Bridgeton pioneer., 1907-07-25
THE PULPIT.
A SCHOLARLY SUNDAY SERMON BY
THE REV. G. H. EGGLESTON
Subject: The Measure of Duty.

Jersey City, N. J.--Preaching at
the Greenville Reformed Church, Jer-
sey City, on the above theme, the
Rev. G. II. Eggleston, pastor, took
Luke 17:10; we are Improbable
servants, we have done that which 1t
was our duty to do, i" as his text, He
said:
In the vocabulary of Christianity
love is the supreme word. Operating
in life il becomes the supreme law.
1t is so because it was supreme in the
life of Jesus But outside the religion
of Jesus, duty is perhaps the con-
spicuous word. Upon duty the nom
Christian heart lays extreme en-
phasis. Duty, interpretated in terms
of the best each age could produce,
has been the ideal of life.
To-day the very atmosphere is sur
charged. as ~ an electric current,
with the Importance of faithfulness
to duty. That which is in the air of
the age is made tangible continuous
ly from pulpit and from press, in
school and club and home Ministers
and teachers, leaders in business and
in civic life, are pleading for the en-
thronement of duty in human hearts.
Public sentiment, finding expression
in courts and Investigations and laws,
is being aroused in the interest of
duty. Traitors to duty are being
branded at their true worth.
We admire the devotion to duty
In that rising nation of the East
which characteristically found ex-
preston in the speech of the captain
of the Japanese battleship Asama.
who said % his men as they drank
in turn from cup of cold water.
bidding each other n last goodbye:
In sending you on the duty of block
ing the harbor entrance of Port Ar
thur--a duty which affords you only
one chance out of a thousand to re-
turn alive--I feel as If were sending
my beloved sons. And if had hum
dred sons | would send them all on
such a bold adventure as this; and
had | only one son | should wish to
do the same with him. In perform
ing your duty, if you happen to lose
your left hand, work with your right;
If You lose both hands. work With
both feet; if you lose both feet, work
with YOUR head, and faithfully carry
out the orders of your commander.
What | ask of you all is to do your
duty regardless of your life. The cup
of water l now offer you is not meant
to give you courage. 1t would be
shameful If our men needed courage
80 so to the place of death. 1t is only
10 make you representative of the
honor of the Asama. Submit your
life to the will of Heaven, and calmly
perform your duty" That is the
htterance of the spirit of the age,
crystallized in those nations that
stand in the vanguard of progress.
1t Is the emphasis upon duty.
Do we realize what that spirit
would mean If We had it beating in
the life blood of the Christian
church? It would mean the purifca-
ton OF our ideals. 1t would mean
the Strengthening of the Church of
Jesus in work and worship. 1t would
mean the broadening of our vision
so we could see the brotherhood of
man, II that loyalty to the duty OF
patriotism which is characteristic of
the best citizens could be translated
into terms of the moral and relgious,
IT would mean that the messaSe OF
the Cross, love, service and sacrifice.
would find expression in every life.
what 4 result if Christians and the
SATistian church would do its bare
duty But is it being donee Nom
lnally this is a Christian country.
And yet the deadly child labor in all
ITS horror exists in this country. 1t
' coold not exist if the united Christian
shurch should say it shall not. Nom
.AnaAF , Christian country. and vet
Nhe sale of the stun that kills men
nnd women physically, mentally and
$ 80 " that destroys domestic hap
GlASSS and undermines the stability
ot our nation, goes on. 1t could not
he So, vera il not sanctioned and pro-
rected by the sentiment and power Of
christian people. But why the need
Of citlpS illustrations Of that which
wS all know? The conclusion is
~Cl6aC, There are those who. though
la'.hful TO duty in home and in pri-
vate life, when ii comss 10 moral
Issues affecting the welfare of hu-
maDity at large. are afflicted with
myopia or indifference. Can il be
shat the cup of cold water tasted by
men OF 4 pagan religion contains
%re&tsr inspiration to the perform
UOee Of duty in the face of danger.
than does the sacred brotherhood
Of the Christian church, They touch
'Eheir lips to the cold water; then
face duty unhinchingly. though il
cost hand, or foot. or life. So the
true Christian from time to time
touches his lips to the wine of the
Communion in pledge of his loyalty
TO the Master and in memory of the
rr~s Of that Master. So the majority
GAIN therein the inspiration that sets
their face unhinchtngly toward duty
without thought of what it may cost.
There are many who finch These
break Ihe solid phalanx of the Chris
tian army, and so put of the day of
victory over evil. Many to whom a
Collar is OF more worth than q moral
principle, Many to whom their own
personal well-being counts for more
than = needy brother or sister. Many
10 waom gold is of greater valae than
the welfare of their fellowmen
In view OF the fact that so many
ISL short of doing their bare duty.
Lere We state the ideal of the Chris
tan reugion, or will il be so lofty as
% discourage us in our humble eff
SoriSg No, We will set before us
1Ae ideal which Jesus gave to life.