Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-02

sons as appropriate for this time as
they were appropriate for the time
when the event occurred many cen.
turies ago; text, Judges, 3:15, but
when the children of Israel cried unto
the Lord, the Lord raised them up n de.
Iiverer. Ehud, the son Of Gera, Il Ben
tamite, n man lcft-handed; and by him
the children of Israel sent present un-
TO Eglon, the king OF Moab"
Ehud was ruler in Israel. He was
lefthnnded, and what was peculiar
about the tribe Of Benjamin, to which
he belonged, there were In 1t 700 left
handed men, and yet so dextrous had
they oil became In the use of the left
hand that the Bible says they could
sling stones ut a hairbreadth and not
miss. Well, there was king by the
name Of Eglon, who was an oppressor
OF Israel. He imposed upon them
most outrageous tax. Ehud, the man
OF whom first spoke had n Divine com
mission to destroy that oppressor. He
came pretending that he was going to
pay the tax, and asked to see King Egg
Ion. lie was told he was In the summer
house, the place to which the king re-
tired when II was too hot to sit In the
palace. This summer house was place
surrounded by flowers and trees and
springing fountains and warbling
birds. Ehud entered the summer house
and said to King Iiglon that he had
secret errand with him. Immediately
all the attendants were waved out OF
the royal presence King Eglon rises
up to receive the messenger. Ehud, the
left-handcd man, puts his left hand TO
his right side, pulls out dagger and
thrusts Eglon through until the hult
went In after the blnde. lfglon falls
and lEhud comes forth to blow trum-
pet Of liberty amid the mountains OF
Ephrnim, and great host Is marshaled,
and proud Moab submits TO the con
qncror and Israel is free. So, o Lord,
let all Thine enemies perish! So, o
Lord, let all Thy friends triumph
learn first from this subject the
power Of lcft-haudcd men. There are
some men who, by physical organiza-
ton, have as much strength In their
left hand ns In their right hind, but
there Is something in the writing OF
this text which implies that Ehud had
some defect In his right hand which
compelled him to use his left Oh, he
power of left handed men Genius IN
often self-obscrynnt, careful OF itself,
not given TO much toll, burning incense
to It's own ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, while many
"a man, with no natural cndowmcnts,
actually defective in physical and men
tai organization, has an earncstncsS for
the right, patient industry, an all-con-
suming perseverance, which achieve
mnryels for the Kingdom Of Christ,
Though left handed, as Ehud, they Gun
strike down sin Ms great and imperial
as Eglon.
| have seen men of wealth gathering
about them all their treasures, snulling
MT the cause OF II world lying In wicked
ness, roughly ordering Lazarus OIL
their doorstep, sending their dogs, not
to lick his sores, but to hound him or
their premises; catching all the pure
rain Of Gods blessing into the stag
nant, ropy. frog inhabited pool of their
own seltishucss right handed men,
worse than useless~whilc many man
with large heart and little purse has
out Of his limited means made poverty
lenp for joy and started an influence
that overspans the gmvennd will swing
round aud round the throne of God
world without end. Amen,
All, me! 1t is high time that you left
handed men, who have been longing
for this gift and that cIoqucncc and the
other mans wealth, should take your
left hand out of your pockets, Who
made all these railroads? Who set up
all these citicsp Who started NIL these
churches and schools and asylums'
Who has done the Juggling and running
and pullingp Men Of no wonderful en-
dowments, thousands Of them acknowl-
edging themselves to he lcft-hnnded.
md yet they were earnest, and yet
they were determined, and yet they
were triumphant,
But do not suppose that Ehud, the
Rrst time he took a sling In his left
hand, could throw stone at IA hair
breadth and not MISS. suppose 1t was
practice that gave him the wonderful
dexterty. Go forth To your spheres OF
duty and be not discouraged ii, in your
first attempts, you miss the mark,
Ehud missed IT, Take another stone,
put 1t carefully into the sling, swing
II around your head, take better aim
and the next time you will strike the
center. The first time mason rings
his trowel upon the brick he does not
expect 10 put up perfect wall. The
first time carpenter sends the plane
over n board or drives n bit through
beam he does not expect 10 make per
feet execution. The first time a boy
attempts rhyme he does not expect tt
chime "Lalla Rookh" or Lady o.
the Lake" DO not be surprised If In
your first efforts nj doing good you arr
not very largely successful. Under
stand that usefulness is an art, 1
science. trade There was an oculis
performing very difficult operation OF