VOL. LII.
SHALL MAKE YOU FREE/’ —John viii, 32.
'AY, JANUARY 9, 1930.
GOD is: LOVE
(Sermon by Rev. Edward W. Carpenter, A- M., Southampton,
New York.)
I John 4:8.
Take the word love away from
the Bible, and you take away
its divine light- Sweep the es
sence of this word from the
human race, and you would
destroy happiness as much as
you would destroy light if you
would hurl the sun from its
heights sublime and strike its
glories from the throne q£
time.
The fountain of this world is
the heart of God, from
m
which there is a river of love
flowing out, washing the sin
stained souls of millions
making them whiter than
snow. If we were to read the
Bible from Genesis to Revela
tion and should And on almost
every page, God is, but' nowhere
that He is a God of love, oh,
how we would long to know
what he is. We might imagine
that We could see angels and
archangels flying over the
bright plans of heaven on rapid
wings and thousands of saints
about the great white throne,
looking into the word of God in
s’lent and solemn search to
know what this God is. But, oh,
we see the beautiful word, love*
“God is love.”
‘ Oh blessed revelation, put
ting an end to all our fears and
doubt*; glorious pledge for our
present, future and eternal
happiness; this Great God, this
mighty God, ' who crested all
things, who inhabited eternity
hmg before one star revolved in
its sphere; before aji angel
He will be when time shall be
no more; as infinitely holy
when He inhabited alone the
solitude of immensity as He is
now with the songs of angels
and archangels sounding in His
ears.
It was love that inspired
this great God to the creation
of man, and to the redemption
of the fallen race. It was love
that triumphed over sin to give
us glory. Love is the theme in
heaven today of angels and
saints, and will be forever. If
we could ask all the angels and
redeemed spirits, “What is
God,” the answer would be
“Love;” “God is love.”
When God wishes to manifest
His power, He divides the
waves of the bea; when He
wishes to display His justice,
He sends a deluge over the
whole earth; when He wishes
to manifest His glory, He
speaks again, and away yonder
in space a world flies into ex
istence. and goes revolving in
its sphere. But when He wishes
to manifest His love, which is
the greatest of all, He sends
His Son from the throne of glo
ry, where He is worshipped by
nngels iind archangels, to die
pn the cross for a lost world.
I sometimes think, when
standing on some high moun
tain peak, looking off on the
beautiful world, that we have
but to open our eyes to see
that God is a God of love.
Away in the distance we see
verdant hills, shady groves,
sparkling streams, meandering
rivers and purple mountains,
all arrayed in their splendor,
like the robes of morning, when
curling mists crown the moun
tain top, and sapphire clouds
build a throne for the sun.
yar away in the distance
snowcapped mountain peaks
shining like great masses of
silver in the heaven, which
seem to kiss the Creator and
Builder of the universe. The
blue sky bends over us like God
in love over all things. Here
and there a fleecy cloud hovers
ever the heavens as if riding
on angels' wings. The gentle,
breeze Is playing over hill and
dale las if to sip the sweet odor
from the flowers, and bear the
songs of birds away on their
bosom to the very gates of
heiaven, and, we think, oh,
surely the 'Creator of this
world must be a God of love.
But we have seen the signs
of | wrath mingled and blended
with the beauties of nature. We
have seen the sun that adorns
the chamber of the East, with
his rosy rays of light, turn
himself into consuming fire,
scorching and burning the green
earth. The far away, glittering
mountain peak seems to be the
resting place of angels, yet at
tirpes its fiery heart begins to
throb and beat, and hurls forth
lavic flames of fire and bury
cities at its base. The gentle
breeze turns itself into a
mijghty storm, mid drives ves
sels upon some rocky shore,
and then we can hear the waves
mourning over the dead. How
true, as one writer said, “This
earth is in tha-mkldle spot be
tween heaved andhell.”
The place of prayer is sepa
rated only by a single dwelling
from the hell of the gambler.
Truth and falsehood walk side
by side through our streets. Joy
and sorrow look out at the
same window. Hope and de
spair dwell under the same
rodf- The sounds of the lute and
thi viol have scarcely died
awjay before the groans of dy
ing come following after. Take
the wings of light and girdle
the world, and you will flnd.jio
path so bright^and tovely^ fl|ed
ing flowers that the clbulfs of
mourning will not cast its shad
ows; no height so lofty and se
rene that it will not be beaten
by storms and tempests; no
home so cheerful and happy
that death will not find its vic
tim- Look yonder at that hap
py home on the hillside, hear
that little girl singing so sweet
ly ^far away upon the morning
air. As the song is borne it
thrills the hearts of all with
joy and gladness.
Then look again at the same
home at midnight; see the fath
er and mother standing by the
bedside of the same little girl,
who is now dying. The next
morning she is cold in death,
ready for the grave, and the
mother thinks, “Can this be a
God of love?” And then she
says; “0 yes, God kissed her
soul away to the land where
she will sing sweeter, and be
much happier than in our earth
ly home.”
The greatest love oi whicn 1
wish to speak 13 that in God
giving His Son to die for the
lost world. He sends Him in the
form of sinful man, and in the
likeness of sinful flesh. What
humiliation for the Son and
what wonderful condescension
for the Father who gave Him?
Oh! what love is that which
conceived the idea of bringing
the Son of God in contact with
our misery that we, through
His death and suffering might
live forever- See how the world
treated the One who came to
save; they dragged Him in
trial from one hall to another,
all night, yelling for His blood
Then aee them drag Him to Cal
vary, and nail Him to the cru
el cross, and hear him groan be
neath our sins, until at last He
cries, “It is finished,” and when
He said, “It is finished,” we
might imagine the angels
shouted through the fields of
the dead, “Finished,” until the
saints leap from their graves
with joy. Then away down to
the mouth of hell they shouted,
‘Tt is finished,” till demons and
devils trembled. Then up, up,
through the ethereal blue, they
shouted far away toward the
home of the saints: passing the
stars they shouted. “It is fin
ished/’ Passing through the
(,
pearly grates along theJ^H
paved streets, and through i&9
oiiuuiig mansions, and over tak
' <>»«« sea and the bright plains
01 glory, they shout, “it is iijsf
isned. ihis shall be the theme
ei tne redeemed spirits about
me great white throne, saying^
it is nnished; glory, honor,
uuu power be unto tne
loiever*4 K
wnai love God had in giving
ms aon to die for this lost:
wunu, no human language tc|i
c.vpre»s> dee what love one nail
may nave for another. Antt
once reau of a rich noblema%J
wno, witn his wife and Kt<$Bj!
girx, were driving across the
plains ot Russia to a certain
station, and as they came to a
small village about dark, a|fT
yet a long distance to ma&e
accross the frozen plains, they
stopped and asked the proprie
tor of a hotel "for a pair of
fresh horses to hitch in frojgt
of his; so as to make the sta»
cion a little whfle after dark.
The proprietor said there was'
danger in crossing the plains
as they might be destroyed by
wolves, but the nobleman said,
“Bring on the horses.” They
were brought and hitched in ]
front; then said he, “Drive as
rapidly as you can-” As they,
had gone some distance over
r whom he had reared up in
his own home; he said to the
young man, “You get your re
volver ready, and I will get
mine.” Soon the wolves were all
about the carriage, howling for
their blood. They fired and the
wolves fell dead. He said, “Get
your revolver ready again; they
will come more furiously than
ever when they get the taste
bf blood.” Soon •’ the Iwoljres
overtook them again. They fired
and two more wolves fell dead;
then their ammunition was
gone.
Soon they heard the howl of
wolves again. Then said the
rich nobleman, “Cut one of the
horses loose.” They ran into the
forest, killed it, and sucked its
blood: in a little while they
came again; another horse was
cut loose, and they took its
life.
Then said the nobleman,
“Drive as rapidly as you can.”
Soon they heard the wolves
coming. The young man that
sat by the driver, turned and
said to the nobleman and his
wife and little girl: “I love
vou and I have only one request
to ask of you, tha.t’ is, when I
am dead, look after my wife
and little child.” Then before
the nobleman could prevent, he
Teaned from the carriage among
the wolves, and soon they took
his life.
Then, driving rapidly, thes
"cached the station before the
wolves came again.
They went back the next day
with a coffin and found only the
riair aiiu uuues ox uie young
man, and as they gathered them
nn. and nut them in the coffin,
+bey said, “Didn’t he love us?
He died to save us.” After he
was buried they reared a great
monument over his . grave, and
a? the summers came and went,
they would visit his grave, and
«tand with tears In their eyes,
and say, “Didn’t he love us? He
died to save us.”
So we should flooik to the
irross. with tears in our eyes,
and sav, “Oh, didn’t He love
us; didn’t He love us? He died
to save us*
NGEUSM IN REN
DAU FRESBYTERY
Hendall Presbytery of Canadi
Synod—our most Western
►ytery in truly pioneir ter
ritory—has been emphasizing
two features which the Gen
eral Assembly has commended
tp j the churches. During the
►nths of October, November
December, it has been pro
ng the interest and activity
[the churches in National Mis
nable because of local condi
4s to use all the five points of
jfche Minimum Five Point Pro
gram recommended by the Gen
iferiKJouncil, the churches have
Used , as many as local circum
stances permitted and have cul
tivated knowledge and interest
in and by the Women’s Mis-*
Sionary Society, Y- P- organiza
tions, Sunday schools, ^nd
evfcry pastor has delivered spe
cial missionary sermons on Na
tional Mission Work.
Nearly every Sunday school,
Woman’s Missionary Society,
Yojung People’s organization and
ehurch has sepX contributions
to the Board of . National Mis
sions.
At the same time evangelism
las been diligently fostered,
hie Rey. Thos. B, Hargrave,
ie Synodical Evangelist, after
’ome very successful' labors in
le While River Presbytery,
e to Rendall Presbytery
itory, in November, begin
his Work at Chandler, Ok
with the Hopewell
A Ihck of a jMtstor, the
been
sev
er hindered his work. Neverthe
less the zeal of the church was
rekindled and they are begging
for his early return when con
ditions and weather are more
propitious.
•Next he visited Oklahoma
City and conducted services in
Mt. Moriah church which is
supplied by Rev. J. H. Smith.
Here a very Warm interest was
manifest. Seven united with
the church, the church itself
took on new life, a zealous cour
age aroused, forward plans
were made and the church is
looking forward to the return
of the Evangelist.
From here Rey; Hargrave
came to Lima, Okla.,—Shaw’s
Chapel,—supplied by Rev. S. J.
Onque. The session of the
church and others all said that
nothing could be done at this
season of the year. But the Lord
was with us and His Spirit
worketh wherever and when
ever He willeth.
The first day brought a large
audience at both the morning
and evening meeting. Every
night therafter for ten nights
saw a rapidly increasing audi
ence until the last three nights
and the Sunday services when
the people could hardly get in
to the building. Thirteen con
versions were the result of the
meeting, ten of whom united
with the church.
A meeting held in the pool
room attended by over forty
men aroused some white men,
one of whom had electric lights
installed in the church at his
own expense.
Prom Lima the Evangelist
came to Okmulgee, Mt. Olive
church, supplied by Rev. S. J.
Onque. A city-wide evangelistic
meeting, conducted by Rev. Mr.
Ham (white) was in progress
and the Ministerial Alliance
(colored) took charge of one
night’s meeting. This and the
many Christmas preparations
by churches, schools and other
organizations made the worli
difficult. We could hold only
three nights’ meetings. They re
sulted in three young lads unit
ing with the church.
Respectfully yours,
S.J. ONQUE,
Stated Clerk.
By Miss Lucile Henderson
(Delivered at" a recent; meeting
Catawba Ybuhg PeopleV
League.)
I would begin somewhat-pe
culiarly if I shditft! say:-“Seek
ye first the kingdom of God and
hi? righteousness; and all these
things shall be added unto you.”
Blit I shall say very emphati
cally to all the young people
present today these very words:
“Sjeek ye first the kingdoiri of
God and his righteousness and
all! these things shall be added
unto you.”
What things ? one might ask:
Those things which' we ' as
young people crave and do so
idljemindedly? Those' things
that are least beneficial to iis?
Those things that we think
bring happiness? But Chrisirhas
said in another place: “Lay hot
up for yourselves treasures on
earth where moth and rust doth
corrupt and where thieves
break through and steal; but
lay up for yourselves treasures
in i heaven.” So don’t let your
self treasure any one thing
more than you do the love of
the heavenly Father.
Just .why would I say this?
As young people in the midst
of I the wickedness of the
wojrlcL the trials and tempta
tions that confront as, w must'
make Christ our leader and fol
low in'if is footstep^. "We have a
tendency to’ lean towards the
wrong and evil side of life, to
follow the dtewd.ana do what
the majority does. These acts
ih hot necessarily mean that we
yppng people are bad or that
ing, but they simply mean that’
the temptations have been so
strong and our flesh so weak
that often we have not* been
able to overcome or withstand
the evil forces. Then why not
place some one who is capable
of helping you in the lead and
why not let that one be Christ
who knows us and loves us so
well that He gave His life for
our salvation?
I would further say that we
can not excuse ourselves on the
ground that we must have our
“fling” or that we do not know
right from wrong; for we all
have with us the “inner man
or woman” called conscience
who is continually reminding
us that we are about to go
wrong and endeavors to point
us to the higher and better
way. When that inner voice
speaks to us we should take
heed and obey; after which
you will note that you have won
a victory and are thus made
stronger for the next conflict.
It is a fact', not to be denied,
that there are now more attrac
tions for the minds as well as
the time of young people than
ever before; this, we say, is due
to so many modem and recent
inventions, which bring us back
to our question: Must We take
part in these things because the
majority are doing so? Person
ally, I say, no Why do I say
no? Because the Lord is per
fectly willing to help those whc
help themsepres. Then, if one
desires to resist the many mod
em temptations he can do sc
by making Christ the center oi
his life.
We have often heard it said
that it is the narrow way that
leads to life and happiness
which few follow, but wide and
crowded is the way that leads
to destruction. In view of this
fact the Presbyterian Church
has set up in its program dif
ferent organizations for the re
ligious instruction of its young
people. If we are to make
Christ the center of our lives
we will do well to take hold and
master the contents of the pro
gram which the Church has
worked out for us. To do this
calls for sacrifice and constant
plugging away, but so often
we young people are like the
little flower in the
‘When to the flowers so
tiful
The Father gave a name,
Back came a little blue-ey«
one,
Ah timidly it came;
And standing at its Father’s
[ feet
And gazing in his face,
It said in low and trembling
tones,
With sweet and gentle grace,
Dear Lord, the name thou g&v
" est me,
Alas! I have forgot,
Then kindly looked the Father
'• down
And said “Forget-me-not.”
Let us not forget our Saviour.
He is willing to listen whenev
er we call upon Him. Then why
shouldn’t we be ready to cham
pion the cause of righteonsness
knowing Christ will ever be our
defender.
Make Christ the center of
your life and earthly things will
be added. May we conclude then
with these words: “Be
now thy'Creator in the'
thy youth, while the evil days
come not nor the years draw
nigh when thou shaft say I have
ho Treasure in* thiHn.”
wm
'it:K By Bye" B.
It» Th* Hm: YoikWerld
({^tuiped f^n last week)
Their leetifres are
lated in French to r
es
FngHsh, andthe
-’mall means of knowing if
ideas are being put over cor
rectly.
Unfortunately, the general
belief is that former investiga
tions were carefully staged
whitewashing parties, handled
under the infallible system ol
showing the investigators only
what they were supposed to
see. The new commission will
find itself closely watched for
igns of similar procedure. It
will come into a heritage of
distrust and suspicion, and will
have the difficult task to secure
the confidence of the Haitian
people
All competent^bbservers ad
mit the claim to the miHthiy
government that the great
mass of the people in Haiti are
not ready for self-govemment,
and that the upper classes
failed in the past to organize
and maintain good government.
But these elite are the only
Haitians who can qualify for a
part in the government and
are the natural leaders, and, re
gardless of past failures oh
their part as a class, it is inevi
table that not only minor ad
mmisirauve jods out tne
whole government must lie
turned over to them. Why,
then, are they exclude# now?
Haitians need a policy that
will allow the ablest men among
them to take a part in admin
istrative work along i with
Americans, and by gradually
building up a spirit of trust and
of co-operation, pave the way
to future betterment and secur
ity. This was done successful
ly in the case of Haiti's neigh
bor. the Republic of San$p Do
mingo.
Want Civilians, Not Military
Under this plan an adminis
tration as efficient as that of
Americans may not result, but
they cannot see why the Unit
ed States should demand Stand
ards of efficiency for Haitians
with which the Haitians have
no sympathy, and which are
certainly lacking in many oth
er countries of the world.
They recommend that mtiT
tary officers be replaced, ^ ci
vilians._
(Continued on pag&4)