Evening journal., 1922-06-28
new ERA HELPS
PRESBYTERIAN
Stony Brook Conference
Hears What Was Accom-
plished for Church
TO ANSWER WHERE
is CHURCH GOING?

STONY BROOK. Long Island,
New York, June 2s.-The Rev.
Arthur Burd Mccormick, D. D., pas
tor OF the West Presbyterian Church,
Binghampton, n. Y. leader OF the
vesper service in connection with
the Presbyterian New Era Confer
ence in the Auditorium here, Mon
day evening made an impressive ad-
dress on THE Far-Adventured Life, "
in which he said:
ITO make life an adventure is TO
rescue II from monotony. Each new
/ day may decide a destiny; every new
duty is a challenge 10 the heroic
impulse; no experience IS common
place; life is full OF interest.
There IS a fine phrase back IN
the Book of Judges that is both allur-
ing and instructive. where lothian
is summing up the career Of his
noted father Gideon: He adventured
his life far He belonged to the
tribe OF Abraham. Moses, Columbus
the pioneers.
The Hebrew word really means:
he cast his life before him You
have heard of the soldier who tossed
football over into the enemy's
trenches and called TO his comrades:
After the ball. menH Gideon cast
his life before him, risking every
hing for cause. adventuring his
life far for the sake OF his city, and
becoming thereby an example OF
courage and devotion for other men
embarked upon some high hazard.
THE Presbyterian New Era Move
ment is the greatest and most sue
cessful venture the church has es-
sayed IN a generation. The boldness
OF rs vision was tonic 10 the anemic
condition OF many a congregation
The greatness OF its demands arous-
ed the zeal OF our younger thinking
men. II struck fire IN our hearts. Its
very mistakes have been far less
blameworthy than the Snug content
of previous days
Naturally, too, some reaction
has come 20 many OF US; II is hard
to keep an unfagging zeal IN any
cause, periods of depression sue
ceeding exalted moments. We have
come together here IN order that
we might strengthen our hands 10
finish the task we have begun. We
shall fnd stimuli in the far-edven-
tured life OF Gideon.
He began his career where every
man Of us must begin his distinct
ively Christian work by an expert
ence Of personal religion. He was
not content TO accept a traditional
faith, TO go on in the old ways of
his fathers. No hearsay IN such a
vital matter as that OF religion could
suffice him. He dared TO put God to
a test, for he felt he must have some
inner conviction OF the presence and
power OF Deity to sustain him.
why things are thus and so II
there is any great Jehovah per-
plexed him as we also are troubled
by the riddle Of the painful earth.
He wanted some evidence Of divin-
ity and risked all upon one chal-
lenge TO the Lord TO reveal Himself.
That is a great hazard. only few Of
rs dare 10 make. But when the ad-
venture IS made the secret assurance
of an invisible Companion's com
fort and courage earries the soul
through darkest hours to victory.
His next adventure was one Of
leadership in social service. There |
are plenty to say. The times are out
Of Joint There are few willing 10
lead the charge against the Midian-
ties who oppress US. Gideon blew a /
trumpet and AbieZer was gathered /
together after him. Men were wait |
ing for a rallying voice. were ready |
for leadership, but no other man |
was COURAGEOUS enough to stand I
forth from the crowd. He adventured |
his life far when he led his three |
hundred valiant men against the foe |
in an engagement that Is without /
parellel in the annals OF warfare.
"A few determined men OF vision |
can accomplish more than an army |
with banners. Our whole Presbyter-
ian New Era campaign has belonged /
to the Gideon order. Our emblems /
might well have been the pitcher
and torch and trumpet. These who
have put the enemy TO fight. the
enemy of indifference, selfishness /
and disorganization, have been pick
ed men. They have not paraded
themselves, but when the time came
for action there was no hesitancy,
no false modesty holding men back
from letting their light shine for the
glory OF a great cause. The trumpets
were sounded and the Church Of
Christ went forth TO the charge.
Surely this is full Of encourage
ment for US as we face the tremen-
dous issues of our time. The world
needs social leadership. someone
must take the initiative in every
every community. Some