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