Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-21

Christian convert requires a tremend-
I Gus wrench. 1t is break with all the
past-with the ideas, fears, superstitions
and associations which have been
ground into his consciousness since
earliest infancy. The wonder is scarce
! ly that SO many converts relapse into
the old worship. but that so few do.
Missionaries have told me that some
| times converts, instead of throwing
away or utterly destroying their idols,
have put them under the floors of their
houses. so that in case they should ever
want them again they would be on the
| safe side In Honolulu L was assured
that. although the Hawaiian Islands
have been Christianized, yet in the very
capital itself-a modern, civilized Am
erican city-the old idols, rites and
spirit worship are still practiced.
| Without going so far away from home
| as Hawaii or Japan or Canaan, we may
find in every one of our North American
| cities today relics of barbarism and
superstition. 1 walked down prin-'
ciple street of a Middle West city, and
/ saw a succession of signs of medium"
"palmst." "clairvoyants," and other
fortune -tellers. Some big hotels and
steamships have no room number thir-
teen. Many adults who have passed
through our modern educational system
will not begin a journey on Friday; and
| the breaking of mirror, the upsetting
| of salt cellar, or the sign of black
| cat are matters of real concern to per-
, sons not few. The reversion of Israel
to its idols is not without present-day
parallels.
The Competition of Gods
This western world is so monothe-
istic in all its thinking that it often fails
to read the Bible sympathetically. I'm
doubtedly there existed, in the Old Test
ament era, in the minds of both the
Jews and in the surrounding nations,
the idea that Jehovah was merely a
national Diety, as opposed to the deities
of other nations. The idea that Jehovah
was in competition with other gods clear
ly runs through the history of early
! Israel. Joshua put it badly when he
said, in the words which are the nub
| of this lesson, And if it seems evil unto
you to serve the Lord, choose ye this
day whom We shall serve: whether the
gods which your fathers served, that
were on the other side of the flood, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land
We dwell: but as for me and my house
we will serve the Lord"
That old competition is settled. so
far as the Western world goes. 1t is
still on in the Orient. but even there,
the most enlightened observers declare,
the issue is clear. AS against the an
cient idolatries. Jehovah has won. The
very name of the gods of Israel's neigh
bors are mere matters of antiquarian in
terest. In the expressive colloqual
speech of the day, they are dead ones"
Today the nature of the conflict has
shifted Now it is between Jehovah and
human selfishness. These are the twen-
tieth century idols that dispute Jeho-
vahs claim to the allegiance of man.
Here 1t is that choice must be made by
everybody: the issue cannot be evaded;
deliberate decisive choice must be made.
That was a wise word of Joshua's.
and an instructive on, when he made
choice for himself and his household.
He could not decide for Israel; he did
not have to. No man can do everything.
1t is impossible for any one to set the
whole world right But he can get right
himself, and keep his household right.
Bolsheviks dream of the tranforma-
ton of society in the mass and wait for
that day without mending their own
ways. The which is folly. 1t is regen-
Grated individualism which is the
worlds only hope. 1t is the man who
achieves the ablest life for himself who
makes the greatest contribution to his
time. A shallow philosophy scoffs at
the old religious training which bade a
man save his own soul. While as an
end, that is not sufficient; but is alb
solutely the first essential. The very
most important gift that man can give
the world is a life made over by the
power of God. Only such one can
make over the mass of lives.
The Bishop of LOndOn's Counsel
ho 70 fircf
things He compelled them to face
decision. BY his example and counsel,
pointing out the perils of a contrary
course, and reminding them what Jeho-
vah had done for them in the past he
lead them to renew their ancient alleg-
lance He recalled them to the ultimate
spiritual verities which have been aptly
condensed into modern phrase, Get
right with God"
This recall to first things is a note
that is being sounded by the worlds
religious leaders today. The Bishop of
London never spoke truer words than
those uttered at the capital of the Unit
ed States. when he said: No church on
earth will produce an effect upon the
world il it has not still one further
characteristic. 1t must clearly and un-
mistakably and before all the world
be unworldly itself. Bear with me, then,
when I say as my last word that the
greatest danger of the Church on both
sides of the Atlantic is worldliness.
'"It is impossible for the Church to
mix too freely with the world. But, on
the other hand, to run a church as a
man runs a successful business to de-
pend upon cleverness and management,
rather than the grace of God, to neglect
prayer and intercession in favor of in
4,
teaching of the Church or its moral
standard in order to suit self indul-
gent age is to spell ruin and failure and
shame for the most orthodox Church in
the world. In voice which still rings
down the centuries Jesus Christ him
self proclaimed my kingdom is not
of this world"
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