Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1889-07-25

40.
From the New York Independent
! NOTEs.-Unto RGmGh-Ramah means
a high place. No one knows which Ra-
nah this was, for there were many of
them. 1t is probable that this was the
birthplace OF Samuel ii, 19).-Th0u art
Old.-Supposing that this is about twenty
years after last lesson, it would make
Samuel between sixty and seventy years
old; that is too old for active military com
mand.--Ihy sons 1C0Ik not IN thy rags.
"A sufficient reason against hereditary
authority. His sons Joel and Abijah were
too far off for Samuel to control (viii, y.
Lille all the ndtiOllS-AutOcratic
kingly rule was the popular form of gov
ernment for all the surrounding nations
Perhaps Israel in her struggle for renewed
greatness felt ashamed of being governed
| by priest rather than by king 1t is
not strange that Samuel should feel dis
gust at being ousted from supreme power
after all the triumphs he had achieved as
a Judge and leader.--The description
of the despotic Eastern government is
very vivid and applies to Eastern govern
ments of the present day. How fully the
prophecy of the verses II to Is was full
filled see | Kings, xii, 4-15.
INSTRUCTION-We are surprised at
the outset of the lesson to learn that all
the elders were the ones that demanded
change from the rule of God to the autOc-
racy of man. One would naturally sup
pose that young men in the heat and blood
of youth might be dissatisfied with the ap-
parently stupid reign of an old priest; but
that the recognized Sages of the people
should make such a mistake and be so
misled is noteworthy. Old men, in spite
of their years and experience, are not al
ways trustworthy. They can be the worst
of tempterS. Dissipation that has with
stood the onslaught of years is apt to be
alluring. The man who has with impu-
nifty drunk every day of his life up to so
years is the most bitter foe temperance
deals with. We are too often apt to for
get our common sense when white hairs.
by virtue of their venerable quality, COM
mand mistaken respect. We are al
ways to honor the whiteneSS of mans
hair; but it does not always follow that
WnlU6 soul lies D6n6dIu IIl6ln.
1t is well-wOrn adage that a minister's
sons and a deacOn'S daughters are not the
most exemplary children in the commun-
ity. Samuel as well as Eli seems to have
been unfortunate in his offspring. 1t is
hard to say when the responsibility over
ones children ceases. Is it when they
come of age, when they are married or
not until their burial?
Not the worst pnStOm 9mOnO Chinese
is the absolute obedience children pay
their parents up to he death of either
If Christian parents in this independent
age insisted more upon the spiritual train
ing of their children no matter how old
their boys and girls grew, their attention
might save many character. The reluc-
tance that even clergymeE1 feel about
speaking to children upon religious sub
jects is absurd, unmanly and unchriStian.
1t was the old story of preferring the
pOmp of some titled man to the power of
God. 1t is strange wonder that there
are still some people in these days and in
this democratic country who have the
spirit of the old Jewish elders in them,
and who demand or wish to ape adifferent
style of government because other ma
tiOns have it. AnglOmaniaes, and those
whom we might call titlOmGI9idcS are in
deed few, and belong to an etfete stratum
of society. But there are others in our
borders who are working for anewrGgime;
they are the unassimilated offscourings
of other countries. Americanism, if any
thing, means the highest type of man.
hood, just as Judaism means the eXalta
ton of the priesthood. We must not let
the few deluded ones who cry "Give us
king" or Down with all law and order
carry the day. The highest manliness is
Christian manliness. That, with all its
dignity and power must be the balance
wheel of the American nation.
Samuel was indeed rare Christian
When he was displeased he prayed unto
the Lord. Most of us hare 1t ont first
and then are forced for very shame to
pray afterward One historical way of
eluding anger is to count one hundred
before word is spoken. There are many
other famous remedies you will easily
remember; but the best of them all is
Samuel's receipt: Pray first. To give
man his way is often the surest method
of convincing him of his false position.
God uses such wisdom often in his deal
ings with us. However, it is never right
to let people go wrong without vigOr
Gus protest. If they heed not the warn
ing, their destruction is then on their |
own heads.