Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-08

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.
Tlme.-rrobably 1895 B. G.. The war of
the conquest occupied about seven years.
The nation had had eighteen years of
quietude
Place-Shechem, which was located near
the center of Palestine, thrty-four miles
north Of Jerusalem, in narrow valley
between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.
It is said that this valley shapes itself into
I'm admirable auditorium for large as
sembly, where a word spoken can be heard
far away, as in natural whispering gal
lery.
Silechem is memorable place In Jewish
history. There Abraham built an altar
to the true God. There Jacob lived a
while and bought parcel of ground ana
dug wei! which became famous. There
the tribes gathered during the years OF the
conquest and recited together the bless.
ings and cursings written by Moses. There
Joseph's bones were buried. There the
Redeemer of the world made known the
principles of saving grace to the woman at
the well
FACTS OF THE LESSON.
Central Theme.-Joshua's trumpet ap-
peal for ma tional consecra ton.
Golden Text-Choose you this day whom
We will servc.-Josh. xxiv:15.
Now, therefore. fear Jehovah. and serve
him ir, sincerity and in truth and put
away the gods which your fathers setVco
bevond the river (the Euohra tes). and in
Egvpt. and if It seem evil unto you to
serve Jehovah choose you this day whom
We will serve; whether the gods which
;;o,,r fathers served that were beyond the
river or the gods of the Amocltes. IN
whose land We dwell: but as for me am
my house, we will serve Jehovah.
And the people answered and SAID:
Far be it from us that we should tor
sake Jehovah to serve other gods for
Jehovah our God: he it IS that brought
us and our fathers up out of the land OF
Egypt. from the house Of bondage. and
that did those great signs In our slght
ana preserved US all In the way wherein
we went. and among all the people
through !, the midst of whom we passed;
ard Jehovah drove out from before US
all the peoples even the Amorites that
dwelt in the land: therefore. we also will
serve Jehovah. for he is our Cod And
Joshua said unto the people: ''Ye cannot
serve Jehovah. for he is holy God; he
is jealous God. he will not forgive your
transeressions nor your sins. II We for
sake Jehovah and se-ve foreign gods. .hen
ne will turn and do you evil and consume
YOU after that he hath done you good
And the people said unto Joshua: Nay.
but we will serve Jehovah" And Joshua
said unto the people: .Ye are witnesses
against yourselves that We have chosen
sou Jehovah to serve him." And they said:
Eve are witnesses" NOW therefore.
put away" said he, the foreign gods
which are among you and incline your
heart unto jehovah the God of Israel
A CHARACTER STUDY.
- H., ".
IS character. Character speaks for US.
as he pleaded with his fellow 1sraelites
to be true and decided for God. Wash
ington's character spoke for him as he
delivered his farewell address to the
American nation. It was the purity and
nprightness Of his character and his un-
srerving loyalty to Jehovah that made
the words OF Joshua effective with his
generation III a religious way. The clos
ing act of .Toshua's life was very char
octeristic of the sturdy. faithful. ener-
gctic, loyal son of Nun. To the end OF
his days he never swerved from his al
leCiance to the living God. or his own
high idoas-"a man of sold.erly ability,
rather than OF statesmansh but an up
right. downright, deeply religious leader.
who did his best and roblest. Joshua was
courage His life is one Of the few traced
In detail, with no stain upon lt. An able
commander. a wise ruler a faithful serv-
ant Of the Lord, he shines as bright
star among the noble luminaries with
which God has decorated His church.
Tennyson's lines in praise Of the Duke
of Wellington, may be applied to Joshua:
Great in council and great in war.
Foremost captain OF his time;
Rich in saving common sense;
And, as the greatest only are,
In his simplicity sublime.
Joehua's character is one OF peculiar
symmetry. Some English writer's have
compared him with Washington. and hia
grave st Timnnh-rerah. on the hillside
Of Cash. with tha grave on the hillside
At Mt. vsruop. Washington was not so
lRHnuD Acr#oN or Two bril- inr3t tY11a 1tttjteH