The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1901-12-18
A Road OF Novelty.


Of annexins those forbidding regions.
A Road of Novelty.
Many prophecies in regard to our na-
tion failed and many prophecies coz
cerning It's future will fail because it is
travelling a new road. Every step it
takes on that road is a novelty. The
opinion of 4 Monroe or Il Jefferson in
the far past is not of as much value Is
the opinion Of our wisest men now.
How could men know il 1923 what it
would be best for this nation to DO in
1901? 1t is belittling as we'll as un-
wise for our statesmen, who are quite
equal to the statesmen Of the past and
who have, in addition to the natural
talents Of their predecessors, attain
ments in knowledge that were imposSi-
BILE in any decade but our own, to de-
pend on advice Of men who have been
dead three-Quarters Of century. in
all other things the world has adTanc-
ed. Can it be that in craftsmanship
it has gone back and that this opening
of the twentieth century must consult
the opening Of the nineteenth century?
"Ye have not passed this way before"
Yea. our entire world is on 4 new
pathway. 1t may be swinging in the
same old orbit as when by the hand
of the Almighty immensity was sprin-
kled with worlds. but It has been rock
ed with earthquakes and scorched with
volcanic fires and whelmcd with tidal
waves and wrought upon by climatic
changes-citieS sunk. and islands lifted,
and mountains avalanched into val
leyS So it is another world than that
which was first started in the solar
system. Yet it is all the time changing
and will keep changing until the hour
Of its demolition. OF this beautiful
world. this lustrous world. this Slori-
Gus world. it may be said. "Ie have
not passed this way before
What is the practical use of this sub
ject? Instead of putting 50 much
stress upon human advice and instead
of asking of the past what we ought
to do. follow tie divine leading as the
men of Joshua followed the golden
lidded chest Of acacia. which was the
symbol of the divine presence.
Teaches Reverence TO God.
That three-QuarterS Of q mile dis
lance between the ark or sacred box
end the front column Of Joshua's
troops nightly impresses me. II was
q forceful way Of teaching reverence
for the Almighty. They needed to
learn that lesson Of reverence. as we
all need to learn it. Irreyerence has
cursed all nations, and none more than
cur own. Irreverence in the use CT
Gods name. Hear you it not OH the
streets and in social groups. and IS not
a profane word sometimes thought nee.
essary to point jocoSity? lrreverence
for the Scriptures. the phraseology OF
tie Bible often introduced into the
most frivolous conversation and made
mirth provoking. Irreverence for the
oath in courtroom or custom house or
legislative hall by the conventional and
mechanical mode OF its administration.
Irreverence for the holy Sabbath by
the way it is broken in pleasure eXcur-
sion and carousal. Irreverence on the
part of children for their parents. in
science being substituted for obedi-
ence. Irreverence for rulers. which in
duces vile cartoons and assassination.
Irreverence in church, during prayer.
measuring off song and sermon by
cold. artistic or literary criticism. and
in prayer time neither bowling the
head nor bending the knee nor stand
ing as one does in the presence OF
earthly ruler. thus showing more re-
spect for man than to the King OF
kings. We ask not for genudexions
or circumfexions or prostrations. but
when prayer is offered let us either
bow the head or bend the knee or let
Us in some way prove that we are not
Indifferent. In how many places have
presumption AID foolhardiness taken
the place of reverence! That three
quarters Of mile between the chest Of
acacia covered with gold and mounted
with wings-a symbol Of the divine
presence-and the marching regiments
Of Joshua suggests a reverence that is
woefuily lacking in social life. in leSis-
lative hall and religious asSembl2Se.
A farmer went to the wheatt;eld. TAX
ing his son with him. The child said.
These stalks that stand straight up
must have the best grain. Those
stalks that bend over cannot be worth
anything" Then the father broke off
two of the tops Of the stalks and said.
Child. that one that bends clear over
has the grain" It is the soul that
bows in deepest reverence which is the
best soul.
Follow the Divine Leading.
But though Joshua's host observed
the three-QuarterS of a mile command.
they followed the ark. and you will do
we'll to follow the divine leading. as
the path you tread now has not yet
been trcdden. "Ye have not passed
this way before" Many Of you are
suffering from just such annoyances