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August 1932
T h e
K i n g ’ s
B u s i n e s s
QeWORLD a n J U sW l SDOM B y ROY TALMAGE BRUMBAUGH* \ j j Tacoma, Wash.
tearing through the twentieth century at lightning speed. She is going,' going, but where ? Automobiles will not carry immortal souls more swiftly to the gates of pearl. Airplanes will not lift the spirits of men to the plains of light. Burke said, “ Civilization depended for ages upon two principles: the spirit of a gentleman and the spirit of re ligion.” Are these two principles dominant in American life now? A gentleman is filled with the spirit of gentle ness, is large-minded, charitable, patient, large-hearted, a champion of the weak. Are we as a people progressing in these things?- Is the spirit of religion still paramount in our national life ? Does the Bible occupy the place in the public school and church it did fifty years ago ? Is the Sab bath still, to the national mind, the emblem of eternal rest, a day of worship and soul refreshment? Are our schools, colleges, universities, and seminaries the centers of spiritual as well as mental culture, or are they hotbeds of doubt and unbelief? Civilization without Christ is vanity and vexation of spirit. Unless the spiritual progress of a nation keeps pace with her civil development, she will deteriorate. “ Lord God of hosts, be with us yet, lest we forget” the hole out of which we were digged. own when completed. After a light lunch, time is spent in singing gospel songs, and with God’s Word. Most of those who attend are very poor. The classes in Falenica, a ‘Jew ish’ town some fourteen miles from here, continue, and the attendance has been triple many times what it was last year. The attendance has been 100 per cent Jewish most of the winter . . . There are urgent matters for prayer. There is a great need for an orphan’s home especially for Jewish children. Before I came to Poland, this was laid on my heart; and again and again since coming, there have been inquiries and requests from Jewish people. We could give them a Christian training, and who knows how God may need and use children so trained in a few years ? There is also the need of a home for unfortunate girls and women. . . . The need now is for funds for a helper and for a home. A trained Christian nurse is interested in this work and has applied to us for work. Psalm 82:3 to 5, Jeremiah 33:3, and Psalm 8 1 :10 are our prayer promises and weapons.” Her work is finished. Today she is in the presence of her Lord—but the needy field remains. Shall we not con tinue to bear before the throne of grace these prayer re quests that were so heavily laid on Miss Mott’s heart ? And as we pray, shall we not also remember the vacant place on the mission field? Who will take Grace Mott’s place? MARTYRED FOR CHRIST [Continued from page 350]
< U iv il iz a t io n is not necessarily Christianization. Ma terial civilization began in ungodliness, and it continues so. The fourth chapter of Genesis tells thè story of the begin ning of the things to which humanity pays homage today. A n c ie n t C iv il iz a t io n The builder of the first city was Enoch, the son of Cain, the first murderer. Like father, like son ! Society has developed most rapidly in cities. Worldly wisdom has found congenial atmosphere within municipal walls. Lamech, the first poet and philosopher; was the first bigamist. He was the father of a trio of sons that the world calls exceedingly wise. Jabal was the first architect and builder, also the father of all pork-packers, cattle- kings, and meat-barons. Jubal was an inventor extraordin ary, the father of symphony orchestra and organ. Tubal- Cain was an artificer in iron and brass, the father of all Krupps and Carnegies, the first of the line of iron and steel kings. What mentalities they must have had ! They knew everything, according to public opinion, but they knew not God. They were civilized, but evidently too much so, for all spirituality seems to have been civilized out of them. So worldly wise were they and nauseous to the nos trils of true wisdom and purity, that God sent the flood to wash the face of the earth, dirty with mere material culture, ■ Nations proud of their civilization and worldly wisdom have ever been novices in religion. Egypt, the land of the proud Pharaohs, pyramids, and wise men, actually fell down before the ox and onion. Greece had a corner on the brain market of the world. She had developed the arts and sciences to the nth degree. The summit of Mars Hill was tinged with the glory of the Golden Age. Philoso phy was meat and drink to her mind, yet the land of Socra tes did homage to human passion and bent the knee to disease. Rome was the. wisest and_ strongest of the wise nations. She marched down the highway of the nations decked in the brilliant robes of intellectual achievement, amid the applause of the civilized world, yet she wor shiped avenging ghosts conceived of as snake-hairedwomen. China boasted of her ancient civilization even at the time when Christ walked on this earth. While the cultured Or ientals were looking down and adoring the devil, the un tutored savages of North America were looking up to the Spirit of Thunder, While enlightened Germany was plac ing a crown of gold on the brow of philosophy, the savages in dark Africa were lifting their spirits in adoratibn of the sun, moon, and stars. A m e r ic a n C iv il iz a t io n America is civilized. She is making great strides in the arts, science, and statecraft. The “ land of the free” - is
*Pastor, First Presbyterian. Church.
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