The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1905-08-03

JOsiah's Good Reign.
The pendulum of national life in
Judah swung often to heathenism
and staid there inveterately. Some
powerful personality must needs
rise to neutralize the magnetism
before the chosen people could re-
turn to even the semblance of the
/ pure faith. Such a condition now
maintained. There were horses
and chariots dedicated to the
planets, and priests were burning
incense to all the host of heaven.
Sexual force also was de6ed, and
phalllc signs and symbols were dis
played. Idolatry was dominant
in Church and State. As the
northern kingdom was practically
blotted out, and the places of the
eNiles taken by pagan foreigners,
the whole of Palestine was to all
intents submerged by the polluting
streams from heather fountains.
1t was the hand of a young man
that was to loosen the pendulum of
national life from the magnet Of
heathenism. 1t proved on I'm
commonly skillful hand as well as
a resolute and strong one.
Josiah was a lily on a dunghill.
He exhaled the fragrance of pure
spirit above the lasCivious putres-
cence of his times He donned
purple at eight years, and straight
way gave himself to God. History
is silent about the influences which
Immediately surrounded him. But
as his father is known to have
been a contemplate weakling,it IS
supposed that this is another in
stance in which the hand that
rocked the cradle ruled the world.
Aside from this there were few ad-
vantages in the boys environ
ment. There was no Bible for the
/ Book Of the Law was lost. There
was no regular public worship of
Jehovah. 1t had been two hundred
years since any repairs had been
put upon the temple, 1t was prac-
tically in ruins and the ritual sus-
pended.
Yet in the darkness of the hour
the rare and radient fame of the
pure theistic faith shone out, and
that not with an intermittent or
waning luster, but with an ever
augmenting radiance. The young
king was not simply negatively
good; he was positively aggressive
against evil. He was not only
pious, he was powerful, The rec
ord is significant At eight years
he began to reign, and at the same
time seek after the God Of his
fathers. When he had reigned
twelve years he began to purge
Judah. He thought that what
was worth doing at all was worth
doing we'll. He also gave personal
attention to the work. 1t was
done in his presence. Down came
the high places. with their affairs.
The images, both carved and mott
en-, were pulverized and strewn
upon the graves of those who had
worshiped them in sign of the I'M
portance of that worship. One
other object lesson was given. It
was made necessary by the crudity
of the age. Graves of the priests
of Baal were opened and their
bodies burned upon the very affairs
at which they had oficiated. The
young reforming king carried his
havoc of heathenism even into the
almost forsaken northern kingdom.
In the ruins of the chief cities OF
four of the tribes, at least, he did
that which he had done in Judah.
Only when his program was finish
ed did he return to his own capitol,
Six years later, as a natural con-
summation. he undertook h e
great task of repairing of the tenn
ple-the money and material hav-
ing been collected in the interval,
and all the plans matured. He
showed great and practical wisdom
in associating the public officials
with himself. All should see and