vin W. Roper, our pianist, and to others who assisted them in their inspiring leadership of the song service. To these and to all others who have helped to make this Convention so delightful and so helpful, we express our sincere thanks. Respectfully submitted by the Committee, W. C. HALL, A. L. PHILLIPS, THERON GIBSON, PHILIP E. HOWARD, C. C. CHAPMAN, H. L. BAKER. DEVOTIONAL SERVICES GENERAL THEME: "SOUL WINNING AND CHRISTIAN SERVICE' CONDUCTED BY REV. J. WILBUR CHAPMAN, D. D., CORRESPONDING SECRETARY PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON EVANGELISTIC WORK WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 21 "The Open Bible and the Uplifted Cross' The Bible is a storehouse of richest treasure the like of which the world has never found. Here is a revelation of God so plainly made that the wayfaring man though a fool need not err in finding Him. Here is a picture of Jesus so wondrously presented that all who have looked upon it from the first day of its presentation to the present time have been strangely fascinated. Here is a secret of holy living so fully and freely presented that the most desparing have sought and found the truth and have gone forth conquering and to conquer. Here is a pathway to glory along which many feet have walked, and into which the hosts of all good and true have, day by day, been pressing. Here is an incomparable description of eternity which, as we read, we find ourselves thrilled through and through. All this may be true and we still be helpless and hopeless. What is the value of a storehouse if the door be locked and the key is missing? What is the use of priceless treasure when the way to find it is lost and there is no guide at hand to give us direction, but it is the open Bible we have today, and this is our encouragement. God, Himself, by whose inspiration holy men of old wrote the various books threw the gates ajar, and the whole sinning, suffering world has been asked to enter and find rest and peace. Yet though the Book is open there are many places of interest yet to investigate, heights to scale, depths to sound, mysteries to solve and promises to prove. For every one of those doors which seem to be locked there is a key and there is but one key. It is hardly necessary to say this key is Christ and His story. THE BOOK IS THE WORD OF GOD Its security is assured, in the first verse of the 5th chapter of the Revelation; it is said to be in the right hand of Him that sitteth upon the throne. It was a mighty hand; it held the winds and the seas, parted the waters for the Israelites, and then drew the seas together lest the Egyptians should overtake them; wrote the law upon the tables of stone, which we are sometimes said to break, but as a matter of fact, we do not break God's laws; we rather break ourselves against them. I am wondering how we would treat the Open Book if we knew that it was in His hand, and I am wondering what would be our judgment if that hand should be turned against us. Did you know that the history of Israel is the history of the treatment of the law, which is the Word of God? When the law was honored the people were blest; when the law was neglected the people wandered. So it is with the Bible. The Bible Loving Day is a day of power; the day when the Bible is neglected and forgotten is a day of weakness. In the 7th verse of the 5th chapter of the Revelation the Book is said to be in His hand who was the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," on the one hand and "The Slain Lamb" on the other. He opens the Book, and there must be loyalty to Him if we would know its power. Place Him on the same level with Confucius and you will have a great teacher; set Him side by side with Buddha and you may have a great martyr; make Him only a man, even though He be the very best, and you will have heights that mock you and ideals that discourage you, but make Him Jesus, God's Son, and at His touch the Book will open and the way to life be plain, and you may be given strength to walk in it. You will never have the best of the Bible if you study it only as literature that is good but not the best; nor will you discover its power if you make it only the subject of criticism. You will find the best that is in it when you study with the heart, and when you seek its truth that you may live by it. When He opens the Book there is light; this finds me in my darkness; there is life; this thrills my very soul; there is power; this overcomes my weakness and gives me victory. In Australia a gentleman of means agreed to give to a certain denomination a beautiful church building. He only stipulated that his daughter should be given the privilege of unlocking the door of the church on the day of dedication. As a matter of sentiment he had fashioned a golden key. He placed the key in a beautiful case and gave it to his daughter. The day of dedication came and the golden key was thrust in the lock, but all attempts to open the door and turn the key ended in failure. At last an old fashioned key which had been provided in case of emergency was thrust into the lock, and the bolt went back with a click and the door was opened. The key which freely opens the mysteries of God's Word is not intellectual nor is it scientific, though in the Bible there is a field for both; it is the key which is within the reach of the plainest and humblest, and He who opens the Book so places in their hands the key which makes every mystery plain. Associated with this key is a thrilling story. On earth we preach about it; in heaven they sing it. Throughout eternity there shall be given an explanation concerning it. The story leads to the Uplifted Cross. The Open Bible stimulates our hope. The Uplifted Cross makes possible eternal life. The Open Bible challenges the attention of the world's greatest musicians, and the oratorio of the Messiah is born, inspires the thought of the greatest artists and the representation of Christ on Calvary is upon canvas, interests the greatest historians, and the libraries of the world are enriched by their study; summons the men of the greatest intellectual ability, and as they read the pages of this Book scientists, orators and leaders of men pay tribute to its greatness. The Uplifted Cross on the other hand stretches forth its arms in invitation and promises blessings for all who will accept the gift. It is for the strongest and the weakest, the greatest and the least, for the one who has been slain by his appetites, bound by his passions and discouraged by constant failure. None are too hopeless. Science speaks of the survival of the fittest;"' the Uplifted Cross makes possible the redemption of the lowest. The subjects, "The Open Bible" and "The Uplifted Cross,' are closely intervowen; together they make life worth living and earth like heaven. It is not easy to find a text that would include them both. The best one, however, is in the Revelation, 5th chapter, and the 9th verse, and reads: "Thou art worthy to take the Book and to open the seals thereof, for Thou wast slain." He is always worthy. When the world must have a Redeemer He was worthy to be chosen. When God must have a revelation He was worthy to undertake the task. When the Cross must claim a victim He was counted worthy and starts upon the journey, every step of which meant suffering. When lost and fallen must have a Savior He is worthy to offer Himself and to be accepted; and now that history has reached its climax and the Book is to be opened for revela tion and judgment, He is counted worthy. THE UPLIFTED CROSS This is the hope of the sin smitten world. There is really only one story in the Bible. We must be seeking for that; all else is supplemental and explanatory. Because there is but one story; I am undisturbed in this day of the Bible trial. The question of authorship does not invalidate this story. The number of authors, be they many or few, will not diminish my interest in my search. This story starts in Genesis where the seed of the woman it is said will bruise the serpent's head, goes on to the smitten rock which, as it sends forth its refreshing waters, is a type of Him who said at the last great day of the feast, "If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink." Types and figures grow plainer and plainer as we turn over the pages of the Bible, until at last He is cradled in the manger, lives in Nazareth, preaches in Galilee, suffers in Gethsemane, dies on Calvary, rests for a while in Joseph's tomb, and then ascends up into heaven. This story binds the whole Book together. Let us lift up the Cross. None are too helpless, none too deep in sin, none have wandered too far in the land of despair. There is hope for all. The Bible begins with God walking in the garden seeking the wandered, and closes with the invitation, "The Spirit and the Bride say come and let him that heareth say come and let him that is athirst come, and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely." THURSDAY MORNING, JUNE 22 "He hath "The Preparation of Our Very Selves for Soul Winning'' My text is found in Isaiah, the 49th chapter, 2nd verse: made me a polished shaft, in his quiver hath He hid me." This reference is primarily to Him who was God's chosen messenger, who sped straight as an arrow to the mark, saying as He came into the world, "Lo I come to do thy will." The message, however, is for us who would be soul winners. If we are to be personal workers the work must always begin with us as individuals. No acquaintance with methods, no distinction among men, no past successes, no amount of intellectual equipment, no amount of culture and no amount of genius can take the place of personal soul culture if we are to win those with whom we come in contact. "Thou must be true thyself If thou the truth would teach, |