Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-09-30

forth In unfaltering faith I'm the divine
reinforcement we shall fail I'm the bat
tie. A stalwart foe always brings out
the best that is in worthy opponent.
Let me illustrate my thought by n
homely scene OF vacation life. Some
weeks ago, with my wife and little
children. | was driving over the hills
or southern California. We were far
from any human residence. Suddenly,
just upon the hillside overlooking the
road. | saw the cleaning eyes and the
crouching form OF coyote. | was at
the time entirely unarmed. But.
though l knew that poor miserable
brute had just rs sinewy a limb as a
mountain lion. that he was as swift of
foot as Il deer. that his teeth were as
white and sharp as tigers molars.
that he could. If he would. leap at my
horses throytS ana leave US helpless
before his attack. still also knew that
lie was 4 coward. He belonged 10 a
race OF towards. Therefore I drove
right past him. When my children
hallooel II him he t:::ael and skulked
away.
Must he Always ON Guard.
Had Il e church OF Christ oa;y craven
hearted foes 10 fight il would become
as ind fferent II them rs was toward,
that Snc.,fing Coyo,e. whose worS.
deprcdatiJnS are found ln lie barn
yard among e. e dead chickens Tn
less starving AMI In nun;ers @ neycl
attacks strong foe. But today tl,.
church of God has no cowardly enemy
Like hunter stalking the man eating
monsters of India or Africa. the church
is and must be continually on its
guard. AS 1t goes forth into the COM
ing winters campaign TO do the best
1t can and with the help of the Holy
Spirit to do all it can for Christ. the
consciousness that its foe has almost
unlimited prowess has made the
church strong and confident.
But where is the gospel campaign of
this church during the coming winter
to be fought? We have talked about
the time. We have spoken about the
oneness OF purpose and the divine
strength IN which we are to enter the
conflict. We now speak about the gee
graphical region in which we are to
fight. We must fad our church's Plain
or Esdraelon aud its Marathon pass.
America is to be- the geographical plain
or gospel maneuverings for the Ameri,
can church. 1t is the foremost nation
in the world today. and its power and
influence are rapidly growing. In ener.
gy, in wealth. in enterprise, 1t takes
the lead among the nations of the
world. II it boldly takes its stand for
Christ and declares that the principles
of Christ are its guide and that he IL
its supreme ruler the effect on the
world will be overwhelming. An enor-
nous step will then have been taken
toward the conquest OF the whole
world for him. America Is the stra-
tegic point in the Christian campaign.
Let every Christian church in this
country realize that fact and unite to
win this fair land for the Prince of
Peace.
America Is BcinE watched,
The great Australian colonies are
supposed 10 belong TO Great Britain.
Their political allegiance Is given TO
King Edward VII. Yet. when a few
years ago was In Sydney, I'm the home
OF Sir Henry Parks. the Gladstone OF
Australia, the most honored states
tnan of that island continent and the
thrice premier OF New South Wales.
the most conspicuous picture | saw
over his study mantelpiece was that of
George Washington. and the most con-
spicuous books OH his shelves were the
Congressional Records of our own ma
tional capitol. The eyes of all nations
are watching us industrially and gov
ernmentally. The peace conference OF
The Hague showed the trend of inter-
national thought. The time will yet
come when the nations will cease TO
submit their quarrcls to the nrbitra-
ment of the sword. Justice and right
eousness shall be the standard of the
peoples. and when that time comes our
land, whose influence is always for
peace, Will be at the front And what
our country is doing for temporal JUS
tice our American church Is doing for
Christ In a spiritual way. All nations
shall yet follow our Christian leadings.
IL America becomes truly Christian.
Let the American church take America
for Christ. ana 1t will capture the
world for Christ.
oh, my friends. with such glorious
outlook for our coming gospel cam
paign, should not the church OF Christ
as whole and our own individual
churches go forth into this winters
campaign strong I'm God. strong in
faith, strong in holy zeal? For the
most part l have been talking about
bow God Is going to bless the great
American church rs whole. Will he
bless our own individual churches TO
which we have given our allegiance
as he will bless other churches? Yes,
II we 20 into this gospel conflict MS we
ought to go. Are you Ind willing by
our own consecrated lives to let our
church, our dear individual church
with its glorious past. take the position
In the church army on the front line
OF battle where size ought to stand?
Remember, the open door which God
opened for the Phil!ppian church was
NOT doorway OF in the distance, but
near at hand. And 80 the open door
or gospel opportunity or our church is
right at hand. As consecrated. Holy
Spirit inspired. earnest Christian
~AeASh HlcHipcrS VIII you ana | iOIn
today in the forward march for Christ?
The Macedonian Call.
Oh. the Macedonian call for the phvs.
icai and mental and social and spiritu.
al salvation which is coming through
the open door Of the American church
from sir struck and dying world.
The whole world groans under the
burden OF sin. 1t is here: II IL every
where. The only way OF deliverance IL
that Christ's church set itself TO the
task In the power or his Spirit. Rexiu
ming at Its own doors. IL must lead tbs
assault and. uniting with the churches
In other cities and states, work faith
fully and bravely for the Characterization
OF this land ana of the whole world.
Few years ago the wife of native In
dian prince was dying. BY the hide
bound Mohammedan laws 1t was i'm
possible to let an English surgeon SEQ
her. because no white man under any
conditions is allowed to enter the room
or Mohammedan woman OF the up