The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-08-09
THE sUNDAY-sCHOOL LESSON.
August 10, 1eO2-Leviticus u ILL
Tennerance Lesson.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

costly and beautiful temple, and at the
same time one suited to the pilgrim character OF
the Nation. IN that it was portable, STOOD uhoer
the shadow of the mount, where its pattern 10
r,inutest detail, had been revealed Its curtain
walls of harmonious and Significant colors-
n,IrnIe crimson and white-were swaying IN the
breeze Its supporting posts, overlaid with goio
and set in sockets Of silver, were hashins IN the
.,,rI,ght The furniture and implements. so
manifold In uses were all in position
A ritual. in every respect worthy of shrine
- orno+e was instituted into whose mortiselike
r,tes the facts of gospel history, millennium
a,d half later were to fit, like lemons, with
invariable precision.
A priesthood was anointed to perform the
sneaking rites in court and holy place and holy
% bolies. The last stitch had been taken in
their splendid regalia. the last jewel set in their
costly insignia.
1t is time for the Hallelujah Chorus Ring all
heavens 10y bells. But, instead, wild, dis
cordant note is struck-a cataclysm OF shame
and grief! 1t is the inveterate eruption of human
depravity.
Aaron's SONS had strange fire in their hearts
before they had it in their hands. They had
been lifted to highest heaven in point of privi-
lege They had gone, with their father and
uncle into the mount, and seen that appearance
as II were a pavement of sapphires beneath the
invisible presence Of Jehovah, and heard His
inenable voice. They had been indicted into
the most exalted office of the old dspensation
and clad in gorgeous robes. They found them
selves suddenly and widely influential
Their heads were turned. Pride possessed
than They were precipitate. They could not
wait the appointed hour to perform their func-
tion With consuInnate assurance they esteemed
the method though divinely appointed. matter
of indifference. Any fire would do as well as
that which God had kindled. Fire was FIRE
These fools rushed in where angels would have
feared TO tread They were probably intoxi-
Gated But this likely an accompaniment Of
their folly rather thar the cause of it.
So these maudlin and Keeling princes Of the
church came fuTnbIing their way. holding their
censers, full of unlawful fire, with unsteady
hand and violating the canon of this sacred
service at every point
The profanation was superlative 1t was CON
spicrous 10 the last degree. 1t occurred at the
very genesis Of ecclesiastical service, and, If
unnunished might have yitiated the entire
stream.
The advance of civilization. manifest in the
inaiction Of capital punishment in form which
causes the least suffering and leaves the body
unmutilated was anticipated a thousand years.
These sacriIegious priests were electrocuted.
The profane intruders were standing before the
Sbakinah with only the beautiful and curiously-
wrought veil intervening. The darkened in
closure was softly Illuminated by a golden
candIestick the light of which fell upon
golden table and a golden altar. The hallowed
place and presence ought to have brought these
rash men 10 their senses. II probably would
have dcne so had they not been intoxicated
Even vet they might have retired crying for
mercy as they went. But they drunk
They were raped in their sullied robes-the
very shreis of which were counted unworthy 10
he used according 10 custom wicks for tho
tabernacle lamps Their cousins carried them
forth. Their fathers and brothers looked on,
silent and fearless
Those twin graves in the lonely peninsula
could never be forgotten. They were. and were
designed to be- the strongest possible deterrent
10 priestly pride and presumption.
THE TEACHERS LANTERN
At the institution of the Christian Church.
God struck two people dead. They were doing
tust what Nadab and Abihu did-a religious
thing In an irreiigious way and spirit. Sever
ity? Yes But mercy too. IL was the nipping
in the bud a sin that might caused the
Staying Of thousands. The punishment was ex-
emplary in both instances. like the shooting Of
a deserter he sits upon his coffin lid in full
view OF an entire army.
II we. too. priests. Offering spiritual sacri-
hces and the incense OF prayer. IL is a living
question whether there is any strange fire Of
fsred to God in cay. Priests OF old must