Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-12-16

E
ne peTHetlIaI abode OF barbarIans ana
mountain lious. and we must not think
OF annexing those forbidding regions.
Road Of Novelty.
Many prophecies in regard TO our ma
ton failed and many prophecies con-
corning lis future VIII fail because it Is
travelling new road. Every step 1t
takes on that road is a novelty. The
opinion of Monroe or a Jefferson in
the far past is not of as much value as
the opinion Of our wisest men now.
How could men know in 1923 what it
would be best for this nation to do in
1901? 1t is belittling as well as I'M
wise for our statesmen. who are quite
eqUct to the statesmen of the past and
wLo 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
lead three-quarters of a century. In
ell other things the world has advanc-
ed. Can ii 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 new
pathway 1t may be swinging in the
same old orbit as when by the hand
of the Almighty immensely was sprin-
killed. with worlds, but it has been rock
ed with earthquakes and scorched with
volcanic fires and whelmed with tidal
waves and wrought upon by climatic
changes-cities sunk, and islands lifted,
and mountains ayalanched 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 glori-
Gus world. it may be said, I'VE have
not passed this way before
What is the practical use of this sub
ject? Instead of putting so much
stress upon human advice and instead
of asking of the past what we ought
to do, follow the 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 a mile dis
lance between the ark or sacred box
and the front column Of Joshua's
troops nightly impresses me. 1t was
a fOrceful way Of teaching reverence
for the Almighty. They needed to
learn that lesson of reverence. as we
all need to learn it. Irreverence has
cursed all nations, and none more than
Gods name. Hear you it not on the
streets and in social groups, and is not
profane word sometimes thought nee
eSSary to point j0cOSity? Irreverence
for the Scriptures, the phraseOlogy of
the 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.
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 q man than to the King of |
kings. We ask not for genufIeXions |
or circumfleXiOnS 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 and 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
woefulIy lacking in social life, in legis-
lative hall and religious assemblage.
A farmer went to the wheatfield, 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
Then the father broke off |
two of the tops of the stalks and said, |
Child, that one that bends clear over
has the grain" 1t is the soul that |
bows il deepest reverence which is the I
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 |
well to follew the divine Leading, as |