The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-12

Oct. 13, 1901: Joseph in Prison
Genesi xxx. 20; xI. ~.

Genesis xxx, 20; xI, 10.
The fascination in this -year-old
story is. that il is a study in life. 1t is not a
middle age piece of scholasticism. but a warm
blooded history az human nature; not a disserta-
tion on metaphysical generalities, but a tale OF
human emotions, as they are felt to-day, and
every day. and everywhere. II is the proper
study Of mankind" 1t concerns man, and is
consequently universally interesting. . The
effort to retell the story is futile. To reclothe
il is to do violence to II. Its own dress is its
only dress. Its simplicity, genuineness, fidelity.
make ii a masterpiece of literature. AS
in a microcosm. enc sees here the evolution Of a
man and a statesman. The circumstances which
seem to retard really accelerate the process.
. . . Jospeh had learned how to take honey
out OF the ~eater"-one Of the finest and most
useful arts of life. AS a slave. he made himself
Indispensable TO his master. Two thousand years
before St. Paul, he lived the apostles maxim.
He served not as a 'man-pleaser, but as unto
the Lord" A quaint version describes him as
a ''luckie felowe'' Rogers.) But even his
heather master could discern the divine accom-
paniment to his human thrift and industry. and
acknowledged that 1.-The Lord made all he did
to prosper in his hand" . Yet all the
while there was the poignant sense of humilia-
ton. The heir OF a prince must needs wear the
brand of a slave. His hard lot, however. could
not make a pessimist Of misanthrope of him.
His engaging qualities were uneclipsed. In
consciously, he was schooling for the premier
ship. Faithful in few things. he was to be lord
OF many. His very attachment TO Potiphar, chief
captain OF the royal guard. and men and methods
Of state. invaluable TO him in his after career.
. . . The next incident seemed TO plunge
Joseph in irretrievable ruin. An Oriental prison
is a descent to hell, which may well be in
scribed. Leave all hope behind who enter here"
. . The account is perfeCtlV faithful to
Oriental judicial processes, in that it makes no
allusion to a trial. There was none. Accusation
was sufficient. Nor is there any reference to the
term for which Joseph was committed. 1t was
indefinite. II was the pleasure OF Potiphar. Had
me latter passed from the scene, a new COM
mander Of its prison would have found no record
in Joseph's case, and he might have languished
for a lifetime. . . Yet, even in prison,
Joseph was still the 'Iuckie man. the Bishops
Bible calls him. For, in the shortest space of
time. the prisoner was the prison-keeper; and
whatever was done there, he did it, and il pros
pered. . All things kept working together
for good to Joseph-his brothers malignant jeal-
ousy; his TRANSFORMATION into a slave; his exile
from his native land; the foul and false accusa-
ton; his imprisonnent-as man seeth, each was
a step in the decensus inferno; as God seeth.
and as man saw afterward, each was a step in
a staircase leading to a throne and a coronation;
a new NerlncatlOn OF an ola saying, i through
tribulation deep the way to glory is" . .
Yet all turned on the character of Joseph. A
meretricious and evanescent promotion might
have come to him even had he been insincere
and corrupt at heart. But a permanent exalta-
ton in the hearts OF his own and his adopted
countrymen: an assured position among the inn
mortal worthless in the kingdom and patience of
Coda good life only can win that distinction.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN.
1t was the contention Of the late John Fisk
that evil must needs be present; that morality
comes upon the scene when there is an alterna-
tive offered of living better lives or worse lives;
that the action Of the ideal man is to be deter
mined not by the pursuit OF pleasure and the
avoidance of pain, but by the pursuit of good
ness and the avoidance of evil. But
JOSEPH. four thousand years ago. splendidly real
lied Mr.. FIsk's ideal. In Egypt. the home OF
unchastity MartiaD. where marriage ~inhdelity
was prevalent Herodotus). under the most Sc
ductive and persistent solicitation. he kept HIM
self pure. Joseph shines brilliantly as an an
cient example Of chastity The example is in
spirational for he young men OF to-day. .
John Ruskin makes a fine discrimination. and a
helpful one. in this connection. when he says.
depreoiating his own bringing up" that he
was innocent by protection rather than vir-
tuous by choice Innocence by protection is
a feeble thing. apt to be surprised and taken by
guile; and protection. at best. can only be ap-
proximiate. " . . Virtue by choice" like
that Of Joseph. Is the ever-accumulating virile
force that makes for right living. The deliberate.
intelligent, free, continuous preference Of the
good, the true. the beautiful, is the charm and
wisdom Of saintliness. The very constitution of
the world. natural and social. is designated TO
afford opportunities for such preferences. . .
Mr.. Fisk afhrms that though, in the process of
spiritual evolution. evil must needs be present.
the nature OF evolution also requires that II shall
be evanescent. From the general analogies
furnished in the process Of evolution. we arc en-
titled to hope that. as It approaches its goal. and
man comes nearer 10 God. the fact of evil will