The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-11-10


itself monument 10 religion 1t not
merely contained the venerated and
historic souvenirs of the faith and af-
fOrded Il place of devotion to those
from far and near who wished to avail
themselves of it, but it was also the
most magnificent, costly, and appro-
pirate memorial to spiritual religion
ever reared upon the earth. The ma
terial condition of the temple was
therefore significant. 1t was ba.
rometer Indicating the rise or fall of
religious feeling among the people.
If the sacred structure was kept in
repair, beautified, and adorned it to-
kened the fact that religion was as
cending and rice rerSa.
AT this time the SACRED fame was in
a pitiful plight. a great building
needs constant and close attention for
its preservation. \ corps of workmen
with competent overseers needs to be
employed, and large amount of
money annually expended. Mere neg
lect is enough to insure ruin. But
in this instance there was not mere
inactivity. The structure was rifled
and desecrated. 1t became a quarry
out of which the rival temple of Baal
was built and furnished.
1t is no wonder that King Joash
turned to the restoration of the tenn
pie as the first act of his reign. 1t had
sheltered him in his defenseless infan-
cywhen the monster Athaliah sought
his life. In the secret of this taber-
nacie he had been successfully hidden
for six years. Under its splendid
porch and between its great pillars
he had been Amounted, crowned, and
proclaimed king. Its high priest had
been his foster father. The priests
and Levites had been his bodyguard
on the day of his coronation. Its ar
mory had furnished the weapons for
his defense.
The Importance of the proposed res
'OitNbASAi VI wv bNlll PIC IL siS
indicated. 1t is the one event in the
long reign of forty years on which the
chronicler puts special accent. JCash
alone stood out to shore up the fall
ing temple. That is the one infor-
tant achievement of his reign. He
considered the repair Il pressing bust
ness. The honor of Jehovah requir-
ed the complete oblteration of Atha-
liah's sacrilege and the renewal of the
old glories of the temple.
The first plan for raising the neces-
sary funds proved inadequate if not
futile. The priests were to canvass
for subscriptions. There is nothing
to Indicate that they misappropriat-
ed the money. The PLAIN fact is they
did not get any. So that there was
none to pervert. With the inveterate
seltishness of human nature, thev
looked out for their own support first,
and there was no balance to the cred
it of the building fund The next de-
solicited at home and remote from the
temple, but on the ground, where he
could himself witness the ravages of
the vandal AthaIiah. After he had
sufficiently inspected the ruin of the
sanctuary, wrought by the idolatrous
princess, he would come across the
receptacle, conspicuously and conyen-
iently placed. Its open mouth plead
ed for an Offering for the restoration
of the temple. There was no danger
of perversion of his gift What he
placed there was exclusively for this
purpose. Then, too, the sight of 9th
ers giving provoked him TO geuer-
osity.
The measure was instantly and
largely popular. A yellow stream
poured into the improvised treasury
The strong chest had often to be I'M
locked by the high priest and its con-
tents audited by the kings scribe.
Soon there was enough and to spare
iOi OhO ICpuiI anu
nishing of the temple. AS the build
ing itself was a sign OF the covenant,
its restoration by the tree gifts of the
people was a token of the revival of
the covenant between Jehovah and
the people.
1t is a pity that the king who
wrought this notable deed for God
and his country in later years aposta-
tized. A black veil must be drawn
over the portrait of Joash like that
oyer the recreant doge of Venice He
became an idolater and encouraged
idolatry, paradoxical as it may seem.
He went one step further in sacrilege,
and laid violent hands upon the High
Priest Iachariah. If religion had no
power to stay him, it would seem
that human feeling would have been
sufficient. His victim was the play
mate of his boyhood. He was the
son of Jehoiada who had sheltered
IOaCb from tha tprrJaronC Of