The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-27

Mid the green grass-spears' ripping sea-,
Their glowing threats the air rerfuming,
Their language il their fragrant blooming:
From the German
international sunday-school Lesson for No
yember 3, 1889.
DAvID's REBELLIoUs SoN-II SAM. XIV, liz.
GoldenText- Honor thy father and thy mother.
that thy days may be long upon the land which
the Lord thy God giyeth thee.-Exod XXX L.
HOME READINGS.
M~on.-Absalom's exile ......-.-u sam. xiii, $3.50
Tues.-AbsaIom's recall ....-.-..U SAM. xiv. LA
Wed.-Absalom's restoration. IL Sam. xiv. 1888
Thurs.-Absalom's rebellion. ---.II sam. Ky: liz
satur.-Faithiess friends. but a faithful God
Psa. Nv, l-23
sun.-David in exile KILL LII
Good reasons for writing this chapter
three great facts in the life of to-day. We
call attention to these facts In the begin
ming of the lesson, and would keep them IN
mind from first TO last: !. The conduct OF
Absalom illustrates in a very practical way
the very common sin of tilial d~isobedience.
and the wickedness of rebellion against the
authority of a wise and good parent. 2. 1t
enfOrces the fact that such disobedience is
sure to be followed by some kind OF penaIty
In this life that shows the displeasure of
the Lord. 8. 1t illustrates in a very strik-
ing way the time-serving politician of TO-
Gay. who fiatters the people whose votes he
seeks, who makes promises be never means
to keep, and who is finally hung between
heaven and earth, not fit for either.
WHAT THE LESSON TEACHES.
New York Independent.
The first lesson to-day comes to fathers.
David s0wed the seed of discomfort by a
life of moral looseness. In the vigor of his
manhood he snapped the cord that bound
the respect of his sons to himself. 1t the
father swears, where Is the reason In whip
ping the son for doing the same thingi II
the father defaults can he blame. his off
spring for petty stealingl And II, forget
ting his purity. be either secretly or openly
detiles himself, shall he curse his children
for reaping the whirlwind of passiOni The
parents responsibility is nothing less than
awful. Woe unto that father who BOWS
his head in shame before his child's ones
tioning glance; If you hope to c Ea, I, y S;t
fish or hard-bitted in the harness you ex-
pect them meekly to wear.
But because one crank jumps over Nj
agara Falls, that is no reason why another
should follow the mad plunge. Because
papa did so-and-sO that is no argument for
doing so ones self. The tendency to imi-
tate evil is appalling, but it is none the
less wrong to do 1T. If n boy is unfortun-
ate enough sr,o@g It to have q parent , whose habits
self; not only to bring the standar of his
family up. but because it is the stern right.
Nothing is easier than to fall into careless
habits. The father smokes, and the five
year-Old urchin puffs an abandoned cigar
cite. The employer adulterates his flour. his
clerk withholds5 so cents u day, and he who
takes the flOur home refuses TO pay his bill.
Now is the time for young men to practice
Christian virtues, all of them, in all their
the future American character need the
new leayen which the rising generation is
in honor bound to give.
Absalom conducted his political campaign
an frrn 81
his parent. and slung all the mud he was
able. He lied systematically and generously.
He bribed some and cajoled others. Two
hundred were completely taken in by this
party. Corruption in politics is a vice hoary
as the Bible. 1t is a sin against God and
Christian manhood. Honest politics means
an upright and unimpeachable govern
ment. An honest vote indicates the sturdy
character.
Absaiom was fair to look at, and many
were captivated. 1t has been well said tt !
the American public is the most gullibie in
the world. Let us not be duped into mis-
taking wrong for right; dishOnOr for honor;
the black flag of piracy for the stars and
stripes of freedoms; the archangel of hell for
the archangel of heaven.
1t is not an uncommon thing to feign re-
ligious enthusiasm in order TO acquire a
desired end. One goes to a fashionable
church, not to travel toward heaven, but to
get on in the world. About this time the
Sunday-schOol is filing up. Boys and girls
enlist, not to learn of a true life. but to get
his spurious errand to Hebron. S~elf-interest
and worldiness often board the 'gopel
train" to steal aride. Generally such tramps
are recognized. and only courtesy and
ejectment. 1t is not wrong to wish to be
Governor of the State. It is wicked to
cheat either personally or vicariously to get
it. 1t is not despicable to wish to be senior
deacon or pastor of the city church. 1t is
wrong to pull ecclesiastical wires to such
an extent that the p mary object of the
church is forgotten, namely. to proclaim
Christ, not self, to famished. truth-hunger-
ing men.
OF General Interest.
Eugene lowering, of Baltimore. has Of
fered $4,000 to promote the work of the