A SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST MONTHLY Especially adapted to the use of pastorless churches for use in public worship, and to lone Sabbath-keepers and all other Seventh Day Baptists for devotional reading. Published by the American Sabbath Tract Society. Rev. James L. Skaggs, Editor Entered as second-class matter June 29, 1915, at the post office at Plainfield, N. J., under the act of March 3, 1879. VOL. XI PLAINFIELD, N. J., JULY, 1916 No. I 175577 EDITORIAL An untried Again the editorship of the PULPIT has changed. hand has taken up the task. Not because of a conscious idleness, and a feeling that something must be found to engage time and attention, nor on account of a desire to come before the denomination in that capacity, is he entering upon this duty, but because he was requested to do so by the Committee on Publication, and did not find a good reason for refusing. During the ensuing six months the editor will strive to maintain the splendid standard that has been set by other editors during the past year. So far as possible sermons will be obtained from our ministers who have not contributed to the PULPIT since its publication was resumed. From the testimony of others and from my own experience in preparing this issue, I am sure editors who are depending on others for manuscripts are often doomed to disappointment. Promised productions do not always arrive on time. When they fail the editor must make a shift in some way, for the copy must go to the publisher on schedule. Two such changes had to be made in arranging the sermons for this number. As it happens, the changes have not caused the editor any great inconvenience. He does not blame any one. But his mind has been turned into a line of thought which mirrors himself and his fellow-men in many inexcusable failures. How often great interests suffer, and the burdens of the few become too heavy, because the many fail to take responsibility seriously. This applies in almost every phase of life. The home lacks in attractiveness and happiness because some one fails to make the proper contribution to its life. It is difficult to elevate the standards of the community, because the many are satisfied with a sluggish existence. In the church we find great numbers who will not bestir themselves for its Master's cause. The local work suffers, and the mission boards are continually embarrassed by empty treasuries. The very life of this magazine is now threatened by a lack of financial support. One individual can do some things; several working together can do many more, and many in united effort may accomplish wonders. When each individual finds his place, recognizes his duty, and gives the strength of his life to performing it, then does the glory of personal life and united effort appear. Homes are happy, community life is prosperous and wholesome, and the church manifests the power of her triumphant Lord. Souls that are born of the spirit of Christ are possessed not only by a spirit of purity but by a spirit of activity and responsibility: (For churches or groups of people without a pasto ) "Praise God from whom all blessings flow" Reading a Psalm and other Scripture Two Prayers Reading of the Sermon for the day "The Lord is my Shepherd," in concert T The Rev. James LeRoy Skaggs, son of L. F. and Rosana Pearce Skaggs, was born in Christian County, Mo., May 26, 1878. His early education was secured in the public school, with a brief term in the normal school at Springfield, Mo.; was graduated from Milton Academy in 1905; student of Milton College, 1905-1907; student Alfred Theological Seminary, 1907-1910, and of Crozer Theological Seminary, 1910-1911; graduated by Alfred Theological Seminary, 1915; student-pastor at Nile, N. Y., 1908-1910, Shiloh, N. J., 1910-1911; pastor, Shiloh, 19111914; Nortonville,. Kan., 1914 to present time; ordained te ministry, Nile, N. Y.; 1909. He was married July 11, 1900, to Miss Hettie A. Whitney, of Berlin, Wis. They have four children: Allison E., aged thirteen years; Evalyn R., six; J. Leland, four; Margaret A., six months. OUR RIGHT TO NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE By REV. JAMES L. SKAGGS "There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life" (Josh. 1: 5a). Scripture Lesson, Josh. I: I-9. These are words spoken to Joshua when he became leader of the children of Israel. They assure him of his success in the conquest of Canaan. But the promise is not given without conditions, as we find in reading the scripture lesson. The promise may have application in our own national life, if we fulfil the conditions. But I have chosen to use this text as a suggestion, rather than to make direct application. We are about to celebrate our birthday-the anniversary of our national independence. It is a day of great rejoicing, of self-congratulation, of sport, amusement and noise. From the grandfather to the small boy there seems to be a surplus of energy and good feeling which must find expression in some way. To question one's right to celebrate would be regarded as bold insult. So we will not question that right. However, it is legitimate to protest against all our enthusiasm going up in smoke and down with soda water. Relaxation and recreation are good and may be indulged in at almost any time of the yeareven on Independence Day. But at some time we ought to come to serious thought as to our right to such a celebration-not so much that we would question it, but that we may properly relate ourselves to the great principles which underlie the act. Nations may have taken their place in the world by superior physical force, but with it there must have been coupled courage and positive, aggressive strength of character. And again we know nations have fallen because of inner decay-because leaders and citizens lacked courage, honor, and virtue, and a spirit of self-sacrifice. There seems to be a law in the nature of things that a courageous, virtuous, self-sacrificing people has a right to national independence. Without these qualities they are not able to rule; therefore they must be ruled. The weakling rules nowhere—not even in the lower orders of life. Our national life has been the marvel of modern history, and in a meastre is..yet on trial before the world. We have a history of courage and sacrifice, of sins and atonements; we have a present of peril and opportunity, and a future fraught with the most grave problems and: the most glorious possibilities. ***DEVELOPING POWER TO RULE The fair-minded student of the history of the American colonies is not disposed to question their right to national independence. The colonies were established by men of definite convictions and ambitions beyond mere existence. They planted in the new soil an ideal of civil and religious freedom. For the sake of these liberties they had the courage to forsake the land of their birth, to break home ties and life-long friendships. They had the courage to undertake a long and dangerous sea voyage and to enter an unknown land to make their homes. They had the courage to face the savage Indian tribes, and to endure hunger, sickness, and death, and the making of new graves. In the midst of these tragic conditions they were unyielding in their determination to realize the object for which they had set out. Physical courage is common, as is demonstrated in the present European war. But the courage of the Pilgrim fathers, and many other colonists, was physical and more-it was moral. There is a vast difference in the courage that enables one to stand out and face an enemy in deadly combat, from that which enables one to stand out against the world as the peaceful champion of righteousness. Moral courage requires of a man that in the midst of the drudgery and common things of life, without excitement or applause, he shall stand for the highest and noblest ideal, in public and private life, which God has given him. To do that tries a man's soul, his character, more than the battle line. In fact, those of the least moral courage are often the first to rush to arms. Genuine courage characterized the life and work of the early settlers in America. The early colonists were constantly facing grim necessity. But they gave themselves to their tasks without stint, and found the genuine joy of life in mastering things that were difficult. No doubt the burdens often were almost beyond endurance, but they were better far than any alternative. Their experience may stand as an illustration of God's way of making |