The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-01-05

day taught the people.
1. A Hungry Multitude,-vs. 80
Sc.
In this employment the midday passed.
The evening came,-that is, the first even
ing, corresponding to our three o'clock.
Stin the spell-bound multitude fingered
The disciples urged upon Jesus the ex-
pediency of sending the multitude away.
Tie Place is a desert, they said, and the
day is nozO tar Sbent.. send Them azOat
that they may go into tie country and vis
lagos ronna about, and buy them some
zVliat to eat.
1t is scarcely possible that all the multi
tude was entirely destitute OF provisions.
Many people doubtless were, because they
had been summoned hither from their
homes by the rapidly passing crowd and
had not taken the customary forethought
in regard to their future needs. Therefore
the solicitude of the disciples for the hun
gering people was justified. The time for
the midday meal was now long past;
pangs of hunger might be anticipated for
many before they reached their homes.
! But we should not overlook the fact that
many of these people were pilgrims to the
| Passover. This accounts for the great
ness of the multitude present; and espe-
cially does the fact imply that there must
have been a supply of food present among
the people. 1t was a custom,-indeed
necessity,-for travellers in the Orient to
take with them their own supplies. No
| Jew travelled without his wallet or food
basket. The inn or khans offered to ordi-
nary travellers shelter: yet at the Pass
over-season the multitude of pilgrims
would render sleeping in the open air the
common necessity. But the khans did not
offer food-supply. 1t was the universal
habit, to which exceptions were rare, for
| Jews to carry with them on all their jour-
neys their personal supply of food.
Yet because this multitude had in large
part been drawn from their homes without
preparation, the soIcitude for the hungry
multitude on the part of the disciples was
founded in kindly worldly prudence.
2. But Slight Apparent Supply
of FOOd,-vs. 81, SO.
Great was the astonishment of the dis
ciples when, in reply to their suggestion
that he dismiss the multitude, he said,
GiOe .ye them to eat. They ask, Philip
being the spokesman, whether he means
that they shall go and buy, two hundred
pennyworth of bread,-for less amount
will scarcely suffice? One penny, we re-
call, represented days work; two hun
dred pennies would equal in purchasing
power five hundred dollars in our money.
| 1t may be questioned whether the disciples
had such a supply of money. Their ques-
ton apparently signifed their belief that
it was impossible for them with the means
at their command, to feed the hungry
| crowd
And lie saith unto them, How many
L0aves haze ye? 90 see. He inquiries what
| provision has been made for their own
need. 1t is soon made to appear that An
| drew has secured from lad on the ground
| five barley-loaves and two small fishes.
| The loaves, SO far as we can now learn,
were but large-sized dry barley cakes /;
and the fishes were small, sailed and dried.
1t was for the Twelve and the Master, at
the best, the means for only a frugal re-
past Very natural it was for Andrew to
ask, What are these among so many?
3. The Multitude Satisfied
1914
Ind he commanded hzat all should re
cline BY c0nbanieS on tie green grass.
| lind they sat do7OH in ranks by huNayedS,
and by mites.
A striking scene. Five thousand men
organized into feast. All the companies
were arranged on three sides of square,
after the manner of the ancient feasts the
fourth side, after the custom, remaining
open. The companies were probably SO
arranged that from one viewpoint one
hundred companies of tifties could be seen,
and from another viewpoint fifty compa-
mics of one hundred EACH The scene, as
it becomes real to the historic imagination,
is unique and fascinating. Mark, from
Peter the eyewitness, speaks of it as a
great garden of hower-beds The open
sky above, the lake on the one side, the
rugged hills on the other, the green grass
of the plain dotted with the bright-colored
crosses of the people, the orderly groups
occupying several acres; the whole multi
tude under easy sway of the one Master
spirit surely this is a scene to charm the
heart with esthetic delight and prepare it
for experience of ravishing spiritual fell
lowship.
And he took the fve loaVeS and tie tao
fishes, and IOoking nb toAeaVen he blessed,
and brake tie h0aVes; and he gaze to tie
disciples to set 6et0ye them. and tie tz0O
FISHES dyVided lie among them ALL There
was something noteworthy in this blessing
by tie Master. 1t is recorded by all the
evangelists. 1t was expressive of electric
spiritual rapture. 1t melted all hearts. 1t
subdued habitual selfishness. 1t brought
every believing soul in the great multitude
into realization of the presence of the
Father.
Ordinarily to feed five thousand hungry
people would be an arduous and an irk-
some task, even for hundreds of walters.
But this company, organized by hundreds
and ffties, the people largely doing their
own serving, the gift of the disciples being
to the first person of each group in success
sion was served with ease and exDedition