The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1911-09-28
SOCIAL
CRISIS
BY Rev DR.. George w. Anderson
Pastor Of Union Methodist Episcopal
Church. ST. LOUIS.

TE%T-Jacob was "A plain man dwelling
among the tents and as a plain man
hast thou prevailed.
AS men do not pick diamonds from
trees, but rather search for them
among the barren stones and soil. so
God seeks for great leaders, not among
the exalted, but from the great mass
OF common folk, Desiring to start
new race preparatory to Christ's COM
Ing, he searched among the common
ones of Chaldea until he found Abra-
nam, a worshiper OF idols, and sent
him forth not only 10 be the father OF
the Jewish race, but Of the three great
est forms OF monotheistic religion the
world has ever known God search
ed for an emancipator and he found
Moses, an alien, born in servltude. and
sent him forth to lay the foundations
OF civilization.
Desiring TO reveal the power OF the
strong will and the indomltable ambi.
tion, he searched among tie open
fields until he found Jacob, a plain
man, dwelling among tents. and sent
him forth as prince OF God.
The story OF Jacob is the story OF
ambition, bad and good, laying hold
OF every means to meet It's end; fill-
ed with mingled pathos and Joy. As
the bad ambition II sends its harvest
of sorrow, and as a holy ambition its
hardest Of Joy. In no life is the fall
ure of ungodly ambition and the sue
cess OF righteous ambition moks
marked.
Jacob desired 10 rule, TO lift himself
out of the common place, TO become a
prince among men. and falling to real
ize the difference between right and
wrong. brought dismal failure. He be-
lleyed that blrthright gave the power
to rule, and unIdstly sought to secure
one not his own
At the doorway OF a weather-beaten
tent he sat ono evening, a mere lad.
The lengtheping shadows we're silent
ly wrapping the landscape with haze
Before him burned a blazing fire that
laughed at the thickening shadows
with defiance, cast its rich glow on
his clear-cut features and caused the
tent folds TO stand out distinct against
the dull background
The atmosphere is fragrant with the
stream Of cooking porrldge. which he
idly stirred He was dreaming OF
leadership, when out from the shad-
ows came one staggering with weak
ness and hunger and crying out for
food Here was the age-long problem
Of supply and demand.
Jacob being careful, shrewd, far
sighted had provided for a time OF
need Esau, careless, Indifferent. wan
dering in disposition had made no
such provision II was strength pitted
against weakness Strength said:
What have is mine. and II any
would seek IT, let him pay my price"
There is only one thing that Esau
had. his birthrIght. the vecy thing that
Jacob seeks And in that hour the
voice OF ambition says; Put your
price high, young man. Get all you
can" And Jacob, looking at his starv-
ing brother, said: 81 will give you to
eat II you will give me Sour birth
right" Faint with weari,Ies and hun
ger, Esau made the bargrn.
With upllfted hands Esau gives TO
Jacob that which Jacob Mad no right
10 own, but possessed solely through
the power OF capital. Now, Jacob is a
shrewd and rich mGn In the sight OF
the world. lie has deceived his broth
er. has gotten his brothers blessing
and he is the priest of the commu-
nifty.
Behold him several days after flee
ing in the darkness from his broth
er, an exile and empty handed Why2
Because money and power gotten by
unrlghteous methods never enrich. Be
hold Jacob in the open fields, with
no bed save sand, no pillow save
stones. no covering save the open sky.
the picture OF a thousand characters
OF history.
Then comes the vision VI Jacob, the
ladder reaching up TO heaven and
the angels ascending and descending.
Jacob sees uat while uSgodly ambi-
tion brought failure, goily ambition
could lift him up to God. The angels
ascend and descend; they so up only
that they might come down Ambi-
ton should lead man up, only that.
In the heights, he may gsin power and
strength to come back into the lowly
fields and serve his fellow man. He
must climb the ladder to God only
hat he may come bach to serve those
who need help.
A man becomes a prince. not
through birthright. 1t through serv-
ce
Esau came with his armies to catch
he fleeing Jacob, but Jacob. having
yrestled with the angel, comes TO
meet his brother with arms extended,
lot to rule but to serve. And Esau.
'eholding the change In his brother.
caps from his horse and embraces ia
ob, Jacob has now become the
'rince OF his own people. not through
mbltion to rule. but to serve.
A Prayer.
Our Heavenly Father, we thank