St. Tammany farmer., 1906-09-08

gods to go before W, like the Egyp
tians," cried one.
But how cbout Aaron? We can
not hope to succeed while he Is
about" replied another, apprehen-
| sively.
Never fear" spoke up Seled, conf
IDENTIFY, If we can rouse the people
to action, he will not dare to refuse
us our request"
This declaration seemed to strike
a popular chord in the hearts of his
followers, and soon they were plap-
ming how they might SO arouse the
people as to bring about popular up
rising against Moses.
What is our religion without gods
In our midst?" Seled admonished, as
he dismissed his followers. 1T was
well when we met together and God
talked with Moses on the mountain,
but now we would go forward and
would have gods to 60 before US. So
speak to the people as you go forth,
1 and let us come together at the place
where Moses was wont to gather us,
and there we will demand of Aaron
that he make us gods.''
Imbued with the new purpose, each
man sped upon his errand, and ere
the night had spent itself these sparks
OF rebellion had kindled theiry fires,
which spread through the entire camp,
so that at the time appointed on the
morrow almost the entire congregation
of Israel was gathered at the place
agreed upon.
! It was plain to see that Aaron, as
he gazed into the angry, determined
faces before him. realized that he
could no longer restrain the people,
! and he dared not take stand against
them. Perhaps If he temporized with
them, If he yielded in part to them,
he could still retain his control over
them, and in this compromising po-
sition, Aaron has had innumerable
followers among those who priced
more highly the following of men than
the commentator of God.
Seled was the spokesman, and as
he motioned to the people before him
| to be silent, he said to Aaron:
"Up, make us gods which shall go
! before u.s."
A great hush fell upon the vast con-
gregation. Aaron stood irresolutely
before them. They realized that he
| was afraid, and with one mighty out.
burst of passion they echoed the
words which Seled had spoken:
"Up, make us gods which shall go
| before us"
"But Moses" Aaron started to
say.
"Bah," they burst out with new
passion, "as for this Moses, the man
! that brought us up out of the land
of Egypt, we wot not what Is become
| of him."
Then spake Aaron, saying:
Break off the golden earrings,
| which are in the ears of your wives,
of your sons. and of your daughters,
and bring them unto me-"
I'VE will! We will" they cried,
with one accord, and almost before
Aaron realized, there had been cast
at his feet great pile Of glittering
pieces Of jewelry.
The next few days were busy ones
for Aaron, and II during those days
there came to him any anxious thought
as to the thing which he was doing,
he stifled it, and entered more fever
ishly into the task of preparing for
the casting of the great calf which it
had been agreed should be made, that
"the Israelites might have gods like
the Egyptians" as they said.
And as the golden calf was COM
pleted and set up great feast was
proclaimed, and on the morrow they
all came together, and after their Of
ferings had been made after the man.
ner shown them by Moses. they sat
down to a great feast. Then they gave
themselves to the reckless abandon
which had characterized the religious
festivals of Egypt, and which under
the tutelage of Seled they had been
led to plan for there before the
mountain of God.
But in the midst Of their merry
making, while the glittering>calf was
blazing out in the sunlight and daz-
zling the people with it's beauty, there
came sound from the mountain side
which caused the people to pause and
look up.
There stood their leader, Moses, gaz-
ing upon the wild scene. They saw
his eyes flash, they saw him dash at
his feet the tablets he was bearing,
they saw him rush down the hill in
righteous indignation into their midst,
and they feared greatly.
Why was it that in the presence of
one man who was willing to stand
with God they were as men without
strength? Why was it that all the
blatant courage and boasting which
had stained their lips during the past |
few days was gone? All, had Aaron
understood as did Moses that one
with God is a majority, there had been |
no golden calf, there had been no such
awful stain of sin resting upon the
people.
But not all were abashed in the |
presence of that man of God. While |
yet the people were trembling before
Moses, and he was casting the image
to the ground and grinding it to pow.
der, Seled was rallying his followers,
and had withdrawn to one side of the
camp.
But Moses stood in the gate Of the
camp and cried:
'Who is on the Lords side? Let him
come unto me-"
n,,3ol>1,y ,11 tho SONS ~ Iovi 0afh. |