The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-02
Fourth Quarter. Lesson V. Nov. 9, 1902. Joshua xxx, 1-o
 The Cities of Refuge.

The political constitution of the Hebrew nation shines like radiant star through subsequent ages of dark oppression and in justice It antedated as well as real ized Plato's phantom republic. It was a Utopia adapted to use. Its jurtspru- dence, agrarian, municipal, sanitary and criminal, Is the wonder and admiration of minds versed in such matters. Under the aegis of it's civil code the Hebrews were safe from the ruin which afterward befell the Greeks and Romans A race of clients, slaves, and paupers dependent upon a rapacious oligarchy. was an im- possibility under laws which made es- tates inalienable, and gave protection against usury. in place of such a shift less population as disgraced and destroy ed Rome, Palestine had yeomanry free and industrious.
 Our State Boards of Charities, and our laws for public sanitation and for the prevention of cruelty to animals, were antedated three thousand years by the poor laws and the statutes concerning dumb brutes, contagious diseases, etc. The Hebrew policy was both philanthropic and practical.
 The institution of the cities of refuge is a remarkable evidence of this, This
 
 the abuses incident to the age-old custom of blood-avenging. It was in contrast rather than analogous to the right of asylum afterward instituted in other coun- tries. It sheltered the innocent only. It gave the right of trail before an impartial tribunal before the intiiction of penalty.
 The cities were chosen with reference to accessibility. They were distributed at equal distances from each other, and on both sides of the river. Like the New Jerusalem, with its three gates on each side, nobody need make wide circuit to get in. as the refuge was near at hand. All roads leading to it were kept in good repair, and free of stones. All streams were bridged all crossroads indeX-fin- gered with the significant word, Ref uge!' Two young students of the law might run with the fugitive, to stop and barley with the avenger, should he over take them, and deter him from striking the death-blow, If possible.
 Arriving at the refuge. the fugitive has a preliminary examination in the gate. which is still the seat of justice in Ori- ental countries. He is afterward cited for more formal trial before the congre- gation. If foun1 guilty of premeditated murder he is legally consigned to the elders of the city whence he came. who Tn turn deliver nm to the aVenger, who waits for him at a prescribed distance from the refuge city.
 If the homicide is proven accidental or without malice, the unfortunate perpe- trator of 1t is given a residence within the city until the death of the high priest then in office. It Is at his own peril he ventures beyond the wall This species of exile is the forfeit of his earelessness. The provisions of the refuge-city law ex- tended to the Gentle stranger as we'll as to the native citizen.
 This statute of the refuge city, alto gether unique in the worlds jurispru- dence, is in perfect alignment with the commandment. 'Thou shalt not kill" 4t was designed to emphasize the value of human life, and thus conserve it. It put a curb on revenge The vendetta could not thrive under it. It insured the pun ishment of the guilty, the protection of the innocent.
 Like the Mosaic polity in general. this particular ordinance was humane, just and practical.
 The Teachers Lantern.
 As through a gauzy veil one sees the atonement in Christ through this ancient and beautiful provision of the Mosaic