Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-08-25

ma is never so much n man. and never
so akin to God, as when he IS asserting
his Individual Independence in loyalty to
personal conviction.
Every advance made by the race has
been in following an individual who dared
differ from his fellows and stand alone
tor truth and progress.
The mar who stands alone for God may
be cruciiied by the crowd, bu, he will be
boautiiicd by their children.
Absolute dcpendabiliiy is the finest trait
In any servant OF man or God. 1t must
be a joy 10 the heart OF jehovah to find Il
disciple upon whom he can count in any
weather.. Such are the pillars upon which
he builds his kingdom. And it is worthy
of careful! considerations hat this gift of
simple loyalty is within the power of the
least of his friends. Not every Christian
may be wise or great; unusual talents. as
regards numbcr or quality, he may not
have. but simple fidelity and ~trustworthi-
ness is possible TO all. 1T IS a royal ambi-
ZION to desire to he Il friend upon whom
the Lord may depend.
Daring to be different from men is often
| a proof of likeness to God.
Better be singular than SHINING.
In the last analysis the cause of God on
earth must depend upon the men who dare
to be true to their Master. at whatever
cost to themselves. Tho blood of the mar
tyrs has not only been the seed OF the
church. ii has been the hulwark of the
church as we'll.
The Jailer is not concerned about his
unpopular.ty with the prisoners. hut about
his popularity with the state. The con-
ductor cares less for the opinion of dis
oonteiitod passengers Than for The opinion
of the railroad officials. The soldiers am
nition IS not to earn the applause Of tho
crowds watching the drill. but the well
done OF the commanding officer. from
whom alone he NAV expect promotion. So
The Christian should care little about his
standing before mcr. but everything
about mis- standing before God. What men
say should affect him less than what he
knows God thinks. The conviction deeply
rooted that Gle that iudecth mo Is the
Lord makes for moral courage like unto
the Apostle Paul's.
Luther had to walk n solitary way, hut
the multitudcs that row follow him and
bear his name o~utnumbcr any other body
of Protestant Christians. John Knox
dared stand alone, but more than a mill
ion men N the little country of Scotland
alone are proud to call themselves his fol-
lowers. Tho outcast NaZarenc trod the
wiucpress OF suffering alone, hut today
there are literally millions Of people scat
tered all over tho earth who would gladly
go TO death for his dear sake.
The Master stands by every disciple who
dares to stand up for him.
The recent explosion OF popular indigna-
ton against Bishop Potter for his acton
in dcdicating a Eowery saloon has still
been characterized by a widespread re-
spcct on the part OF sober thinkers for the
bishops courage in adhcring to his con-
victiors in the face of inevitable OPPOSE
ton. His course was "A mistaken one. but
IT was the course of a brave man, obedi-
en- to his convictions.
The topic synchronizes with the Sunday
| school Lesson lInpp elijah on Mt Cavn,eI
n example of the splendid old prophet,
q man of tha Wilderness. In daring to defy
all the royal ard priestly interests of his
time. together with popular prejudice and
a powerful woman's bitter hate. will he
often cited. Elijah stood alone for God,
ana God did not desert him, and he never
does desert his friends. He proved, in
spectacular fashion. before the eyes of an
assembled nation that God is mightier
thar n multitude. and that whoever
stands for him is arrayed on the side of
orinipotence and victory.
When Francis Ridley Havergal first
went to boarding school she found that
she was the only protested Christian
there. Her first impulse was to conceal
the fact that she was a Christian. but her
second thought was. mo, j am the only
representative my Master has here and
therefore he needs me the more" The
result was that by her loyal life almost
So"iPaHJ VI Hci sciooiIidteS
were won to Jesus.
Fear is the foe to loyalty. Men desert
Gods side In a crisis because they are
afraid of what men will think of them.
Yet as Emerson says II has not learned
the lesson of life who does not every day
surmount Il fear" A hard task and a
high duty for every one of us is to rise
above fear, big fears and little fears, ma
tcrial fears and spiritual fears. 'He that
feareth is not made perfect"
Christ's 10, I am with you all the
days should settle every Christians
doubt as to his ability to stand up and to
hold out against majorities. Because in
truth the disciple is never called upon to
stand alone for God; when he thinks he
Will do SO. 10, he finds the Son of Man
vested with all power. standing by his
side.