Evening star., 1926-11-20

Our annual Thanksgiving service
calls for America to realize the truths
contained in the final message OF
Joshua to Israel. In the tendency to
turn this holy day into a holiday
there Is the evidence that America
faces the same peril that the Hebrews
faced when Joshua summoned them 10
meet at Shechem in a special session:
The aged warrior knew that his end
was rapidly approaching. Following
the example of Moses, whom he had
succeeded as the nations leader, he
traced the evidence of Gods presence
in their history.
The story of our own Nation RECORDS
the evidence of Gods presence direct :
ing the fairs Of our own beloved
land. He is the author or our
Nations liberty. Without the guidance
of His light and the protection of His
might, '"The Star Spangled Banner
will cease to wave over our land as
free country and 'the home OF the
brave" Every American must make
the choice for himself that Joshua
made for himself and his house, to
serve Jehovah. We cannot serve God
and mammon. If we review our ma
tional history with the eye of faith we
will praise the God of our. fathers
''for His loving kindness and for His
wonderful works" on behalf of our
country.
The Moment to Decide.
Not "once," as Lowell has said. but
often:
ITO every man and nation. comes the mo-
ment to decide. -, , ..
In the strife OF truth with talsehood. 1or
the good or evil side.
Israel faced such moment. when
Joshua appealed tn them to renew
their covenant with Jehovah. FIRE.
quently he had called upon them to
assemble beneath the old consecrated
oak of Abraham and Jacob, of which
the memory still fingers in secluded
corner of the valley, under the north
eastern flank Of Gerizim,' to renew
their covenant. He had assembled
them this time to hear his last mes
sage and call upon them to renew
their covenant with the God before
he turned the affairs Of the govern
ment over to his successor.
The place where he called upon
them to choose God was a sacred one
Abraham had made his covenant with
Jehovah these 500 years previously
Near by was Jacobs well and the
grave of Joseph. Here they had made
a solemn covenant with God 20 years
before. 1t was a compact entered into
by all the tribes. The idea of a
covenant" arose from the custom of
cutting an animal into two parts and
having the people ratify their agree
ment by passing between the divided
parts Of the animal. Such a covenant
united all in a common service.
The aged warrior had witnessed the
triumphs of faith in his long life. A
century previous he was in all prob
ability a slave working in the granite
quarries of Egypt. He had walked
across the sands of the Red Sea with
the host Of freedom, escaping from
the bondage of Egypt. He had been
filled with fear by the thunder and
lightning of Mount Sinai. He recalled
Gods promises and blessings upon
his leadership at Gilgal, Jericho, All,
Bethhorn in the south and at the
waters of Merom in the north. Stan
ley holds that the battle of Bethhorn
was one Of the decisive battles of the
worlds history because it gave the
Hebrews a position as an Independent
nation. Under his leadership the land
was conquered. "In such a work
Joshua was the founder of the COM
mon law Of property and after the
conquest he established the general
basis Of society both as to law and
VI iuSI I1C IIdu HOtCcu Tic tIC III
the times. In their period Of peace.
prosperity and power they were COM
mencing to forget 1.-The Lord God"
who Joshua knew had fought for
them. Just as the members Of the
American Legion are becoming in
tensely interested in the affairs of the
Nation in order that the principles
for which they fought shall not perish
among us. so Joshua decided to make
an effort before he departed hence to
preserve and perpetuate among Israel
a loyalty and true service in alwa ys
doing Gods will. His going was their
moment to decide.
Called to Choose.
Public happiness calls for the pres.
ervation Of true religion. He realized
that only by living faith in a living
God. united with profound conscious,
ness Of oneness with His will. could
the nation endure. He asked them
to make a reasonable decision by re.
calling Gods past help and calling
upon them to stop and think about