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.

TEXT-1acob was 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-
ham, a worshiper of idols, and sent
MN forth not only 20 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 emanclpator and he found
Moses, an allen, born in seryitude, and
sent him forth TO lay the foundations
Of civilization.
Desiring to reveal the power OF the
strong will and the indomitable ambi.
tion, he searched among the 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 It sends its harvest
OF sorrow, and as a holy ambition it's
hardest Of Joy. In no life is the fall
ure OF nngody ambition and the sue
cess OF righteous ambition moSe
marked.
Jacob desired 10 rule, 10 lift himself
out of the common place. TO become a
prince among men, and failing to real
ize the difference between right and
wrong, brought dismal failure. He be-
lieyed that blrthright gave the power
to rule and unjdstly sought to secure
one not his own.
AT the doorway OF 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 10 stand out distinct against
the dull background.
The atmosphere is fragrant with the
stream Of cooking porrldge. which hs
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. It was strength pitted
against weakness. Strength said:
What ! have is nine and II any
would seek It, let him pay my price"
There is only one thing that Esau
had. his brthrlght, the very 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: Il will give you to
eat II you will give me Eour birth
right" Faint with wearkies and hun
ger, Esau made the bargain.
With upllfted hands Esau gives 10
Jacob that which Jacob Mad no right
TO own, but possessed solely through
the power Of capital. Now, Jacob is a
shrewd and rich men in the sight OF
the world He 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 Why1
Because money and power gotten by
methods never enrich Re
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 tfat while uSgodly ambi-
lion brought failure, goIly ambition
could lift him up TO God. The angels
ascend and descend; they 60 up only
hat they might come down Ambi-
ion should lead man up, only that,
n the heights, he may gsin power and
strength to come back into the lowly
lelds and serve his fellow man. He
must climb the ladder to God only
hat he may come bach to serve those
Who need help.
man becomes n prince, not
trough birthright. b Il through serv-
ce.
Esau came with his armies to catch
he fleeing Jacob, but Jacob, having
'restled with the angel, comes to
leet his brother with arms extended,
ot to rule but to serve. And Esau.
the change in his brother.
caps from his horse and embraces ia
OBJ. Jacob has now become the
rince OF his own people, not through
mbition to rule. but TO serve
A Prayer.
Our IIaavaplv Eothar No 4k.-t-