The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-07-04
Ube international Sunday School Lesson

FOR JULY 5.

duty is not a good reason for abolishing
courts, and iuries. and legislatures. and
representatives of the law, altogether.
The right method is to proceed in various
ways to improve public sentiment so that
1t will not tolerate abuses and cOrrup-
ton in government positions. Public
sentiment is the real ruler OF any COM
munity or country. 1t makes little diff
ference what form of government is
adopted if the ends OF truth. justice. and
righteousness are observed When the
government of a country is wrong, that
fact shows that the people of that coun
try are wrong morally. spiritually, and
intellectually. When the Israelites found
that the sons of Samuel were untTust
worthy and corrupt as public officials
they began to doubt the feasibility and
correctness of their God-ordained form
Of government. The doubt was a con
fession, in the first place, of want OF
faith in God, and, in the second place, of
a want OF faith in themselves confes-
sion Of their own Moral degeneracy.
They ought to have demanded an imme-
date removal OF Samuels sons from Of
fee, and their adequate punishment for
malfeasance in office, and not to have de-
manded a complete revolution in their
form Of government. Their action in tn,
crisis was as reprehensible as our own
countrymen would be II they should be-
come dependent and disguised by some
governmental scandal at Washington and
demand a change of government from
that of a republic to a monarchy. Such
a procedure would be revolution back
wards in the history of the progress Of
Civilizations surrender of the rights
and liberties of true and worthy free
men and the acceptance of the yoke that
belongs to slaves and degenerates. 1t Is
/ the duty of freemen to purify their
governments when occasion necessitates
IT, not to strengthen government in q
despotic way or to abolish all govern
ment and bring in a reign of anarchy.
The Israelites had just grievance as
far as Samuefs sons were concerned
Some kind of a change ought to have
taken place. 1t was right for them to
90 10 Samuel In the right spirit and
manner with their complaint. The right
or petition and complaint always be-
longs to a free people. But there is a
suspicion that they had a deeper mo-
tive in their hearts than simply 70 have
the abuses in the administration orejus-
Ifice corrected. They probably merely
Used that as a pretext TO gain their de-
sires in still greater matter. To gain
their own way in other matters political
parties often raise great clamor and
furore in regard to some minor act or
mistake made by the party in power.
I This is an old trick Of politicians. There
is a suspicion too that the people were
very brutal in their manner OF making
known their grievance to the aged pro-
phet. How brutal political parties all
kinds Of social organizations, congrega-
lions OF churches. school trustees. and
committees of all kinds. can be al times.
to the officers and representatives that
are over them by their own election and
appointment Without any previous
warning or consultation. all the elders
OF Israel gathered themselves together
and came kto Samuel unto Ramah, and
said unto him. Behold thou art old
and thy sons walk not in thy WAYS:
now make US a king to judge US like all
the nations" That Samuel had tried TO
rear UP his sons IN the right way is
shown in the names that he gave them
! Joel, signifying Jehovah is God and
Abigail signifying God is my father ..
The best and most faithful parents often
! have bad children. There are young
people who will go astray under the
/ very best moral and religious influences.
Sometimes, though. good men and good
women while serving the public, like