The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-07-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOO o.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON CON-
MENTS FOR JULY % BY THE
REV. /. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: The Golden Calf, Elk. 32:1-S,
3O-35-Golden Text, 1 John 8:
21-Memory Verses, "a, 35-
Commentary.
Moses was up on the mount plead
Ing with Jehovah for Israel and Israel
knew it. But in the perversity of
their hearts the people for whom he
plead and for whose welfare he was
80 solicitous deliberately denied any
knowledge of his whereabouts. 1t
was an altogether ignoble action. But
we have seer Its like since the days
of Moses and perhaps we shall wit
ness it analogy again.
The lesson of the golden calf has a
meaning and a warning for our gen.
Grafton. 1t has a particular lesson
for America.
If there is any n thing more than
another that has made the American
civilization and prosperity Of to-day
it is the providence of God and the
willingness of Americans in the gen.
erations that have passed away to be
led, in some measure, by Him. The
root of righteousness thatshas always
been active and heard among this
people with reverence and respect, Is
at the bottom of our national success.
Whatever success we may have
achieved as a free people may be &C
credited largely to the potency Of
that righteousness among us which
exalteth a nation. That is to say
that America owes it's success and its
international %preferment to the
guidance and the grace Of God. A
careful student of history cannot
conclude that the momentous discov-
cry of these western lands simu1ta-
neously with the regeneration Of hu-
man ideas and ideals in Europe was
simply a coincidence. It was provi-
Dental. 1t was divinely planned and
divinely led. Likewise no careful
student Of American history "a come
to another conclusion SO valid as this
that the progress Of these United
States Is founded upon the grace Of
God and the underlying purpose Of
this people to keep close to His law.
But some very superficial observ-
ers of the trend OF events would
seem to have it otherwise. To read
the industrial reports M would be
led to think that the industries and
the railroads and the balance of. trade
Of this country are the fundamental
bases upon which our prosperity is
built. If we believed the politicians
the central handspring Of all national
prosperity is to be found in political
systems. Some eminent m~illionaires
would evidently have US believe that
they are. the real leaders of the peo-
pie on the march to greatness, power
and plenty.
A man coming from aforeign shore
to New York for the first time would
be pardoned II he assumed as he
gazed upon u temples Of commerce
and Of finance that we worshiped un-
adulterated materialism instead Of
the true and holy God. For among
many peoples the shrines and the
temples which they have dedicated to
the service of God are the dominat-
ing feature Of the town and country
side.
And too largely for her own good
America Is erecting a golden calf.
And vi calf is prosperity and mate
rial success. These be the gods some
say that have made America. And 30
we perpetuate evils that prosperity
may continue for a season. And 80
we postpone reforms and reforma-
ton for fear that in effecting neces-
sary changes we may endanger Jul
prosperity for a time. There Is M
worse idol worship than this. There
is no idol worship more insidiously
dangerous than this. For 1t Is the
dedication of money, Of material sue
cess, above the right To worship the
calf of prosperity is to exalt oppor-
tunism.
And this calf is not a dream calf
with many men. 1t Is not a mere
academic conception. 1t Is all to sad
ly a reality with many men. For
there is many a man who would glad
ly reform the social order did he not
fear that in the process Of revolution
however cautiously 1t might be car
ried on he would suffer In his world
ly estate. Many O man there Is who
is heartily disguised with the state OF
things as they are who Is unwilling
to lose q little himself that the larger
cataclysm which Is sure to come as
surely as we delay to mend our ways
may be averted and the fortunes OF
the coming generations more eff
ciently conserved. And such a man,
perhaps unconsciously, but moro Of
ten consciously, worships the golden
calf of prosperity.
America needs to recognize that
God is at the centre of her being and
the motive of all her phenomenal sue
cess. She needs to acknowledge His
sovereignty and her Indebtedness to
Him. She needs to exalt Him and
proclaim her fealty to Him. She
needs to assert her allegiance to His
prophets and to ally herself with His
righteousness. For u prosperity ts
not the gift of men but the gift OF
God. We are entirely the architects
of our fortunes. We should not be
able to be the architects Of them at
all were it not for the benefcence Of
the living God. We do not exist apart
from Him and we cannot be secure
apart from Him. In Him We live and
move and have Jul being is a truism,
but it is one that We might we'll pom
der. For it states tersely the ulti-
mate fact in life. May God grant US
never to forget it. May we exalt Him
and serve Him and love Him more
than life itself.