Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-15
MAS
5hF WAS
 PREACHER AT UNION SERVICE
Rev. pr. SIocum Spoke Upon the Im- perative Need of individual Choice.


 "The time to choose is now said Rev. Joel B. SIocum, D. D., pastor of the Central Baptist church, in his sermon at the union service at Broadway Congregational church Sunday evening. The pastors of the four churches uniting in the service were present and the combined choirs led the singing. Rev. E. s. Worcester the pastor of the church, led the ser vice.
 Following the opening hymns an earnest prayer was offered by Rev. F. w. Coleman, pastor of Trinity Methodist Episcopal church, and the by Rev. Herbert J. Wyckof, pastor of the Second Congregational church. Rev. Dr. Slocum took as his text, Joshua 24:15. And if it seems unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye shall serve, whether the gods which your father served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land ye dwell, but as for me, and my house, we will serve the Lord"
 Joshua an old man and ready to be gathered unto his fathers" said Rev. Dr. Slocum, assembled the peo- pie and delivered unto them his fare well address. Graphically Joshua re- viewed the promises of God to them, and their fathers before them, and ended with @ protest against foreign gods. In the midst of this passionate speech he made it clear that a choice was necessary, that each individual make an idividual choice. Then in a very dramatic manner he says, "As for me and my family, we shall serve the Lord" Joshua even implied that should his family foresake him, he made very deep impression on the people and they answered, will serve the Lord also" and JOJs JsH- said He is a jealous God and will have nc other gods before him." Joshua com pleted the transaction by the institu- tion of a covenant with the people He told the people there was only one thing to do and that was to abolish their gods; not merely to profess, as religion is something more than a covenant. This was the end of that particular impressive transaction. There is a call for immediate deci- sion. Sometimes our modern appea ends with these words, Think it over and tomorrow tell me what you think of it.'
 It is not so with the situation Joshua lifts up his voice with this | day. and the peoples choice was made.
 Later on in the history of Gods people they were still again called up- on for immediate choice. Hundreds | of heather apostles were assembled and the air throbbed with heathenism On this occasion Baalism permeateC the atmosphere and the people were | silent. Elijah, the champion of God approached and the silence became ev- | en more intense. He began to speak every word rang out with distinction: How long do you go limping betweer the sides? If the Lord be God, serve Him if Raa1 ha God The people remained silent; silent be- l cause they were under a conviction. This is the issue, continued tht | speaker, and has been the issue. MeI and women are constantly called upo1 | to decide and the decision is based or | reason. How clearly Joshua spoke tC | the people, how calmly yet with wha conviction. We find other examples | in tine word of God where men arr | summoned to think. In the openin. | chapter of the book of Isaiah there i
 a summons to, think. Paul, tn apostle, had an experience which in | dicateS that religion is based yer, r largely upon the employment of tn | highest and best of reasoning power
 In his closing words, Rev. Dr. Slo | cum said that if there were an. present who felt the summons t. choose they should make their choic
 now and not tomorrow. Each indi | vtdual knows what the gods are tha | take the place of God. The time ha | come for the conviction and the invi
 tation and the time to decide is now