The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1907-07-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTs FOR JULY % BY THE
REV. ], w. HENDERSON.

Subject: The Golden Calf, Elk. 32:1-8,
$685. Golden Text, / John 8:
21--Memory Verses, "a, 3d.
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
SO solicitous deliberately denied any
knowledge of his whereabouts. 1t
was an altogether ignoble action. But
we have seen its like since the days
OF Moses and perhaps we shall wit
ness it analogy again
The lesson of the golden calf has
meaning and a warning for our gem
Grafton. 1t has a particular lesson
for America
If there is any one 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 that has always
been active and heard among this
people with 1reyerence and respect, is;
Whatever success we may have
achieved as free people may be ac-
credited largely to the potency Of
that righteousness among us which
exalteth nation. That Is to say
that America owes its success and it's
international preferment to the
guidance and the grace of God. A
careful student of history cannot
conclude that the momentous discOv--
cry or these western lands simulta-
neously with the regeneration of hui
man ideas and ideals in Europe was
simply a coincidence. 1t was provi-
Dental. 1t was divinely planned and
divinely led. Likewise no careful
student of American history can 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 one 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 inillionaires
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 a foreign shore
to New York for the first time would
be pardoned If he assumed as he
gaZed upon our temples of commerce
and of finance that we worshiped I'M
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 golden calf
And our calf is prosperity and mate
rial success. These be the gods some
say that have made America. And SO
we perpetuate evils that prosperity
may continue for season. And So
we postpone reforms and reforma-
ton for fear that in effecting neces-
sary changes we may endanger our
prosperity for time. There is no.
worse idol worship than this. There
is no idol worship more insidiously
dangerous than this. For it is the
dedication of money, of material sue
cess, above theright. TO worship the
calf of prosperity is to exalt oppor.
tunism.
And this calf is not a dream cali
with many men. 1t is not a mere
academic conception. 1t Is all to sad.
ly reality with many men. For
there is many 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 q man there Is who
is heartily disguised with the state OF
things as they are who is unwilling
to lose 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 etd-
GENTLY conserved. And such man,
perhaps unconsciously, but more of.
ten consciously, worships the golden
calf of prosperity.
America needs to recognize thai
God is at the centre OF her being and
the motive OF all her phenomenal sues
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 our prosperity ia
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 OF
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 our being is truismt
hut it is one that we might well 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.