"GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN"

11 AND CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNBH SAlD UNTO J'OSHUA, NOW THEREFORE GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN! AND JOSHUA BLESSEll HIM ANI;) GAVE UNTO CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUN­NEH HEBRON FOR AN INHERITANCE." · JOSHUA 14:12, 13

A STRANGE REQUEST. WHO WANTS A MOUNTAIN? MEN USUALLY CAST COVETOUS EYES ON FERTILE LOWLANDS -LIFE l:S EASY THERE. BUT' HERE IS A MAN LOOKING FOR NO EASY STREE'B. HE WAN~S A MOUNTAIN - AND GOT IT!

TEXT TAKEN FROM STORY OF THE DIVIDING OF THE PROMISED LAND. UNDER JOSHUA THE WALLS O.F JERICHO HAD FALLEN AND THli: OTHER CITIES GRADUALLY SUBDUED. THEN THE TERRITORY WAS PARCELLED OUT TO TRIBES OF ISRAEL. TO GAD, ISSAC HER, ZEBULON, N~THALI ETC •• AND OALEB SPEAKING FOR TRIBE OF JUUAH DEMANDS THE MOUNTAIN WITH ITS NEARBY CITY OF HEBRON.

SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE WAS A REASON FOR THIS MOUNT-AIN BEING <lLADlED RY CALEB.

. IT HAD BEEN PROMISED TO HIM BY MOSES. LET ME READ FROM VERSE 6 TO 13. STORY OFl 'lHE SPIES IS WELL KNOWN. STRONG MAN CHOSEN FROM EACH OF TWELVE TRIBES TO GO INTO ENEKY TERRITORY TO SPY OUT THE LAND. CUT BUNCH OF GRAPES ESCHOL. AND RETURNED AFTER FORTY DAYS. MAKE REPORT - LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY BUT THERE ARE GIANTS IN 'llHE LAND. SONS OF ANAK - AND WE WERE IN OUR OWN SIGHT AS GRASSHOPPERS. BUT JOSHUA AND OALEB BRING IN A MINORITY REPORT - LET US GO UP AT ONCE AND POSSESS IT, FOR THE LORD IS WITH US AND WE ARE ABLE TO OVERCOME IT. BUT THE PEOPLE LISTENED TO MAJORITY REPORT ANS WERE AFRAID.

AND NOW, FORTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, CALEB CLAIMS THE MOUNTAIN WHERE HE HAD SEEN THE Gl.A!TI'S OF ANAK. ALL THROUGH THE YEARS HE HAD KEPT HIS SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE AND COURAGEOUS FAITH. THE OLD WARRIOR CRIES OUT "GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN" - NOT THE EASY LIFE OF THE PLAIN FOR HIM; HE WAS CHALLENGED B:Y THE HARD MOUNTAINS WITH THEIR WARLIKE ~IGHTERS.

TODAY BACCALAUREATE SUNDAY AND MANY STANDING ON THRESHOLD OF THEIR PROMISED LA.Nl!l. WHAT ARE. THEY ASKING OF LIFE? PREACHERS HAW FAVORITE PASSAGES

-2-0F SCRIPTURE AND FAVORITE SCENES. ONE OF MINE IS A DEATH-BED SCENE. IT HAS HAD A STRAN'GE FASCINA-TION OVER MY LIFE. JACOB A-DYING AND HAS CALLED HIS SONS AROUND HIM THAT HE MIGHT BLESS THE!4. AND AT LAST HE COMES TO HIS FAVORITE SON, JOSEPH. WE ASK, WHAT WILL THE OLD SCHEMER HAVE FOR JOSEPH HIS FAVORITE SON. LIGHT FLICKERS FOR A MOMENT. JACOB HAS THE WORLD IN' HIS FINGERS - HE HAD KNOWN MANY STRANGE ADVENTURES; OFTEN' BEEN LURED BY BRIGHT LIG1iTS AND RAUCUS NOISES OP VANITY FAIR - BUT NOW HE WilL NOT MAKE. A MISTAKE. LISTEN: "LET MY SOW BE LIKE A VINE BY THE SIDE OF A WELL; HIS BRANCHES RUNNING ALL OVER 'l'HE ROAD". LET HIS LIFE BE ONE OF ADVENTURE AND SERVIOE. NO EASY' STREET FOR HIM. LET HIM BE EXEROlSED WITH DIFFICULTY.

I LIKE THE WORDS BY LOU IS UNTERMEYER:

"EVER INSURGENT LET ME BE, MAKE ME MORE DARING THAN DEVOUT; FROM SLEEK C:ONTENTMENT KEEF ME FREE, AND FILL. ME WITH A BUOYANT DOUBT. FROM COMFROMISE AND THINGS HALi'-DONE, KEPlP ME, wrrH STERN AND STUBBORN PRIDE; AND WHEN, AT LAST, THE FIGHT IS WON, GOD, KEEP ME STILL UNSATI SF lED. 11

JACOR'S FRAYER FOR JOSEPH, AND LOUrs UNTER­MEYER ' S 11FRAYER" , ARE ONE WI_TH CALEB' S WORDS TO JOSHUA - "GlVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN11

•

SYMBOL OF VISION 11 THI:S MOUNTAIN" - SYMBOL OF V.ISION. NO WONDER THE PSALMIST DECLARES, "I WILL LIFT UP MINE

EYES UNTO THE HILLS FROM WHENCE COMETH MY HELP". CALEB WAS A MAN OF THE MOUNTAINS - VISION AND DEEP FAITH. HE SOUGHT TO ESCAPE JlROM THE DULL MISTY FLATS OF LIFE TO 'fHE UPLANDS OF THE SOUL. THEBE, ON HIS MOUNTAIN HE HAD A GLORIOUS, FAR-STRETCHING VIEW. WAS '!'HE PLACE OF VISION.

TODAY AS NEVER BmFORE, WE NEED THAT MOUNTAIN. WE GROW NERVOUS AND FRETFUL, PANic-STRICKEN, FEAR­RIDDEN, PES6Il4ISTIC. BOO' ON THIS MOUNTAIN WE GET A LARGER VIEW - A GREATER UNIVERSE; AND AS WE GET A GREATER UNIVERSE WE DREAM .FOR I:'f A GREATER GOD. A GOD WHO GOVERNS HIS UNIVERSE; A GOD STRONG .~:~n'""'u\lr.n FOR THE PROBLEMS OF THIS WORLD; A SUFFERING GOD; A LOVING GOD; A ..,ATHERLY GOD; EVEN FATHER OF US ALL.

-3-"G:LVE ME THIS llOUNTAIN!' CRIED CALEB. AND HIS

REQUEST WAS AN INDEX TO HIS CHARACTER. HE WAS OF THAT TYPE - MOUNTArNLIKE. SAYS EMERSON SOMEWHERE "A MAN OUGHT 'ro COMPARE FAVORABLY WITH A MOUN!lAIWt STABLE, ENDURING, TENAC:IOUS. FROSTS C:RACK IT AND TIME ASSAILS If, BOT TRE MOUNTAIN REMAINS. GREAT. CHARACTER HAS THIS MOUNTA:LNLIKE QUALITY. LUTHER THE GREAT CLASSIC EX.AMPLE. WHEN. FACED B¥. POWER OF ROMAN CHURCH HE DECLARED, "HERE ! STAND, :L CAN DO NO OTHER". .

AS WE iAC.E THE POSTWAR PERIOD, SURELY THERE !S A diLL FOR SERIOUS LIVING - A CALL FOR A MOUNT AINLIKE QUALITY OF PERSON'AL LIFE AND I.NUGRITY. MANY CHRISTIAN'S HAW LOST EDGE Oil MORAL AND HAVE COMPROMISED. STORY OF IRI:SH GUIDE WHEN ASKED TO TRANSLATE CERTA~ IN&CRI~T!ON OVER DOOR IN DUBLIN. IF CATHOLIC - 11 GOD BLESS THE POPE"; IF PROTESTANT - 11 GOD SAVE THE KING". CHRISTIANS. ARm UNDER INDECTMmNT TODAY BECAUSE WE ARE NO DIFFER­EN~ FROM PROFESSED NON-CHRISTIANS. ~

YESb C,ALEB MATCHED HIS MOUNTAIN. WHEN REST OF · HlS d !..LEAGUES BEPORTEill THEIR FEARs, CALEB AL­THOtTGH IN A MINOR~TY, TOOK HIS STAND WITH MORAL, IN'JlEGRITY AND H:LGH COURAGE. LIKE LlN.OOLN, CALEB INDEED WAS 11A MAN TO ijOLD AGAINST THE WORLD; A MAN TO MATCH THE MOUNTAINS.". 11 G:LW ME THIS MOUM AIN'1 HE ORrEll ; 1-T WAS DEEF CALLING UNTO DEEP AND HEI:GHT CALLING UNTO HEI.GH'F • THERE WAS AFFINITY •

. v_ Sr/d.,~/L, d/e,b ~ '1~v /A.~ ~A..~· ~~y-:e1'4.A'4', Ar ~~~~ At .... d~~~. /kJ:J_ .....,.,«.,..~ }'&W¢,- /t- /J;,.~ cvc.rA.. /t&-(1' • . - ro /JI'~ ~ IIUI!,/rdh.,- ~-

T Yl1!ED CLIMBING I AM TOLD THERE IS A LITTLE CEMETERY IN SWITZERLAND SHADOW OF MOUNTAINS. AND A

TOMBSTONE. Of A MAN LOST HIS LIFE AT'l'EIIPTING C:LDtB JUNGFHAmJ. ON ON THE TOMBSTONE THESE WORDS; Hlil CLIM'BING". CLIMBING! AND THAT REMINDS ONE ALSO OJ! ATUMP'r TO CONQUER MOUNT EVEREST • GREAT STORY OF PREPARATION AN~ SELF-SACRLFrCW AND DARING. IT FELL TO LOT Of IRVINE AN·D MAIJ.,ORY TO MAKE FINAL DASH. IN LAST AT'!EI.WT THEY REACHED 28,000 FEET -660 FEET FROM SU14f.UT. BUT NEVER RETURNED. PASSED OU'l? OF SIGHT FOREVER. OFFICIAL AOC.OUNT READS AS FOLLOWS; "WHEN LAST SEEN THEY WERE CLIMBING AND GOIN.G STR{)NG EOR THE TOPA. MALLORY ONCE WAS ASK­ED WHY liEN SHOULD WANT TO SQALE THE TERRIFIC AND WmD-SWEP'l' WHITE FAN'.G OF MOUNTAIN. ANSWERliD; 11I.F YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS SOBTHING IN

MAN WHICH RESPONDS TO THE CHALLENGE OF THE MOUN­TAIN AND GOEs· OUT TO MEFlT lT, THEN YOU WON 'T SEE WHY WE GO. II

"SOMETHING IN MAN". I.T COMPELLED ABRAHAM TO LEAVE Hl.S HOME IN OHALDEA FOR AN UNKNOWN AND DAN­GEROUS LAND AND CITY WHOSE BUILDER AND MAKES WAS GOD • THEY SAID, 11 ABRAHAM YOU tRE A FOOL. SEVENTY­FIVE YEARS Oil AGE • YOU'RE CRAZY! 11 BUT HE WENT IN' SEARCH OF ':EHAT C:ITY WHOSE IDEAL WAS IN HIS HEART •

LIKEWISE IT COMPELLED MOSES AFTER SEEING A BUSH AFLAME WITH THE LAMBENT BEAUTY OF GOD TO GO DOWN' TO EGY.PT TO DEMAND OF PHARAOH THAT HE LET GOD 1S PEOPLE GO. "DON'T BE A FOOL MOSES. YOU'RE SUCCESSOR TO THE, BEST SHEEP BUSINESS IN MIDI.AN:. FORGET THOSE S'J!IFF-NEOKED SLUM DWELLERS lN EGYPT -'IHOSE BRICXMAKERS OF PHARAOH" • BUT !lOSES STARTED 'lO C:LI.MB HIS JlOUNTAIN •

AND IT WAS THE SAME SPIRIT THAT COMPELLED CALEB TO OR'f OF JiOSHUA "GIVE ME '11HI.S MOUNTAIN:. " DID THEY EVER ARRI-VE'? NO! THEY DIED CLIMBING. BUT IT WAS FUN TO HAVE LIVED THAT WAY. THEY NEVER AR­RIVED; BUT EVEN AS THEY DIED, THEY CAUGHT SIGHT OF THE GLEAMING BATTLEMENtS UPON THE FAR HORIZON.

LET ME LEAVE YOU WITH A STURDY PARAPHRASE Oi1 A FAMILIAR LINE I'ROM A PSAIH. THE LINE IS THlS; 11LEAD ME TO THE ROCK THAT IS H:EGHER THAN 1 11

- FROM PSALM 61. THE PARAPHRASE IS THIS; "LORD, SIVE ME A GOOD STIFF CLIKB". MAY THAT BE OUR PRAYER THIS MORNING. WE ARE JWJE FOR CLIMBING NOT FOR CLING­UfG. "GIVE ME THIS llOUNTAlN! tt

0Jrea-vns and Vision

NATURAL indeed is the inclination of those who are old to "dream dreams." Before their dimming eyes there rise the fond memories o.f the golden days that

were. No longer having an active part in affairs of the present they find peace and pleasure in living in the past. To rem­inisce is a joy, and a sympathetic listener is a friend indeed.

How different is youth. "Young men shall see visions." They live in the future. Their aspirations, plans and ambitions are all-absorbing. Eager to forge ahead, youth is determined to do that which man has never done. Vision fires the imagi­nation and spurs to action.

Augustine had a vision of a world in which God re1gns supreme, and his City of God was given to the world.

Thomas a Kernpis had a vision of a holier life, and the Imitation of Christ became a treasure of the ages.

John Bunyan had a vision of man's life-long struggle with sin, and he gave to the world Pilgrim's Progress.

Martin Luther had a vision of the common man reading the Word of God in his own language, and translated the Bible into the language of the people.

Johann Sebastian Bach had a vision of the ministry of mu­sic, and gave to the world the incomparable Matthaeus Passion proclaiming the message of redemption to all mankind.

George Washington had a vision of a free America, and these United States carne into being.

Abraham Lincoln had a vision of the equality of man and all men in America became free men.

Vision is the beginning of great achievement. But vision alone never attained a worthy $Oal. Vision, reinforced by wise education and persevering hard work, is the road to achievement. A vision of far reaching service in God's king­dom is most certain to be attained when one's education is grounded in Christian principles, and one's every effort first of all seeks the glory of God.

Set my eyes, 0 God, on the morrow. Let me dream dreams and dedicate my life

to their fulfillment.

FREHONT STREET METHODIST CHURCH Gloversville, New York Fred Clarke, Minister

June 2~, 1945

ORGAN PRELUDE - "Pres de La Mer" ......... .............. .... .. n • Arensky

CALL TO WORSHIP By the minister

HYMN 21 - "Come, let us tune our loftiest song"

INVOCATION AND LORD'S PRAYER

* SCRIPTURE LESSON - Psalm 121

HYMN 268 - "'Are ye able', said tho !·lfu.ster "

BENEDICTION AND DOXOLOGY

ORGAN POSTLUDE - 11 N'i8. rche" . Guilmant

CALENDAR FOR TODAY

10:30 Morning vrorship. Sermon, "Give Me This Mountain". Guest soloist, Mrs. J ean Morrison Wemple'! Recog­nition of new high school graduates .

10:30 Nursery Class for small children . Also Primary and Junior Church.

7:30 Bo.ccalo.ureatc Ser vice a t the First Baptist Church. SILENT PRAYER FOR THOSE IN THE ARMED FORCES Preacher, Rev. Elmer C. Lewis.

A PRAYER FOR THE NATION 0 God, our Refuge and Strength our very present help in trouble; protect and prospGr we beseech Thee our be lov­ed country in this time of war; make of us by Thy grace a people worthy to be trusted with victory. And so usc and direct our Armed Forces that they may be Thy chosen instrument in overcoming wrong and ostablishinc liberty and ri~htcousness in the earth. Thcso things we ask in tho Name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen .

* SOLO - 11 Tho Lord 1 S Prayer" ...... n .. · n · n· ... . .. n nnn .... . .. n .... . .. ... n . n ..... .. 1\lfa.lotte

Jean Morrison Wemple PASTORAL PRAYER

ORGAN OFFERTORY - "Albumblatl" Ashford

PRESENTATION OF OFFERING

RECOGNITION OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

HY1\tTN 332 - "Thou art the Way"

SERMON - "GIVE l.\.ffi THIS MOUNTAIN t" * Interval for Ushering

... ................. The minister

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR THE WEEK

MONDAY 7:00 Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. TUESDAY 8:00 Executive Boa rd of the w.s.c.s. will meet

WI'tE' Mrs. Keith Giffor d , Ext. En.stcrly Stroot. 'WEDNESDAY 7:45 Mid-wee'!( Servic e with tho minister in

chare;o . Everyone cordia lly in vi ted.

Altar flowers today are given by ~5!' • and ~lrs. John C. Schamber ger in memory of their son, Philip.

"Upper Rooms" for the new qua.rtcr are available today.

Vacation Church Schools will be held July 9 to 20 in the following churches; North Wa in Street Me thodist, Kings­bora Presbyterian, First _Methodist, First Baptist. These schools a.re interdenominationa.l. Children fr on the first through the sixth s rades are invited; also children who will r eport in school for tho first time l a t er in the year ar e U.vited . This program is under the rtuspicos of the Gloversville Council .Jf Churches . Chi:dr e:1 my go to the school most conveniently 1oco. tod t o th t: mc

I