Covenanter Witness Vol. 54 - Rparchives.org

great,"
place,"
not."
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subscribed."
would."
REMO I. ROBB, D.D.
ECH
For Covenant!
ECHOES
January, 1955
TO ILLUSTRATE THE Y. P. TOPICS
February 6
February, 1955
What's in My Psalm Book
Did you know that the praise by which
the Pilgrims greeted the new world was
the 100th Psalm
Their journal states: "Being now
passed the vast ocean and sea of troubles,
before their preparation unto further pro
ceedings as to seek out a place for habi
tation, they fell on their knees and
blessed the Lord, the God of heaven, who
had brought them over the vast and fur
ious ocean, and delivered them from all
perils and miseries thereof."
Each family had brought, as the most
precious earthly possessions, a thick vol
ume containing, first, the Book of Com
mon Prayer, with the Psalter appointed
to be read in churches; second, the Bible
in the Geneva translation, which was the
basis of our English translation; and
third, the Psalms in meter with the music
notes adapted to singing. So it was that
the Mayflower Pilgrims lifted their voices
in song, and the noble tones of Old
Hundred for the first time floated over
silent Plymouth bay
and mingled with
the sound of wind and waters, consecrat
ing the American shores.
February 13 Psalms in the Lives of the
Early Martyrs.
"My sins and faults of youth
Do Thou, O Lord, forget;
After Thy mercy think on me
And for Thy goodness
was the beginning of the song of Margar
et Wilson as the sea was rising round
her at the mouth of the water of Blednoch
by Wigtown. She was twenty years
of age, and along with an elderly woman,
Margaret McLachlan, was condemned to
be drowned for attending field and house
conventicles and for refusing "the test."
They
were tied to stakes within tidemark
where the waters of the Solway
come up
swift and strong. The older
woman was put farther out that the sight
of her struggles might terrify the young
er and lead her to "conform," but she was
faithful to the death.
56
"O do thou keep my soul;
Do Thou deliver me;
And let me never be ashamed
Because I trust in Thee."
The two women are buried in Wigtown
churchyard and descendants of the fami
ly to which Margaret Wilson belonged
are to be found in the neighborhood of
Glenvernock where she lived.
February 20 Christ in the Psalms
The value and beauty of family wor
ship in time of bereavement are sublime
ly illustrated by an incident in the life of
Rev. J. A. James. It was his custom to
read at family prayer on Saturday eve
ning the one hundred third Psalm. On
the Saturday of the week in Mrs.
James died, he hesitated, with the open
Bible in his hand, before he began to
read; but after a moment's silence, he
looked up and said, "Notwithstanding
what has happened this week, I see no
reason from departing from our usual
custom of reading the one hundred and
third Psalm "Bless the Lord, O my
soul: and all that is within me, bless His
Holy Name.'"
Jesus Christ thus spoke to that entire
family through the Psalm, enabling the
deepest sufferer in the depth of his sor
row to bless the Name of the Lord.
February 27
to Me.
What the Psalms Mean
One morning a teacher went to her
school and found many vacant seats.
Diphtheria had entered the village. Two
little scholars already had died,
and sev
eral others were sick. The few who went
to school gathered around the teacher,
asking "What shall we do Will we be
sick Do you suppose we may die"
The teacher quieted them and said
"Children, you are all afraid of this ter
rible disease, and I do not wonder. Your
little friends are gone,
and you are afraid
you may take sick and die, too. I know
only one way to escape, and that is to
hide.
The children gasped in wonder, but the
teacher went on: "I'll read you about
this hiding and read "He that
dwelleth in the secret place of the Most
High shall abide under the shadow of
the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1).
Later a little girl came to the teacher
and asked "Teacher, aren't you afraid
of the diphtheria"
"No, my child, I'm
"Well, wouldn't you be, if you would
be sick and die"
"No,
I don't think I
Looking for a moment at the teacher,
the little girl's face lighted, as she said
"Oh, I know! you are hidden under God's
wings. What a nice place to hide!"
THE C.Y.P.U. YEARBOOK
for 1955
Have you sent your society order yet
This book of twenty pages is prepared
to help every member of the C.Y.P.U. It
contains the C.Y.P.U. pledge, a directory
of the Presbyterial secretaries, the Con
ference officers and the Topic committee.
It contains the topics, suggestions for
special meetings, and society projects for
each month, listed on separate pages.
There are also lines for the names of
the leaders, and a page for the names of
your society
members.
officers and committee
The Plan of Work adopted at the last
national convention and now
being pro
moted by the C.Y.P.U. Staff is also
found in the Yearbook.
The cost is only 15c per copy, and
every member should have one. Order to
day, if you have not already done so,
from Remo I. Robb, D.D. 1102 9th Ave.,
Beaver Falls, Penna.
THE GOAL POST
This 8-page monthly magazine is the
Young People's own. It was started at
their suggestion and is carried on with
their support.
It contains news of what others are do
ing
editorials on popular subjects
reviews of important books
sermonettes by the secretaries
testimonies by young people
articles of interest and importance
further helps for young .people's
meetings.
An item in the national plan of work
reads :
"We recommend the continuation of the
Goal Post, and that each society be
W0%
Here is a year of good young people's
reading for $1.50. Send or renew your
subscription today. Write The Goal Post,
1102 Ninth Ave., Beaver Falls, Penna.
COVENANTER WITNESS