Arizona republican., 1901-01-01

man Of figures, and of the shrewdness
that necessarily accompanies COM
mercial temperament.
The lea5tr announced the lesson for
the day. number forty-.wo in the
course. the class having undertaken
consecutive study of the book forty
two Sundays ago, when Mr.. Rockafei-
Ter took the leadership The subject
was josiah, the last reformer in Judah,
from III Kings. twenty-second chapter.
The leader analysed the subject. begin
ming with the character Of Josiah's
r,ign. ana continuing with the repair
of the temple, the finding of the Book
of Law. and the great reformation ef-
fected by reading the book to the peo-
pie. Then followed genera, discus
sion of the topic.
"Why Is It," asked Mr.. Rockefeller.
rhat the reformatio OF Josiah's reign,
and indeed many great reformations
since, were nct lasting?"
because a reformation, to be endur-
ing, must be reformation in cor
science" said young man who sat
near the leader.
Because most reformations we read
about carries things to extremes-like
Puritanism, for insta hce." said anoth-
er.
Because the reformati-ns were too
sudden--expectcd too much too soon
bccausr people need time to be edu-
living, said another,
~ think you have all three hit the
nail on the head" said Mr.. Rockefel-
Ter. ''ro bring at,ut a reformation
people need time for natural growth,
to throw ffthe old and take on the
new. Unless man is reformed in his
conscience he is not a new man. Mere
outward change is reform only In APP
pearance."
The speaker then cited the dlffsr-
ence between wcrship according to
prescribed form and simple worship
devoid ot formaHty. ''some people can
worship best in church. amid formal
surroundings; others find they get
closer to God in the fields and words.
But AS l said before, 1t doesn't matter
whrre man worships, so long as he
has the spirit of Jesus Christ with him.
believe that the reformation depends
not at all upon grand churches, and
ceremony and form, but upon indiv!d
ual effort, man to man brother to
brother. WhLn a church surrounds
worship with too much ritual, the OBJ
jet of lellgion is defeated: just as a
man who, thinking to keep his body
warm, puts on too many clothes, stops
the circulation of the blood, and finds
his health in a short time impaired.
Mr.. Rockefeller concluded with the
golden text: "Obey my vice so
shall " be my people, and | will be
your God" ITO find the light of God"
he said, 1--WE must think high keep our
thoughts a!0ft. Let our thoughts drop
10 the sordid the material, the merely
w5rldly, and we forget God. | remem-
Der while recently travelling in Nor
way. the land of the midnight sun, |
had not seen the sun for six nights.
Then our sAip put southwark, and one
night as we entered harbor, / thought.
Tonight the sun will sink from our
sight. But atop of a mountain ! saw
light, and l said. IF we climb up there.
We shall still SEE the sun We started
Ip t.,e HiHuEtaln anu WAen We TSucIeu
the top We found there was a litter
peak beyond. Ons companion remained
behind, and two of us climbed 20 the
top of the second Aountaln, when
again we found We had not reached the
sun, as there was st,ll loftier peak.
Ny friend left me, and climbed alcnn
% the top of the third peak. and there,
midnight, | found the sun. Thus in
life, II we think aloft, there we will
fird the light of Cod"
The meeting closed In time COR church
service at eleven. Mr.. RocKefellui.
,tandlng at the door and shaking
hands with the young men as they
passed out. He had a pleasant word
for all, addressing each by name, and
asking each to come again. Then H.
went to his pew in the body of the
church an dknelt a moment in silent
prayer.-Gilson Willets in the Chris
Ian Herald