3. A. third. suggestion, and one that is really implicit in the second, that the only safe direction head. Speak unto the children of
atten said. in. conneeticm, with arent war that the best defonthat Uhey go forward." Te sive was the offensive. Would it not be true to say of the Israelites, hhommed in as they were on all sides, that their only way of retreat oan advance, that their best way of escape was' forwards, Docs this suggestion contain any mosiage for us? We are confront: ced by hindrances enough, many them unforeseen by the worth who founded this Church. There is the migration. of the population from this district; the loss through death or retirement of many of the stalwart supporters of earlier days; the financial stringency of these bhard times; the secularizing of the day of rest, with its crowding out of public worship. These obstacles might be compared to the waters of the Red Sox which impeded the gress of the Israelites. What are we going to do about them? Shall we merely look back regretfully to what are called the gocd old days?" No; that will not do. Whether we are led or driven, let make no mistake about this: our only course is forward. If you and I were really serious about the matter, do you know what might happen here this year? We could crowd this Church every Sunday. Wo could render such soul-inspir~ ing musie that everyone who came there would be uplifted, and those who listened in would long for a place within these walls. By our onerous consecrated giving we could relieve our officers of all concern about trifles. By our lofty Christian living we could make our presence felt in this community, so. that evil would hide its face in shame, And these things would not. require any miraculous interposition, They are possible by the output of powers already available. And it is when those powers are exerted that further Divine resources will come into operation, and we go forward we shall hear the "My presence
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.