The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-05
BY WIN. E. GILROY. ID. d.
Editor Of The CongreEationalist

THE general title of this lesson
i is Abraham. a Pioneer of
Faith" Abraham was a pioneer
in more senses than one. Even
apart from the matter of religious
faith. he stands as the great proto-
type Of those who have felt the urge
to leave their old established home
environment to go forth seeking
new adventures and new oppOrtuni-
ties in the building Of new civiliza-
tons
1t is interesting to note how
much of that pioneer urge and ac-
tivity have been associated with
religious aspiration and motive.
America was settled to a large
extent by those who came seeking
liberty Of conscience and of w0r-
ship: and the movement out from
older communities has always had
the inSpira ion of faith-inspired
people seeking a larger field of free
dom and expression. Many of
these interesting pioneer movements
have been associated with forms of
religion that have been outside the
range of regular movements OF
church life. The Mormon move
ment is a conspicuous example of
the association of certain forms of
religious belief with the pioneer
spirit
Getting Away From IdOIatry
III ,sf-fs,,.4s-,, - A., t,,,,, -,
ligiOuSly. however. was as a pioneer
of faith. Whatever may have urged
him TO leave his home in Ur. seeking
new opportunities in Palestine. it is
religion that in our biblical record
of Abraham'S life is the dominant
motive and interest.
Many believe that this movement
was occaSiOned on Abraham'S part
by the sensing of a nobler and
clearer conception of God than he
found in the idOlatrouS environment
of Or. If the records suggest what
was actually present in Abraham'S
mind rather than what was read
in by a later writer. there was in
him a sense Of empire building, a
consciousness that he was to be the
head Of a great people.
But one Of the most noble things
concerning Abraham is the founda-
ton upon which this empire was to
be built. He was not a military
ConQuerOr a man. of ruthless ambi-
tons. He appears. rather. in one of
the most enlightening and beautiful
passages Of the whole Bible as a
man whose peaceful spirit and
ideals rebuke the plans and pur-
poses OF nations still unduly occu-
pied with war and blOodshed.
The moral daring of the man
matched his vision and his COM
mon sense. and when one thinks
of the greed and SelhShneSS of
individuals and nations that have
brought about all manner OF con-
fiict and tragedy and that have
been at the very foundation OF
world tyrannieS. one has profound
respect and admiration for this
man who. when his herdsmen
were in strife with the herdsmen
LII AAAH h4AAo4AtAAAs cesAAAs Lei
there be no strife. I pray thee. be-
tween me and thee. and between
my herdsmen and thy herdSmen;
Tor We be brethren"
Nor did Abraham merely ex-
press the ideals of peace. He put
his ideals magnanimously into
practice by allowing Lot the first
choice of the country that they
we're 10 divide. In that reccgni-
ton of brotherhood Abraham de-
fined the true foundation Of peace
and good viii.
Let US pause and consider how
Tar this world with all its sup
posed advancement, its scientific
enlightenment. and its proud con-
sciousness Of its progress is &C
tually in matters O. faith and spirit
far behind a pioneer Of faith like
Abraham. II We could be saved
from something o. our phariSaic
sense OF superiority. and could