The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-09-27

apart to sacred uses and the other six
sevenths were consecrated to secular pur-
poses.
THIRD LESSON July 20. The. Ten
Commandments. Duties to Man CIx.
Xxx, 12-1O. Under this code morality is
inseparably enjoined with religion. Duty
to God involves duty to man. Neither
can be truly met while the other is neg
lected But there Is a natural order, here
announced-hrst, filial reverence, the
mother regarded as well as the father;
the life to be held sacred: then chastity
to be observed; then property rights to be
respected; the reputation and truth to
be preserved; last of all the invasion of
rights by desiring another's possessions to
be denied. 1t is probable that these six
precepts directly or by implication deal
with all the relations and conditions OF
life.
FOURTH 'LESSON.-July "a. Worship
ping the Golden Calf. d1x. xxxiii, 1861
The second statute of the decalogue was
soon broken. proving that the people were
not prepared for the high standard which
had been set up. The occasion was the
long absence OF Moses In the mount
where he was receiving instructions from
God. The religions sentiments of the
people were not satisfied with q spiritual
being. There was need of something
that appealed to the senses. Hence,
idolatry came in, like that practiced in
Egypt.
FIFTH LESSON.--Aug. s. The Tab
ernacle. CEx. xl, 1-13). During the pa
triarchal dispensation worship was per-
formed at an altar of stone which might
be erected anywhere. God met the sim
cere worshipper. Under a national sys.
TEN, especially after sojourn in Egypt. a
movable tent was set UP as the abiding
place of the Almighty. Constructed with
the free will offerings of the people after
patterns shown in the mount 1t was set
up in the midst OF the camp and became
the center of all religious life and inllu-
ence. 1t served to unity and educate
and to prefigure things to come.
SIXTH LESSON.-Aug. TO- Nadab
and Abihu. Lev. X, LID. AS the law
was broken so the holy place was pro-
famed. Two sons of Aaron, high officials
in the sanctuary. disregarded the regula-
tions which had been adopted for the
proper conduct of worship. Unless rav
buked their example would have been
followed by Others. and in Il short time
all reverence would have departed from
the sacred place and Irregularities and
Dmproprieties would have beeen null
tiplied The offenders were instantly de-
stroyed: and their bodies were carried out
Of the camp for burial. No mourning was
allowed even by relatives. From that
time forth a difference was made be-
tween things holy and unhoiy.
SEVENTH LEssON-Aug. H. Jour-
neying toward Canaan. Numb X. lib
and 1886. The toilsome marches through
the wilderness are described only in part,
and then very briefly in the sacred vol
ume. The way was beset with peril
against which Moses sought to protect
himself by securing the presence of his
father-in-law, who. having long lived in
that region. was familiar with it. But
the invitation was rejected and Hobah re-
turned to his old home. What was more
valuable than human escort. the pillar
of cloud, wherein was the Divine pres
ence. remained with them leading them
on and showing them when to pause.
The piety of Moses appeared in his trust
| in God, ready to move whenever the
cloud indicated.
EIGHTH LESSON.-Aug. "a. Report
of the Spies. Numb. xiii o. to xiv, a.
Twelve men, one from each tribe, went
forth from Kadish Barnea to explore
the land of Canaan. After travelling
through the entire country they returned
and fruitful. bringing a huge bunch of
grapes to verify their statement, but tina t
the inhabitants We're very strong. Caleb
and Joshua advised an immediate ad-
vance claiming that they We're able to
subdue and possess the land. The other
ten spies gave an evil report which was
accepted by the body of the people who
murmured against Moses. Supposing the
expedition was total failure there was
q to oil mat, tn, Il
return to Egypt. thus rejecting the mis-
sion and the leader. In this instance
there was an eclipse of faith and an in
cipient rebellion.
NINTH LESSON.-Aug. 81. The Brazen
Serpent. Numb xxi. 1-0. After many
years of wandering in the wilderness Is
rael was turned a second time toward Ca.
naan. Discouraged in the weary march
there was general complaint against
Moses as on the other occasions. To
chastise them and bring them into hui
| mility and submission fiery serpents We're
sent among them. Groaning from pain
and bereavement We're heard through
out the camp. The spirit of penitcnce
followed: Moses interceded and God
pardoned. But to help the faith and sym.
bolize great truths to he learned IA brazen
serpent was lifted upon a pole in the
toward this should live. (John, iii, HID.
TENTH LESSON.-Sept. :. The Proph-
ct like Moses. 0Deut. xviii. 0-2o). This
lesson might be styled Gods method of
giving Religious Truths" The people
were commanded not to he practice those
arts by which the Canaanites sought in
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. spiritualism. di-
vination, etc, for which they had been
cXOollel from their cOuptrv These pro p-
tices We're abominabe in the sight
of the Lord, likely to corrupt and de-
grade. But instead God promised to
raise up a class of men, to be knwon as
Divinely commissioned when they rest
ed their sayings upon predictions that
afterward come through
ELEVENTH LESSON-Sept. A. Low
ing and Obeyng God, Deut.. xxx. 11-2O.
The truth delivered by inspired men. al
ways near at hand and easily under
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