Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-02-28
BRAVE LEADERS FOR The NEW
DAY
The international Sunday School Lesson For March
2 Is, "The Report of the Spies
Numbers 1871; 1888
BY William T. Ellis.

the members of his college class who
nad been moderat drinkers had died
drunkards-a cruel slander upon honor
apie and successful men which President
Harrison never uttered. This point
might be enlarged upon to the extent
OF n column. but it is enough to say that
there is grave reason why all represen-
tatives OF religion should look we'll
10 their facts after the manner and
admonition of Moses.
Entering New Countries
One characteristic which MARKS the
western portion of North America from
the eastern is the pioneering spirit of
the former. 1t is much on the move
Change does not alright it. Upon oc-
casion it is willing to pull up stakes
and start for a better country. The
Oldest section of the United States has
been seriously affected with a contrary
spirit. Now the pioneering people. as
the pioneering individual, is great
Those old Pilgrims and Puritans had
plenty OF faults, but we forgot these
IN contemplation of their imperial work.
Cecil Rhodes was not exactly the sort
OF man to hold up as a model to n
Sunday school, but nobody can with
hold admiration for that splendid cour-
ageous and audacious spirit which
conceive in world-terms. Everybody
anticipates that the return of the SOL
diers will result in new mig:ations and
new enterprises. Shortcomings those
old Jews had in plenty, but they were
moving on to possess a new land, ard
that is what makes history.
If a study or this lesson shall inspre
some young spirits with a new vision
OF daring and conquest on behalf of the
Kingdom of heaven, Joshua and Coleb
VIII have repeated their success of mil
lenniums ago. For the Christianity of
today sorely needs to move our and cap
ture Now countries, Even geographical
ly that statement is true. The sphere
OF missions is sinfully restricted by
tho unheroic and unimaginative spirit
OF tie Church at home.
Similarly, in the days social ,ife,
there is manifestly an opportunity for
religion to dominats new ana import
ant sphere. The powerful labor move
ment SHOULD be captured by religion.
The rapidly growing movement toward
Socialism awaits the control and 6i-
rection os Christianity. The daily news
paper press, the most potential agency
oe the times, offers sphere of influence
to which religion has been singIlarly
blind. y more broad-minded + ,licy of
religious administration would endeavor
to exercise its influence over the
school teachers of the continent, and
in aEother direction, over the iren who
are tie scouts of civilization on-Iravel-
ers sailors, soldiers and business repre-
sentatives. While the Church is tender
ly cherishing some archaic institutions
whose present usefulness consists chief
ly in furnishing livelihood to pious in
conpetents, she is ignoring great and
vital opportunities. UnqusstloEably,
tie Church is not as contenper.trcous
in her organization and institutions as
in her teachings. And a deal of this
conservatism" Is called by another
name when exhibited by such as the ten
spies who reported TO Moses.
The Cay of opportunity Is usually
likewise the day of destiny, Kabeshbar-
nea was the opportunity of Iscaol: be-
cause 1t failed to measure up TO that
opportunity 1t had to undergo destiny
of forty years in the wilderness--years
filed with funerals, until every nl;tu who
had reached maturity ere Kadesh-
barnea was attained had been buried be-
meath the hospitable soil of the wilder
ness. Such was the cost of being
afraid.
Bu. that is to anticipate. In order
to Siortain the resources and obstacles
of the new land, Moses sent out twelve
spies, one for each tribe. Their reports
agreed as to the fertility of Canaan
SO also as to the obstacles. Only in
their conclusions they differed radi-
cally. The ten were so impressed by
the grasshoppers and giants and walled
cities that they reported adversely.
They are the kind who magnify OBJ
stacles. always able to give ten reasons
for standing still. No doubt they were
honest; their caution and conversa-
tism, fowever, were really cowardice.
1t was the fear within their own breasts
that constituted the greatest barrier to
the possession of the promised lan1.
Dread is always defeated. Coward
Ics conqCers nothing. A heart of fear
is tlife's worst evil There are giants
on every hand for the person who IS
afraid. The tempermentally timid are
never trustworthy. Those ten spies were
a majority; but 1t was a majorlty of
towards. The great advances made by
society arc usually when some man
horelessly in the minority, like Column
bus, is Ecornfully given his way. Tru'h
is generally in the minority until It be-
min to follow is the daring. hign-
hearted man who in loneliness is brave
enough to follow God.
Gentlemen Unafraid'
Two cut of twelve were gentlemen
unafraid." Caleb and Joshua. They
lar estimation. They did not belong 10
that order of politicians who "go along"
vita lie party. In .act, they had clear
heads and stout hearts. and so dared
to he different-as. indeed, the clear
headed, stout-hearted man usually is
different from the majority OF tho
people.
These two spies possessed the same
body of facts as the others. They
were fully informed as to the num-
ber and size of the giants and the
walled cities-though they had multi
piled neither by their own fears.
The scared man sees double. Caleb
and Joshua had more than facts.
Thel had a right judgment of them.
They had confidence in the company
of the Israelites whom they repre-
sented. They had confidence in Je-
hovah, their supernatural leader.
Therefore they argued for an i'm
mediate entrance into and nossession
of the land. They were not afraid
of fight. To them a land won with
out effort was not prize to be covet-
ed. AS to the enemy. they would be
but bread for Israel. who could "eat
them up" They could master the
giants and become masters of the
land and also of themselves.
That was not one of Israel's brave
days however. The minority report
was rejected with stones. The
craven majority carried the sword
with them-and Israel forever had