with the life and
teachings of Christ, then in fairness to the
conflict the life and teachings of Jesus Christ
should be taught.
Because, if any man's
life or teachings
are taught that either is in harmony Avith
the life aiid teachings of Christ, then Avhat
is the harm or objection to teaching the life
and teachings of Jesus Christ?
PREPARATION IN THE PEW,
Much is said and written about preparation
for the pulpit and little about the preparation
needed for the pew, yet this is not
without its importance.
the preacher, "Study to- show
thyself approved
unto God, a workman
The Bible says to
that needeth
not to be ashamed," and it also says to the
people, "Take heed how ye hear,"
One of the important things in the preparation
of the pew is to come in good time.
He who is glad when it is said, "Let us go
into the house of the Lord," would be expected
to be there seasonably, yet it is surprising,
even among good
people, how often
this expectation fails of fulfillment. Coming
late is constitutional with some people
and they are seldom in their place till after
the invocation is ended, while others are seldom
late and then it is caused by some accident
or unforeseen hindrance.
Surely the
people who are late "according to the constitution"
are not showing their gladness in
coining, or their preparedness to hear.
Few sights are more impressive than a
congregation all in place, waiting quietly,
thoughtfully, reverently, for the service of
worship to begin.
The opening of tbe sixty-fifth
Psalm, translated literally, reads,
"For Thee silence, praise, O God, in Zion,"
Silence or Availing comes before praise and
those give praise most truly whose hearts
have been prepared by a silent waiting before
God,
It takes some time for us to
let go of other matters that we may take
hold of God, It takes time to feel his presence.
The heart needs to be atuned into
harmony
with his will before it can enter
into the spiritual music of praise. A fcAV
moments of Availing are needed and are well
spent in entering the spiritual Avorld of his
special presence.
All this one misses Avhen he comes in late;
•yes, he inisses it Avhen he comes in just at
the opening of the service. He gives himself
no time to prepare to hear, no- time to
let go of outAvard things, no time to solemnize
his heart. He is not impressed witb the
presence of God for he has given that impression
no time to form.
One cannot but feel that the opening
prayqr means something very diffejjent to
the man AA'ho has been sitting reverently waiting
for it, and the man Avho comes in hurriedly
as it begins. The man Avho comes
late misses it altogether. He has not taken
part in inviting God to come and meet with
the congregation: let us hope that he Avill
still have a part in receiving him. He surely
has not given himself the best preparation
to know God or to hear his message.