Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1904-07-28

The voX populi. unti suoc'hiH' d
new leader arises from among the PEG
pie. and then the politicians realize that
they have been blind and deaf to the
popular mind. 1t is a first law of real
ieadership-nnd ther. is II difference. he
IL remembered. between Il real leader.
and walking at the head oil the pro-
cession-to stay close TO the great mas
SEES of the people.
Judah ruler showed his greatness
by making it his first business. as soon
as he had got back to Jerusalem. to go
out among all the people. He wanted
to get his bearings and find out what
was what. h preliminary to making
things as they should he Is To see
things MS they are. BY his open-eyed
Investigation, Jehoshaphat learned the
real conditions and he needs of Judah.
What he saw must have %astonished him
and sn,itten him to the heart. Thanks
to the influence of his sons heather
wife. who was a r u daughter IF her
mother. the original Jezebel, idolatry
from Jehovah had likewise been the
departure from right living and jus,
dealing between man and man. The
kings conscience must have smitten
him sorely, for herein he saw the con-
sequence of his own neglect of duty.
THE BASIS OF ALL REFORM.
This long tour on investigation led
the king. after deep Understanding. to
call the people back to Jehovah. the
God of their fathers. Why We're OPP
position and injustice abroad in Judah?
And why had the courts been perverted
and the poor do~wntrodden? Simply
because the nation had gone back on
God. Why is our own country beset
with problems. Dor problems. on
mercial problems. problems of class.
problems of civic government, problems
of living? Simply because men have
turned away from doing the will of
God.
A revival of real religion would do
more for our nation in a year than all
the political parties with their Earring
platforms could do in a century. a
return to God means a return to jus
tice. a return to love, a return to
brotherhood, a return to mercy. The
reform that underlies all other reforms
is a reform in the peoples relation to
the Lord. Jehoshaphat did well when.
first Of all, he set the nations face
again toward Jehovah.
FOR THE RIGHTS -. THE PEOPLE.
During his alliance with Ahab, things
had gone askew In Jehoshaphat's realm,
and corruption had crept in. So ne
set about In making effective. in most
practical ways. the new religious i'm
pulse which he nae given the people.
40 n uiSk 0tCRp IC RIdCSu JUICES al All
the important centers to reestablisr Just
dealings between man and man.
No religion Ia genuine which does
not thus vindicate itself. In the long
run. a sure proof of the gospel it better
cities. better homes, better schools. bet
ter workshops. better wages, healthier
bodies, and better relations between
man and man. In the face Of grave
social n economic problems which
confront us on this western continent
at the beginning Of the twentieth CEN
fury. no teacher of Gods Word ran b.
assured that he is proclaiming the sim
ply gocpel unless his message is one
that produces changes such as have
been suggested.
WHAT RESPONSIBILITY ENTAILS
Every person sits in some seat OF
judgment. The necessity for making
decisions In the price we pay for gu
individual independence. Especial,
fs this true Of persons in responsible
positions-parents. teachers and office
bearers. This truth .eads us all into
the congregation of judges to whom Je-
hoshaphat gave his memorable I'm
structions. The words are worthy tc
be memorized:
Take heed what We do; for We judge
not for man, but for the Lord. and He
therefore let the fear Of the Lord be
upon you; take heed and do it. for there
il no iniquity with the Lord our God
nor respect of persons. nor taking OF
gifts"
What the king said to the Judges the
bible says to us all: You are an under
ofhcer. God IL over you: dwell hourl,
under that consciousness. God Judges
you;. you Judge for God" This Ii
a mighty SOLDERING truth: 1t should give
many OF US pause as we undertake
to fulhll grave responsibilities in q
needless or prejudiced fashion. The
king taught 1t with special zeal 10,
him. The whole thought here /.
wrapped up in the phrase. For Thou
God seest me-"
THE MARKS OF A GOOD JUDGE
In erecting " sets OF courts for the
nation. n civil and one religious, tina
there might be a stable form OF judici-
airy throughout Israel, the king was al
pains to define in detail. the character
istics Of q good Judge. The substance
for q model. Be al God. % 'Shun
iniquity." The man who sits in judR-
ment must be clean. The dissolute o,
sinful person has no business in the
seat OF authority. A spotted life soils
tne judiciary ermine; !2) BE no res.
temptation Of q Judge. I recalled how
my blood boiled the first time I was In
q magistrates court and heard the mar
on The bench roar insolently at the pool
and ignorant witnesses and at the petty
prisoners. while he treated with defer.
ence and courtesy the prosecutors VIII
happened to be persons Of position. ]
cannot escape the conviction that tina
judge has had to reckon for this son.
duct with the Just Judge whom Id
has since been called to face. al
Take no bribes"-neither a bag oi
gold nor political promotion nor u0ciaj
honor. Unpurchasahle justice is at nc
foundation Of civilization. The helm.
ousness OF the sin Of the once holde
who will accept q bribe II beyond
words to describe. He IL In the Juda,
class.
~ there 70 nothing lofiier thar III.
character OF the Just Judge, calm. dis.
passionate. above ill prejudice and
oelS-tntoroot, % there 81 no sDectacie
morn contemplate than that 81 - nm.
}use Judge who bends hls consclence r.
HE Dealing. - =
The Issoon concludes with an exhor.
tatton which u the word "a eeaeon "a,
al WHIT SEEK 20 inuAgura&e bette,
day. Deal cpuragoouoly ana jehovn
b With the oood.r The eufnrnons ~
Success = Summons e etrenSth. Onls
peepte can win and koep I 1uot Gpveen'
Imeae eu4 peAce and prooperdty. ~
10 NJ plan mAn - Woo1rtfun ana ~
9oeCey1oo0 - b1oGn1n6 q rSVnr6s ~
to0on. He malpoo e 6o0ofhle rs n, q.
/ M IN VI