The western sentinel., 1898-05-12
OUTLINE OF ANNUAL SERMON.
Preached at Slater Academy Sunday
May 8th by Bishop G. W. Clinton.

m0y oeA W oA1Aop We " OiAHtOn. |
The bishop selected his text from
Hebrew 11:24-27. He began his
discourse by saying: "To strive for
q place of honor and a position of
in good cause or among
noble people is worthy of the highest
of any man.
When such an endedyor brings one
into the higher favor and service of |
God, and at the same time tends to
promote the best interests of ones |
fellows and country, it then becomes
a duty. History both secular and |
religious furnishes the names of men
whose deeds come to us as a heritage |
and benefaction from which we may
derive great profit; and their lives
give us examples worthy of our
emulation.
In the beautifully interesting chap
ter from which the text is taken the
inspired writer gives us a list of noble
characters who won their grand
achievements for God and man by
their faith. In this list of faithful
worthless there is no name which
stands deservedly higher or shines
more brilliantly in the galaxy of
religious stars than the name of
Moses. The bishop then reviewed
the early life and experiences of
Moses up to the time of his depal ture
from Egypt. He continued by say
ing the first point which arrests our
attention is the time when he gives
the first evidence of his faith and
makes his wise choice. When he was
come TO years-which according to
Acts 1928 was when he had attained
the age of forty-his school life was
ended, his youthful period and un-
settled notions had been overcome
by the training which he received
from the wisest of the Egyptians and
| the advantages of court life. This
was most opportune time for him
to make decision and choice upon
| which depended his whole future
career, a decision which marks the
beginning of a pivotal point in the
history of one OF the greatest peoples
of the human family. In this ex-
ample young people of our day
whose school career is ended or near
ing completion, and who are about
to enter life's broader arena will do
we'll to emulate the conduct of Moses.
The faith and choice of Moses
stands out the more prominent when
we consider what he surrendered.
He refused to be called the son of
Pharaoh's daughter. This refusal
deprived him of a most elegant home
| and associations which had been of
inestimable benefit to him. 1t also
| deprived him of the prospect of gain
ing the Egyptian throne which,
according to Joseph, was possible
had he remained at Pharaoh's court
He gave up the treasures of Egypt.
He forsook the r'easures of Egypt.
To have remained at a court SO
favorably circumstanced was a
privilege not to be slighted; to have
| become king was indeed a great
honor and desirable position, but
to be king surrounded by honor
able characters and the effiuence of
great wealth attended by servants
| almost innumberable was enough to
| dazzle and bewitch the most steady
soul. But Moses, in his desire to be
what God would have him be, for
sakes all these, ''esteeming the re-
proach of Christ greater riches than
all the treasures of Egypt"
| How dissimilar is the conduct OF
Moses when contrasted with the men
of his time and many of our own
time. The love of money which the
inspired writer declares to be the
root of all evil is deeply grated in
the heart of the human race. The
love and desire for place and power,
the desire for frivolous and unprofit-
able pleasures are hardly less notable.
Men have compassed land and sea,
encountered storm and hurricane,
faced danger and death and resorted
to "ways that are dark and tricks
which are vain" in their mad rush
for gain, greed, Office and pleasure.
How grand does Moses stand out as
| q model when we see him forsake the
vast territory and abundant wealth
of the great empire to take up a life
of faith
Oh, that 1 might persuade Others
whose talents, position and oppor-
tunities make it possible for them to
become power for good as leaders
of the people and servants of God to
do likewise.
Many to whom the prospect {.
Office and the desire for wealth are
not great enticements and snares are
often .lured into more illusive and
dangerous paths, drawn thitber by
the empty pleasures of sin which last
only for season. Men of all ages
and times have been beguiled, be-
wildered and lastly destroyed by
such pleasures. Strong Samson and
wise Solomon of Bible fame, brave
Marc Anthony, victorious Alexander
the Great, brilliant Edgar A. Poe
the great Irish leader Ghas. Stewart
Parnell and lesser lights, male and
female, in past and present times
have bowed their knees to the gods
OF sinful pleasure and sensual indulg
ence and gave forth into outer dark
ness. Many ask what harm is there
il pleasures? You should rather
ask what good is there in them. Il
there Is no substantial good in g
pleasure or pursuit desist from it
turn into another path.
Turning from this phase of Moses
career let US notice that he chose g
lot with his own people, oppressed
and poor as they were. In deciding
to cast his lot with them he founC
himself with people who had with
them the promises of God, a people
who were the only worshippers of the
true God in that land. He did not
wait till they became great before
espousing their cause, but he took uI
their cause when they were poor
despised, without home and with
out q country. He was a true
patriot, the kind OF leader the world
needs today. Had he been selfish
| ard lacking In tha princin1 a n