Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18
PROPHETS AND INDIVIDUALS.


the Young Friends Association. Fol-
ling are notes from his lecture, the sub
iect Of which was 1.-THE Prophets and
the individuals. "
The meaning Of the word prophet
comes from root word meaning to boil
over, and henceEmeans an enthusiastic
utterance OF Gods truth in the case of
the prophets OF the Bible. The earlier
prophets looked on their mission as one
due to a nation rather than to individ-
uals. There ia little idea Of future
life for Individuals, although there are
some comparatively unimportant sug'
gestionH OF it, The Immortality of their
nation was the first consideration with
the earlier prophets. In dealing with
sins their thought is the condemnation
of the nation, not the condemnation of
the individual who has sInned. The
individual is fragment of the whole.
After the exile the individual became
more prominent. Tbs aim of the
prophets was to abolish the family affairs
in the outlying districts and centralize
religion ~ d thus keep out foreign
cults. One reform was intr lduced under
Isaiah, but in tho first law Of Deuter-
onomy there is the first code toward cen
tralizing the religious observauces at
Jerusalem. IL was u tendency to remove
Jehovah from the home and have him
wofshipped officially at Jerusalem.
Jeremiah, the greatest prophet Of all,
although influential in introducing this
code, decided later that its results would
be disastrous and said that henceforih
Jehovah would write laws on the tablet
of the heart This marks the first step
in recognition Of the direct relation of
Jehovah with the individual rather
than the nation. Then followed a RS
action and many heather forms -four
ished in the Jewish religion until the
exile in 556 b. o. The fact that
Jehovah's own patton had been d.
s.royed showed that the Jehovah dealt
with individuals ana not with nations.
At this time tbs Jews began their great
commercial dealings, but the Hebrew
| religion must be considered 10 all
dealings and hence arose many difficult
ties,
They felt discouraged, thought that
their God was not strong enough to pro
tect them. and ii il not to be wondered
that many adopted heathen religions.
But there were some men among
them who thought that the people Of
God are all those who worship Him and
|
jehovah, by his own nature, was hound
to follow The laws Of riRhteousnes IS and
hence his followers must live right.
eously, and while many of the people
were departing from the faith they we're
constantly recalled by their leaders.
i This existence IN exile brought to the
front the individual anc the direct rela
tion OF Jehovah with the Individual.
The period Of the exile led to the forma.
ton OF a church somewhat in tht
modern sense. 1t il not necessary t.
dwell on the long period when the nigh
of ritualism settled down on the church
The idea of the relation of Jehovat
with the individual is the gift Of thu
exile. 1t carries with it the same idet
that has been brought up during tn,
Christian era, that OF Gods inmediat,
relation with the individual. TIL,
reformation broke up the official ralig
ION of the church OF Rome. Reforms
Of this kind are always being needed
Modern governments are tending NOR
toward the idea Of self-goyernment, tn
Independence Of the individual and BIZ
giving out CT his own judgments.
The relations of our government ant
our religion demand that no lowe
things shall enter IN their judgments
Indeper dence Of judgment upun tn
part OF the individual is the priucipa
demand of religion. ANA ID our judg
ments let us be charitable. Seek fira
the kingdom of God, seek victory 70
the truth and not for opinions. Other
standing at different Nsngle may no
think or see as we do and yet be right
, PEI feotly omen and broad charity i
rare, the desire to have the views O
opponents exposed as clearly as our owl
; is not prevalent The reformers of n
age have left their paths unstaine,
, with blood. They did not allow TO
: others the freedom of thought an,
speech which they claimed for them
} selves.
| A prominent man says the presen
danger Of our country is the un-Ameri
I can fear Of introducing new and foreig
! social ideas, whereas the danger is i
the dearth of now social ideas. Ou
! lives are spent is narrow spheres, ou
| views arc contracted, therefore, let u
Look w whore the view is limitles:
E Independence and charity are necessar
t in direct relation between God an
+ men. In the active life of the Jow
. they stood strongly for iudividualiHm.
What is the law of Christianity
|
enables US to fulfill our relations wit
men. - How far do We carry the ne
4 commandment, Love another2" I
how far IL it true that We feel for th
wrongs of those OF foreign countries q
/. We do for those of our-own sect or OF
/. own country? 1t is well to look int
IF our faith and see if it comes first, aboy
!. all other things. Faithfulness is d,
!, | marded in all ralatinne uf lifa
y Notable Entertainment at Hook essin.
u The Hockessin Woman's Christia
Temperance Union has completed o.
. rangeme Its for an entertainment to /
i given in Odd Fellows Hall, HockessiI
ON Thursday evening, May ID. whic
will, it is believed, be one of the fine
: affairs ever held in the town. Wi
mington persons will be prominent
the programme. Readings from JAM
% Whitcomb Riley, Bill Nye and NJ
y Dooley, and some presentday stori'
y are to be given by Charles Bak
y Palmer, and vocal selections are to |
u given by Miss katharine Il. Garrett
10 Miss Lulu V. Elliott, Frank II. Masc
J. and Howard Carver, all of this cit
Miss Ellen p. Way of West Grove an
y Charles S. Swayne OF Keunett Squar
q Pa, are also to assist in the music
~ portion of the programme. The pr
~ ceeds are to he for the benefit Of Il
i Ilockessin w. Q. L. u.
ie 10 Adams Held for Court.
ls In the City Court on Saturday mig
Ut Theodore Adams, who had heen Civ,
r, u hearing ar the morning session on Il
'g charges OF keeping a>disorderly hon