Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-10-08

Here the speaker offered three il. |
ustrations of what it would ME al,
showing how predatory wealth and
predatory labor unionism and pred2- |
tory Germany had endeavored for
selfish objects to set moral right At
defiance, and asked, "ls it not rather
plain to all who are willing to see it,
that the place of Right is first? TIL:
the well-being of individual and com
munity, of country and hum.n world
are bound up with the supremacy Of
Right over all selfish desires ana
every sort of social and political
power?
"If the efforts that are made to
maintain the right in this country. in
this community, should be withdrawn
what would the issue be? Only one
aspect of the provision for main
tanning the right was withdrawn IL.
Boston few days since, and ri):,
mob-violence, robbery took place
atraightway.
"And if it is in your interest and
mine that some should stand and
strive for the right, should hold aloft
the moral obligation and the moral
ideal, should preach honor and UNI
.eltishness, practice the same and
instruct the rising generation so, why
should any one Of US shrk his part
of this responsibility? And i
churches for example, are needed in
the community to help keep up the
moral tone, if pulpits which ha T..
been called "The Voice of the Mora
IDEAL" should utter their voice il"
our midst, why should you not do
your part to maintain them? Who
are good citizens, they who support
the institutions of the right, or they
who shirk responsibility onto
others?"
NORTH CONGREGATIONAL
The Rev. Frederick B. Richards
took for his text: Judges 5; % "TO
the help of the Lord, to the help of
the Lord against the mighty"
This is orally day" in our st.
Johnsbury churches. There was also
rally day in Palestine long ago.
The people had been nightly OPP
pressed for 20 years by their heredi-
tary enemies, the Canaanites, whose
captain, Sirera, was a valiant war
rior, and merciless conquerOr. TO
throw off this calling yoke was tre-
mendous task. That it was done WIS
due to a woman, for Deborah, j
prophecies, judged Israel at that time
She called upon the military leader,
Barak, to advance against the foe.
But Barak lacked courage, and
answered that he would go only as
the prophecies went with him. And
, Deborah scornfully replied: 81 will
go, but the journey will not be thir @
honor, for the Lord shall sell Sisera
into the hands of woman"
, This was not the only time when
the cause of religion has depended
: upon the fidelity of women. fear
that, even today, were the activity
, and strength of our churches depend
ent upon the men alone, we wo':ld nc
, in rather a sorry plight. All honor
to the women. May the men keep
better step with them.
And so the forces of Israel rallied
, against the foe. From hill, and val
ley, and field they came; with souls
burning under a fiery sense of
wrong; their spirits moved by the as
surance that God would be their
| leader. And they had q sanguinar7
) battle and glorious victory. In
: the day of triumph Deborah stood
forth before the people and sang an
| inspired paean of eXultant joy. To
l the God of battles, and to the various
tribes, she gave their need Of
praise. But in this song we find oil"
discordant note; curse we Meroz
curse We bitterly the inhabitants
thereof" What had Meroz done
l Nothing, simply nothing. While 9TH
er towns had sent forth their war
riors, those of Meroz had stayed at
, home. Perhaps this was due to cow
ardice, perhaps to selfshness; the
people may have been willing to en-
joy the fruits of victory, but would
, let others fight the battles; even as
I IldHy Iouay Wollu IcCciVc CHe IIldLi-
fold benefits that flow from churches,
but leave to others their maintc-
nance. Perhaps it was little town,
and thought it would not "count' ;
as people today "excuse" their ne
glect by saying that 'they don't
count much, will not be missed"
Whatever the cause, Meroz was a
"slacker"; it deserved and received
the slacker's condemnation.
Today again the old challenge
rings out "to the help of the Lord
against the mighty" The moral sit
uation of the world is exceedingly
critical. There are terrible conse-
ueqnces of the war, in physical de-
generacy, moral deterioration, econo-
mic exhaustion, crushing debt, VI
tional and individual selfshness,
ranking bitternesses, universal pow
erty and lack of necessities, and the
high cost of living. Everywhere
there are mutterings of revolution;
everywhere the breaking forth of
mob violence, strikes, lynchings, law