Newspaper Page Text
VIRGINIA
The Presbyterian o? the South
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Vol. 97. No. 49. i RICHMOND, VA. DECEMBER 6, 1922
ONE of the popular gospel hymns has in it
the line "When the roll is called up yon
der, I'll be there." It is a blessed privilege to
have the assurance of salvation, to know that
we are saved, to be able to say, "I know whom I
have believed, and am persuaded that He is able
to keep that which I have committed unto Him
against that day." There is nothing that can
give one the same real joy as the knowledge
that he has been saved and that he will spend
the unending ages of eternity in the presence
of the Saviour who has redeemed him. If
there is anything that can add to lfis happiness
iu heaven, it would seem to be the fact that he
could lay at the Saviour's feet a crown spark
ling with many jewels, each representing a
soul which he had been able to lead to Christ,
and then to have the joy of seeing these souls
in the heavenly home. What must be the 'feel
ing of one who has no stars to present to his
Redeemer, and who must walk the heavenly
streets throughout eternity, without ever meet
ing one whom he has won for Jesus and who is
in heaven, it would seem to be the fact that he
earth? It is only in this life that we can win
souls for our Master. Let us see that there are
others whom we have won to stand with us,
"when the roll is called up yonder."
REPORTS from the churches in various
parts of the country seem to show that
pastors in increasing numbers are making the
mid-week services periods of Bible study.
These services usually vary but slightly from
the ordinary Sunday preaching service, except
that not as much study is given to the lecture
as is given to a sermon. Many pastors are now
taking up special books of the Bible and study
ing them systematically with their people.
This is a most excellent plan. Some times sur
prise is expressed that people are not toetter
acquainted with the Bible than they are. May
this not be due to the fact that most people have
very little instruction in the Bible, except that
which is given them in sermons which are often
preached from isolated texts? The study by
books will relieve this condition of affairs. It
will mean hard work by pastor and people, but
it is worth it all.
HOICE OP BOOKS ought to have more
attention than is usually given to it.
Many people, who have very little time to read
pick up any book that may he convenient, or
take any book that is suggested by another,
without stopping to consider what it is. Some
professional readers, such as book reviewers
for papers and magazines, have to read all the
books that come to them as far as possible,
but the ordinary reader would find this im
possible and decidedly unprofitable. In de
ciding what to read several things ought to be
kept in mind. If mere amusement is the ob
ject then a good novel will answer the pur
pose. In this day, however, many novels are
written as real propaganda for some special
theory or doctrine. We recently read a novel
which was a very well written story, but it
was very evident that the purpose of the book
was to teach evolution. If instruction is de
sired, as well as entertainment, books of travel
and , biography will be very helpful. In case
of the desire for study of special subjects,
books on those subjects should be secured. If
there is a desire for improvement in spiritual
life, books of a devotional nature should be
chosen. When there is a desire to study more
fully the word of God than can be done by
just reading it, it is well to select good ex
pository works on the portion of the Bible to
be studied at a given time, books that treat of
special subjects, as faith or prayer, if books
are wanted for young people or children, they
should be selected with reference to their ages.
Do not give a ten-year old boy "Baxter's
Saints' Rest." Selections can be made to ad
vantage by reading the reviews of books in
reliable papers and magazines, by talking with
well read people whose judgment can be taken.
INCARNATE LOVE.
O Love of God incarnate.
Who comest from above,
To show us God the Father
In human life of love,
God'B love to earth thou brlngest
That men may see in Thee
How like man is the Father,
How like God man may be.
O Love of God incarnate,
Life bearer sent to men.
Who drinks at Thy deep fountain
Shall never thirst again:
God's life to earth Thou bringest,
And, though the thorn-path trod
Led Thee to death on Calvary,
Thou wast the Son of God!
O Love of God incarnate,
Thy resurrection hour
Revealed the life eternal,
And robbed death of its power:
Enthroned on high Thou reignest
That man may share with Thee
Thy life, Thy love. Thy glory,
And live eternally.
O Love of God incarnate,
Thou overliving Word,
Through Whom the Father speaketh.
In Whom man's voice is heard,
In Thee all love and wisdom,
Divine and human, meet;
When God through Thee hath spoken.
Love's message is complete!
? Wilbur Fisk Tillett.
Those who buy a number of books during the
year would find it a matter of economy of time
and money to subscribe for several papers that
review books, just for the sake of the reviews.
For many a book that is worthless is bought
on the suggestion of some one whose judg
ment is not worth much or from the advertise
ment of some publisher, whose only aim is to
sell the book. The Church papers especially
may be generally depended upon to give the
information desired, as their aim is simply to
help their readers to get the desired informa
tion in regard to the books reviewed.
SHALL THE CHITRCH PAY ITS DEBTS,
is a question asked by the Presbyterian
"Witness of Canada. The debts referred to by
that paper are those resting upon the boards
of the Canadian church due to the fact that
the cost of its mission work has exceeded the
contributions of the Church. The situation is
exactly the same as in our Church. Our home
and foreign mission committees are heavily in
debt. This is not due to any mismanagement
or even to the expansion of the work, but only
to conditions brought about by the war, which
have not yet been relieved. One of three
courses has been open to the Church. The
work might have been curtailed and some of
the workers been discharged, or the commit
tees could continue the work and go into debt,
or the Church could have made larger contri
butions. It would have been very unwise to
curtail the work and discharge the workers.
An injury would have been done to the work
that would not have been overcome in years,
and an injustice would have been done the
workers to have deprived them of their sup
port, when there was no provision made or
could be made to give them new work. The
Church for years has been praying that God
would call laborers into His harvest field.
Every such prayer sent up by the Church or
by any member of it was a pledge that those
whom God would send should be supported in
their work. So the Church has felt that these
workers and the work they are doing must be
supported. Because the needed money has not
been provided, debts have been incurred. These
debts have not been made by the committees.
All the plans of the work have been approved
by the General Assembly and they have been
practically endorsed by all of the Synods and
Presbyteries, with scarcely an exception. After
careful consideration the Assembly decides
what is needed for the work planned. This
amount is then apportioned among the Synods
on the fairest basis possible. With almost per
fect unanimity the Synods accepted these ap
portionments. Then" each Synod apportioned
the amount assigned it among the Presbyteries,
and in almost every case the apportionment
was accepted by the Presbytery and divided
among the churches. These courts are made
up of representatives of the people and their
acts are therefore the acts of those whom they
represent. Therefore these amounts due by the
committees are the debts of the Church and
they have been made under what was believed
to have been the leadings of God's Spirit. The
Church is not bankrupt. Its members are fully
able to pay all of its debts and to provide all
that is needed to extend the work of God's
kingdom. Unless he has paid to God all that
He has a right to expect, each member of the
Church owes his proportionate part of the debt
What better time to pay this debt than at
Christmas! If each one will give to God a
just proportion of what he will spend at this
season of good will, all that is needed just now
will be provided and the home and foreign mis
sion work will go forward gloriously.
Corot said: "Wh.in I find myself in one of
Nature's beautiful places, I grow angry with
my pictures." Pleased with them in his stu
dio, in sight of the glory of the world the art
ist was humbled. We may be content with
ourselves, comparing ourselves with ourselves,
but in the presence of the purity and beauty
of the Lord we are rebuked. ? Selected.