The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-03-13
PRACTICAL WISDOM.
How to Serve CODA Hint to Theater
Goers- A Lesson from Esther
Sin Not and Fear God.

f ~SSAS
Sin Not and Fear God.
GRACE CHURCH,
Nal. III, 16. "Then they that feared
the Lord spake often one to another"
When the last OF the prophets wrote,
about 397 B. G., the jews had very gen.
orally come to regard their religion as o
mercenary transaction between them
selves and God. They thought that by
religious ceremonies they were doing for
God so much of what was pleasing to
Him on account OF which He ought to
return to them an equivalent in what
was pleasing to them. This, being a
false idea of worship, did not work the
expected result. In consequence the
people came to think and say, at is in
vain to serve God; and what profit is it
that we have kept his ordinance" etc.
I'm the language Of to-day, religion did
not pay; and they began to "call the
proud happy" and '.they that worked
wickedness we're set up" The town or
Madison is witness that many in our
day are vainly trying to "enjoy life on
the same false idea. Her many places
of public worship are empty of the ma
iority OF her citizens, for they have set
to their seal that religion "does not pay"
The opera house, standing in their midst,
with it's nightly crowds, even during the
solemn season of Lent, is witness, gath
ering up and carrying away from the
pockets and the homes OF our people
sums Of ~hard-earned money to which the
freewill offerings Of all for the purposes
OF Gods kingdom are contemplate by
comparison. / have not a word to say
against the clean drama, the wholesome
opera, the modest dance, the innocent
amusement or the refining entertainment
Of people anywhere, but speak for the
truth which alone has power to make
life worth living, and / protest in the
name Of the true God excepting the GOV.
enant and mercy to them that love him,
and keep his commandments" against
the careless neglect Of His word and
the consequent robbery of His sanctuary
in tithes and offerings. God maketh all
things work together for good to them
that love Him. The effect OF general de-
lection in the ancient day was good up
on the true-hearted. 1t drove them to-
gether for mutual strengthening in ear
nest converse. ''Then they that feared
the Lord sapke often one to another;'
and the reward came from God in a
double blessing. They were saved from
drifting with the tide and finally losing
all by themselves denying God; and, on
the other hand, 1.-THE Lord hardened;
and heard it, and a book of remembrance
was written before him for them that
feared the Lord, and that thought upon
his name. And they shall be mine, saith
the Lord of hosts, in that day when
make up my jewels; and l will spare
them, as a man spareth his own son that
serveth him."
The sermon closed with an exhorta.
ton to "let your conversation be such az
becometh the gospel OF Christ" while
speaking often one to another on such
themes as ought to be ever uppermost
In christian minds. Especially is this
course full of blessed promise as between
those who, though separated by demon
national lines, are yet one at heart in
that they mutually fear God. Nothing
Tin our power) can avail SO much toward
healing our unhappy divisions" and
bring about so soon the Savior's prayer
that we all may be one, as the endeavol
better to understand each other and
work together in the Gear Of God.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
II any of my readers has not read the
book OF Esther I hope he will not fail
soon to do SO. Although the name o.
God is not found in one of It's zen chap
ters, the power, love and providence Of
God are felt between the lines in-aEery
movement OF the marvellous drama. The
evidences of it's divine inspiration are
acknowledged by every open-hearted
and candid reader. the lessons Of the
thrilling story are numerous but let Af
center our thought around the last claust
OF the fourteenth verse OF chapter fodr
"Who knoweth whether thou art come
to the kingdom for such u time as this?'
Esther was a Jewish maiden, one Of {
despised and captive people. Two o.
three millions OF jews were at that tim.
living in different parts OF the great Per
sian empire. Esther RAJ the niece o
Mordecai who was her guardian since
the death OF her own father and mother
She was chosen queen OF Persia on &C
Count Of her great beauty and amiabil
ity. Hannah, an over-ambitious and ut
terly INSCRIPTIONS and immoral man