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These men were the representatives of the type
of theology and style of preaching then most
approved in Virginia, and in the South, yea,
among Presbyterians all over the land. And
that theology and that preaching, 1 cannot but
think were then, and would be now, best for
the learned and for the unlearned, and for both
classes with reference to the life that now is
and that which is to come.
But I must believe also that Aunt Matty
had a better teacher than even these holy and
gifted men. The divine Spirit instructed her.
It was He enabled her to rise to the clear
and sublime conception of the glorious scheme
of salvation which she clothed in words so ap
propriate and impressive.
Old Paths.
(Would it not be well to have more of that
same kind of doctrinal preuching in this good
year of 1922?? B. P. B.)
Charlotte Court House, Va.
REAL PROBLEMS.
By Rev. A. J. Ponton.
That the Church is? facing many real prob
lems to-day, no thoughtful and informed man
will deny. If the daily experiences of every
faithful pastor could be placed on the front
page of some daily newspaper, it would surely
cause more than a passing glance. Just what
is the best solution, I feel quite sure I do not
know, but we may at least get some help by
a careful and honest study of facts. To start
with, let us say that the situation is bad ? very
bad. I do not assert this as a fact. We might
say things are pood ? very good ? if we looked
only at the bright side ; and use the same pro
cess in arguing.
This condition did not obtain or result over
night. It has been a steady process. What
meets the real student of God's Word to-day
at every turn! The line between the Church
and the world is obliterated. No one dare say
where it is. The Sabbath is more and more
desecrated. Lawlessness in every form seems
to be on the increase. The authority of the
Church is a thing of the past. If there is any
law in the Church, no one seems to know about
it, and it certainly does not command respect,
and so we might multiply numbers, but let this
suffice.
Now the Bible is either the Word of God,
or it is nothing. The Church is either God's
divine institution, or it is nothing. The Law
by which this living Word is applied, and this
institution is conducted, is either God's law,
or it has no real meaning at all. To what
purpose, if we are raising more money than
ever before, if there are more agencies, if there
are more plants and plans; unless they all
have the seal and mark of God upon them,
and unless they all, at all times seek first, last
and always the glory of God, in the salvation
of men?
Now it is a fact that we have some "old
fogies," so-called, in the Church, and for most
of those we ought to thank God. For the pro
gressive Church is harking back to these* same
men and women for its support in all thes'j
undertakings.
The writer seriously doubts the wisdom, if
not the Scripturalness of many things, that at
present our Church seems to be treating light
ly, in some cases; in others, paying no atten
tion at all, and in still others showing a zeal
ous interest.
Many of our people cannot see any good
reason or Scripture for the drives that have
been made, and will be. Whether the word
"drive" is just an unfortunate choice, I am
sure I cannot say, but I cannot believe that
our people who are able are stingy and penu
PRESIDENT HARDING'S THANKSGIVING
PROCLAMATION.
In the beginning of our country the cus
tom was established by the devout fathers,
of observing annually a day of thanksgiving
for the bounties and protection which divine
Providence had extended throughout the
year. It has come to be perhaps the most
characteristic of our national observances,
and as the season approaches for its annual
recurrence it is fitting formally to direct
attention to this ancient institution of our
people and to call upon them again to unite
in its appropriate celebration.
The year which now approaches its end
has been marked, in the experience of our
nation, by a complexity of trials and tri
umphs, of difficulties and of achievements,
which we must regard asour inevitable por
tion in such an epoch as that hhrough which
all mankind is moving. As we survey the
experience of the passing twelve months we
shall find that our estate presents very much
to justify a nation-wide and most sincere
testimony of gratitude for the bounty which
has been bestowed upon us. Though we
have lived in the shadows of the hard con
sequences of great conflict, our country has
been at peace and has been able to contribute
toward the maintenance and perpetuation of
peace in the world. We have seen the race
ot mankind make gratifying progress on the
way to permanent peace, toward order and
restored confidence in its high destiny.
For the divine guidance which has enabled
us in growing fraternity with other people,
to attain so much of progress; for the boun
teous yield which has come to us from the
resources of our soil and our industry, we
owe our tribute of gratitude and with it our
acknowledgment of the duty and obligation to
our own people and to the unfortunate, the
suffering, the distracted of other lands. Let
us in all humility acknowledge how great is
our debt to the Providence which has gen
erously dealt with us and give devout assur
ance of unselfish purpose to play a helpful
and ennobling part in human advancement.
It is much to be desired that in rendering
homage for the blessings which have come
to us we should earnestly testify our con
tinued and increasing aim to make our own
great fortune a means of helping and serv
ing, as best we can, the cause of humanity.
Now, therefore, I. Warren G. Harding.
President of the United States of Amcrica.
do designate Thursday, the thirtieth day of
November, as a day of thanksgiving, suppli
cation and devotion. I recommend that the
people gather at their family altars and in
their houses of worship to rendor thanks to
God for the bounties they have enjoyed and
to petition that these may be continued in
, the year before us.
In witness whereof I hpve hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington thij second
> day of November in the year of our Lord
one thousand nine hundred and twenty-two
and of the independence of the United States
of America the one hundred forty-seventh.
WARREN G. HARDING.
rious. So let the brains and consecration of
the Church wrestle with this problem, and just
bring to the masses of the people a plain "thus
saith the Lord."
Again, many of our best people in the rural
districts do not take kindly to the summer
conferences, the multiplicity of places and the
customs. For instance, there is surely no
harm in swimming. This is a popular sport
and form of recreation at all of our places of
conference. But let the whole Church see to
it that modesty and decency are observed at
all times and under all circumstances. For
many of our rural communities have been rude
ly shocked by their young people imitating the
indecent practices of some of our popular sum
mer resorts in quiet country streams and mill
ponds. Let not the Church pass these things
by, but let the whole Church look to this prob
lem with jealous care.
Again, there are many good people in our
Church who feel that too much latitude has
been given to women's work, or that it occu
pies too large a place, and in some instances
that this arm of the Church's work has gone
beyond the pale of the authority of the ses
sion or any other church court. Let me pause
to say that I realize that I am on thin ice, and
if some good, zealous woman should pause long
enough to read these lines, I want to say to
her that no one in our beloved Zion has great
er respect for the true Christian woman in all
of her God-given rights and privileges to work
for her Master than I; yet here is another
problem: some ? yes, many ? of the very best
and truest of our women have come to me as
a pastor and asked for counsel, advice and
help. I believe women, more than men, love
leadership in society. We know of sad and
hurtful instances where the leader of the
church society is also the leader at the card
table and at the dance. No woman who is
truly consecrated to her Lord's service, or
man, either, for that matter, will attempt to
do the impossible. I believe the time is now
here when the Church should say in words of
loving, yearning entreaty, but at the same
time in words of command: "You cannot be
both at one and the same time." The very
same law should apply to the men of the
Church, especially our official members, who
seem to interpret the entire Bible, not accord
ing to the law, as laid down by our fathers,
but according to the customs of the day and
the desires of the carnal' mind. Compromise
of the eternal principles of right, and the low
ering of the blood-stained banner of the cross,
to the damnable whims, caprices and sins of
the world, is, I believe, the leading sin of the
Church of to-day. What is the Church going
to do about it? Is it not a real problem!
We might mention the problem of the empty
church. The faithful few at the mid-week
prayer meeting, the work of the Sunday school,
cur young people and many others; but this
would make our story too long. The problems
are all here. They are with us every morning
when we arise. They are with us at night
when we lay our heads on our pillows for rest
and sleep.
You and I are swiftly passing. We will not
pass this way again. May we not help the
Church to solve some of these problems by a
higher type of consecration and consistency in
our own lives? May we not be the "Safety
First" signs in things moral and spiritual!
May we not, by a fuller surrender of our own
lives to Christ, lead our young people to see
that the highest form of joy and amusement
if not in gratifying the desires of the carnal
mind, but in humble, loyal, joyous service for
the Master?
Thus we might begin to help solve some of
the problems.
Pamplin, Va.
For all right judgment of any man it is es
sential to see his good qualities before pro
nouncing on his bad. ? Thomas Carlyle.
"What would be the effect on me if I should
stop giving?" "Your soul would grow small
as your bank account grew large."
Tn the mysterious dealings of God sorow
and affliction are sometimes the disguised
blessings that lead into the paths of service.