Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

man,"
ever."
pledge."
only."
life unless we have our eyes fixed on an object in
front of us. "No said Jesus, "having put his
hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the
kingdom of God." And the object to which we look
cannot be something that is always changing. We
must look at something or, better still, someone, who
is steady and sure and unchanging. And Jesus
Christ Himself, is the only one of whom we can
say that, for He is 'Jesus Christ, the same yester
day and to-day and for So for a straight fur
row through life we must go forward, "looking unto
faith."
Jesus, the author and finisher of our
The Reformed Presbyterian Witness.
GOOD PEOPLE AND THE DANCE
It is evident that it takes spiritual discernment
for the average person to see the evil of the dance,
because high minded people have exposed their sons
and daughters to this injurious diversion who would
not knowingly have sent their children into anything
hurtful for the richest of bribes. We have heard of
a few far-seeing wise men who made no pretense to
religion who had an anti-dancing law in their homes
as a safeguard to their children's character. We
have wondered why pure reason could not lead one to
see the danger, but with most persons only religion
in the heart will open the eyes to the dangerous in
toxications of Terpsichore.
Will the reader suffer a few plain questions:
Would not the attitude assumed by the sexes in a
dance be regarded as a compromising attitude if as
sumed when alone without music If you answer No,
we now excuse you from the jury. If you answer
Yes, we ask you another question : What is there in
the music or the publicity of the exercise which
renders honorable and wholesome an attitude which
would otherwise be reprehensible and degrading
Have you ever known an eminently, devout person
who would dance If you were in a city and wanted
to be absolutely sure of finding a dance any
night in the year, what class of people would you go
among You say you have known tolerably devout
persons to dance; did you ever eat a tolerably good
egg Did you ever hear an unconverted man say that
he would like to have the kind of religion some toler
ably devout person had If you were dying would
you risk the destiny of your soul under the prayers
of some tolerably devout person Among- what class
of people does the art of dancing reach its highest
development Selected.
BOOK REVIEWS
Best Sermon Pictures,
Compiled by James Gilchrist Lawson.
Jesus taught by parables. He illustrated the truths
He taught by stories which were easily understood
and remembered. This is a book of 2935 illustrations,
covering almost every moral and religious subject.
This was formerly published under the name Cyclo
pedia of Religious Anecdotes. These illustrations
are drawn from newspapers and magazines as well
as from addresses and history and biography.
I was particularly interested in two. On page 48
is a part of an address by the late Dr. James S. Mar
tin before a Committee of Congress. On page 456
April 13, 1955
there is the reprint of a short article from the Ster
ling, Kansas, Bulletin on prohibition. There may be
others that I would have known the author or the
source, but these are the ones noticed.
Illustrations are sometimes called "the windows
sermon."
of the They are needed and people listen
to the illustrations and remember them. While the
best illustrations for an individual are those that
he himself has gathered, yet there is a definite place
for such a work as this. Often a few facts can be
found about a subject that will make one's address
more definite and stories which illustrate the truth
are easily remembered. This book contains a fine
selection of splendid illustrations.
This book of over 500 pages sells for $4.95. It is
published by the Moody Press of 820 N. La Salle
St., Chicago 10, 111. It can be ordered directly from
them or from the Covenanter Witness. R.C.F.
Tither's Corner
D. H. Elliott
Conserving Results
Stewardship efforts during March have ended.
Many replies suggest that the plan has been general
ly observed among the churches. We thank all of you
who so willingly gave your cordial support. Especial
ly we are grateful to those who took the trouble to
tell us so.
We trust the venture has not been a mere rus
tling among the leaves or as a vapor which appeareth
for a little time, then vanisheth away. Our
prayer is that the moving in the top of the mulberry
trees betokens something more substantial in the
days and years to come.
We are sorry if anyone has signed the resolve
with a mental reservation of for "one year
This should be a lifetime covenant with our Master
'bread."
who gives us day by day "our daily
One enthusiastic tithe promoter writes : "I have
wondered if there wasn't a benefit in persons keep
ing some reminder for themselves when they make
a promise or pledge. I wonder if a double card would
be useful with the signer keeping one for himself to
remind him of his
A good suggestion ! To meet this would it serve
the purpose if the congregation would make and pre
serve a permanent record of all pledges turned in
then return the original cards as a "remembrancer"
to the signers themselves
"Finally brethren, be strong in the Lord." Keep
in mind that good starters are not all good finishers.
Let us ponder the fact that if and when a new minis
ter is sent to Japan we are obligating ourselves, not
for one year only, but for every year after that.
"These are they likewise which are sown on stony
ground, who when they have heard the Word, im
mediately
receive it with gladness: And have no
root in themselves, so endure but for a time."
(Mark 4:16,17)
P.S. The Stewardship Committee is grateful to the
editor of the Covenanter Witness for his splendid
sharing of the pages of the paper for this under
taking.
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