Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-07-21

Nations sometimes get of their
course ven as ships do. This was the
u OF the recent disaster to the
Norge, and 1t Ia usually the cause of
national calamity. The best pilot, to
bring back the ship of state. Is the best
patriot. The southern kingdom of
Judah had wandered from It's chartered
course, even as had the seeding tribes
to the north, under the c%aptaincy of
Jereboam. ;
Soloman's sins were Outworktng In
his sons son. Rehoboam and Abijah
had both been weak and wicked. Judah
had fallen pom sorry times. Idolatry
was rampant. Heathenish practices
were ommon everywhere. The moral
The stalwart allegiance to Jehovah
which was the divine programme for
the nation vas conspicuous for its alb
enc
A MAN FOR THE OCCASION.
Such was the state of the southern
kingdom upon Asa's assuming the
throne OF his father Abijah. He proved
his mettle at the outset of his reign.
He did not sit down amid the evil
conditions and weakly bewail them.
Still less did he conform to them. The
Kismet Of heredity did not %paralyze his
courage. He knew that he a inheri-
ted from his father and his grandfather
n from his greatgrandfather, Solo,
man., certain traits that he would be
better without. But he was also heir
to the blood and character of great
King David. Most Of all, he was him.
self, with a knowledge of the divine
law that Is more binding and sacred
than any Of the transmitted laws of
nature. He had come to a throne. Civ
en- of God; to God he must answer for
the manner of his reign. even as the
least of US is responsible to he Lord
for the administration Of our life.
The record runs that ASA did that
which was good n right in the eyes
Of Jehovah his Cod" He started out
with his life in right relations with
h Lord. As he catchy title Of a
modern book expresses 1t. he was in
tune with the Infinite" Success, fall
ure. happiness, misery-all are matters
Of relation. The comfort with which
one passes through life depends largely
on h in which he relates him.
self to his environment. Still more
Of how ones life is related to God.
The trustful. loving, obedient soul.
whose chief end is Gods glory, is
bound to find a peace n a power
transcending earth's ability to impart
or to TAX away. Asa started we'll by
getting right with God. He hitched
his wagon to a star.
NV NVVOu6tVu
1t takes a young man for war. He
sees through the small end of the tele-
scope: opportunities through the large,
His bounding enthusiasm fears no diff
hculties. Whatever ought to be done
he Is willing to attempt to do. 1t Ia a
sad day for n life when it loses the
freshness. zest and daring Of youth, for
1t Is with these that the really great
tasks Of the world are accomplished.
The poet Is wise in weeping over his
youth! the angels weep with him. Gods
great causes would be at a standstill
were 1t not for the high-souled enter
prise of his young hearted servants.
One Of the faults or virtues of
youth-depending upon the angle from
which 1t Is viewed-is a rather slight
regard for precedent. 1t has not the
respect for the past which comes with
age. So young King Asa vas qualified
for the necessary work Of an incono-
clast. He dared to smash right and
left at idols and affairs and pillars and
groves and high places, about which
the halo of sanctity was beginning to
cling.
Doubtless he Mortified many in Ju-
dab by his radical course. "Inexpedi-
ent," 'impolitic," me is changing he
old order!" they cried. Asa halted not
in his course. His rank and his light
S0AAARChhS0 Hill ~ 1IIG6S tulIlkS
were wrong. wholly and Enthusiastically
wrong, 90 there could be no compro-
mise with them. They must 60. The
debris OF the false must be removed
before the new structure of the truth
could be set up. There IL comfort for
every active fighter against the pres
ent day evil in the course Of Judah's
king.
AMoDEL REFoRMER.
The tearers -down are to be COM
mended only when they are also build
ers-up. Asa proved himself q first
class reformer in sweeping the para
phernalia Of idolatry out Of his Kingdom
not even hesitating to deal with his
own mother when she persisted in
stop there a. some reformers do. He
did not deprive the people OF dear In
tereets and offer them nothing else in
stead. He knew that every don't"
should be accompanied by q do 90 he
rave HE subjects new work to do and
tangible reasons for rejoicing in the
new order. He called upon the people
to i~naugurate q great constructive era
In the life Of the kingdom. linking all
the building to q religious motive. He
pointed that the favor Of Jehovah
had followed the overthrow Of idolatry
and made possible the new period Of
prosperity: a. he himself labored from
POsPoOSs ~ uG DOUKut
to inspire in his people . kindred en-
thustasm for their divine Sovereign.
He might have taken all the credit to
himself. but instead he rave God the
glory. A ~succeooful reformer able to
keep himself humble has never been
. common sight.
ARMIES AND WAN.
A king 70 " stronger than the
forces ho can command, Just - q life'o
power may Be measured by tte re.
serves. Asa had = great company Of
fot!owesa to build for him. and an army
OF half . million men to 0ght for hin.
THIS was . couple Of milleniums back
ct what We call the dark ages,'s and
. standing army was necessity. Il
opeakD III tor the progress Of the race
that W have not advanced very Rreatly
beyond Asa'o period In this ,perticular.
Je0ah 0taSgered under the burden of
mllitAs1sm. even a twentieth century
ne6ono Do to1ay.
KING A. had greater nsod for hla
SmlghU men Of valor'' than most mod.
en- Monarchs. a formidable army.
eoens1eesane he own. two 70 one.
Same ~ aeainet him from the oouth.
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