The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-05-07
THE sUNDAY-sCHooL LESSON.


For May Is, .'The ProdikaI SON.
INTRoDUCTION-we are still engaged
with the Perean ministry of Jesus. The
time IS the late autumn of the year twen-
ty-nine. six months prior 10 the cruci-
fixion- Between the events of last lesson
and those OF the present a few days only
elapsed. occupied chiefly in teaching. Hav-
ing completed the parable of the supper.
Jesus left the House of the Pharisee. fol-
lowed by a great multitude To them he
set forth the requirements OF discipleship.
showing that only by great earnestness
might one succeed. This address attract
ed the publicans and sinners. who gath
cred to hear, and the Pharisees and scribes
murmured because Jesus associated with
them duke, xv. l-2) To justify his
course. Jesus delivered four parables-the
lost sheep. the lost piece of silver. the
Prodigal son. and the unjust steward. In
all these he set forth fundamental prin-
ciples which are to be found more or less
dominant in human nature, and applied
them TO his own system of doctrine. The
third Of these parallels now to be studied
Is deemed by scholars to be the crown and
pearl OF all the parallels. In all the CEN
preacher, the essayist and the artist. and
Its details have awakened the tcnderest
emotions of the heart We shall endeavor
draw Instructions therefrom.
PORTION-The parable opens with a
family scene. sketched in a single SEN
tence, "A certain man had two sons"
Happy and honored was he in the estima-
ton of friendsi Gen. Xviii, 81 Americans
build estates; the Hebrews like all other
Orienetalists. sought to raise families. II
and children. he may die among them. a
rich patriarch. Gen. xix. II But a
Shsnge aeany Of hs
been caused by some disagreeable circum-
stance. The relations Of the brothers. be-
cause Of the seliishness Of the older (yeree
-. as afterwards displayed, may have been
unpleasant The father may have been
arbitrary or lenient, so that the family
government failed to meet the needs of an
adjust the parts Of household TO each
other. Gen. xvii. Al Whatever may
have been the cause, the young man was
father. demanding a division Of properly,
an act of very great impropriety. He
might have suggested or requested. but
father complied. giving to the sons their
respective portions. Under the law OF
Moses. that meant two-thirds to the older
ELY t Hf But there q @ ' was this difference. that
the latter obtained his portion immediate
p.. while the other remained with his
father
WASTING all together. per-
haps converting 1t into money. the younger
son went into n far country. Soon no
found himself under influences that led to
ruin. There was an elation of spirit, re-
sultinR from the consideration that he wal
his own master. freed from the discipline
OF home. possessed of ample means TO
supply his necessities. Joined to this was
that strange buoyancy. never experienced
before. caused by the release from daily
routine duty. and the. excitement and
pleasure occasfoned by looking upon new
scenes and new faces in the large world
into which he came. And then he was the
recipient of many attentions that were
particularly agreeable from those who
sought him because of his money and in
troduced him to places Of pleasure. Yield
ing himself to such companions, he en-
tered into the ways OF the dissolute (Proy.
1. 10). Having no employment. he gave his
time to amusement and gradually wasted
his substance. What father had gathered
many years Of wise and patient pursuit Of
an honorable calling, what short time
ago had been bestowed upon the young
in life. what might have been an untold
blessing in his hands, all this quickly dis
appeared, spent In drink and other sinful
enfeeble the body and enslaye the soul.
Oh. Pet II. l0)
FAMINBIThe young man had fallen
eagerly sought and highly priIed. was
gone. His health. through excessive use
of stimulants and other evil practices.
u
obtain what they desired. forsook him TO
find new associations. prov. xviii. ~
Then came calamity that affected the
not Yield their usual rains and a period Of
drought set in. The corr did not grow
and the seed dried in the earth. vegeta-
tion persisted and the fields were uncuIti-
waited. Soon the gathered stores began 10
fail. and the Door in their distress cried
for bread. A mighty and terrible famine
swept over the land Ruth. !. y; one Of
n in "a a
Gen. XII. So Thousands suffered the
pangs of hunger. dependent on the scanty
gifts, OF the rich. These troubles bore
short time ago had abundance now came
to want. The memory Of better days In
creased % the s sSrr0ws r, OF q, the present Had
possessed he might not only live in COM
fort. but he might become minister to
others. experiencing the. satisfaction
had not learned TO forecast. to lay up for
times of need. prov. vi: 15)
FEbDING-At last the young mans
lief or die. Three courses were open to
him-he could beg or steal or work. The
first would be diseracefui. affordirg but
doubtful relief. so many were there who
had adopted this mode OF livelihood. from
which one might not easily rise. n.uke
xvi: 20) But. stealing would make him an
outlaw, even II II were to satisfy hunger.
prov. vi. 3o-sll There was one mark of
nobility left In him, worthy Of imitation.
he resolved to work; 9fs, on IT Thess; s Ill io2
his life II he held to this resolve. and
proper conditions offered. he might re-
trieve his fortunes. Industry 10 a cardinal
virtue. Unfortunately, 1t was not easy to
dnd employment. As last resort he
Joined himself to a wealthy citi1en-ne he
came kind OF servant. not a hireffng for
wages. but more nearly slave. II seems
that the master did not much esteem him.
He, therefore. sent him into the field to
feed ewi1e. the most iRnoble OCCUPATION
the QGmGleR but were ahhorred hy the