“OUR GOD IS MARCHING ON”

White Ribbon, Volume 19, Issue 3, 1 April 1947, Page 1

“OUR GOD IS MARCHING ON”

Glorious weather, a com lor table hall, and a fine assembly of our own W.C.T.U. sisters, must have liad their share in making such an inspiring oik.iiui- to Convention. All the Dominion Officers in their places on the platform, lovely flowers, smiling and kindly faces everywhere, and the invigorating personally of our President, as she took up ho task for the first time, also contributed. But there was something else that made itself felt through the singing of the magnificent battle hymn. .1 rough the responsive reading, and through the voice of prayer, that set a note for the whole Convention. It seemed like a sort of dedication of all who took part, to a cause deemed "Lost.” A "Lost Cause, it lias been called again and again. Who could have heard that singing, and not known that our Cause was a> strong as ever, because we know that the Loid hod of Hosts was with us? It was that confidence, that determination to lie “unaflfrighted by tiie ..d----versaries that rang out with m> clear a note. The o]>eni"g prayer seemed to make that dedication definite; and Mrs. H’ett’s address which follows here, sounded a trumpet call so clear tiiat none could hear it unstirred. The sound of marching feet seemed to echo in the distance; and deep called unto deep a-> vu- girded ourselves in the strength of the Lord. The Address, given by Mrs. Hiett, Dominion Vice-President: — lames 1:12-27: “Be ye doers of the Word.” “Attempt great things for God.”

The measure of our accomplishments will test ui»oii the measure of our consecrated efforts as doers of the Word. Nothing hapjiens by chance. Good is not accomplished unless there is a doer. We cannot gain any advance without sacrificial effort. Now that the licensing jhjll is past, the challenge to all who believe in God in goodness is "Attempt great things for God.” I liink of those around us, in our own street who haveno thought of God, and to whom the Bible is an unknown Book. Doers ot the Word must do something by way of invitation to Church and more important to Christ. The great challenging questions of the day, drinking, gambling, impurity, never challenge the multitude who care not for God's Word or God’s Day. Is this not a challengi to us in our street, town, countryside, to lie doers of the Word, to attempt great things for God? Attempt to arouse interest in God’? love, God s understanding heart, God’s power for right the adventure of going forth to crush evil. A minister tell? of what an eager person can do. A doctor in India healed a man almost blind with disease; the man went away and talked among the villagers of lu? wonderful cure and two weeks later came hack leading 23 blind men on a rope to the doctor. There should be no limits to endeavours for we have been to the Great Physician and know what He has done for us. We as lovers of the Great Physician will bring strangers to a saving knowledge of Christ and will create a sentiment towards seeking after whatsoever is honest first pure, lovely and of good re|>ort. Doers of the Word. What an opportunity! Can our Lord defend on us?

We are reminded of many doers of the Word who have passed on some, indeed, this past year, and if vvi ca?t our mind back on the years behind u>, what a cloud of witnesses. 1 hose who gladly attempted great things for God. When I think of all I have Ik-cii given, by men and women who have lived for me, great souls who through long years have striven even unto death to make me free, then 1 pray, 1 too, may have the courage to follow iti the glorious way tliev trod, choosing to work not for myself alone, hut always for my fellow men and God. Tltis is our heritage.

Every moral issue is dependent for ?olution upon Christian citizens, upon us. What of disarmaments and discouragements? Forgetting the things that are behind us, we press on. "Who knoweth whether thou art come to the Kingdom for such a tune a? this?” said Mordecai to Esther, and Esther went forward sacrificially but courageously doing her part, anil she saved her people. "Be ye doers of the Word.’’ "Attempt great tilings for God, expect great things from God." Live in execution of advances. No Christian witness i> lost; God sees to that. Pray, act, ex-l*-ct. "Say not the struggle naught avadeth, The labour and the wounds are vain. The enemy faints not nor faileth, And as things have been they remain "For while the tired waves vainly breaking, Seem here no painful inch to gain, ‘Tar back thro creeks, and inlets making, Comes silent, Hooding in the main.” No effort is too small to count with (iod. He says to us. “For I the Lord thy < iod will hold thy right hand saying unto thee, fear not, I will help thee.” Trust Him, he has not failed one of Hts children. Faith in God and work for Him will remove mountains. May God give us grace to In* doers of the Word with great expectation for the fulfilment of His blessed will in “The ringing in of sweeter manners, purer laws, the ringing out of the darkness of the land, and the ringing in of the Christ that is to be."