New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-05
J0SEPH's CORNER IN CORN.
Pharaoh's Prime Minister Open to Criticism,
Says the Rev William Potts George.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: In to-days issue you print report OF Pro
fessor Fagnanis address the above subject. re-
ferrng justly to Mr.. Rockefeler's Bible class les
son Of last Sunday. Mr.. Rockefeller naturally de-
tends and Professor Fagnani attacks the Prime
Minister OF Pharaoh but neither OF them seems TO
discern that there may be a divine approval OF
some Of the acts and general character OF public
man while his administration Is justly reprobated
There can be no doubt that for some things the
ample OF Joseph Is held up for imitation. and that
IN them the Lord with him. and rewarded
him.
Joseph has stood for ages the greatest Old
Testament example Of chastity. For that and for
his fidelity 10 his King and for his love and rev.
erence and care for his father and for the forgive
ness of his brethren and other virtues he nerited
and received high honors and rewards from his
contemporaries and succeeding generations and
from his God In those things he seems to have
been thoroughly and not "fractionally converted"
as the professor asserts
But his public acts as the Kings Premier wers
open to criticism and were never Endorsed by the
Almighty. Probably he acted for the best. accord
ing to the light he had, and thought the "be-aH
and end-all of his duty was to work first for the
profit OF his master and secondly for the relief of
the people whom certainly he saved from starva-
ton But the result of the seven years of his
policy this:
He found the Egyptians rich and left them poor
He found them cattle owners and left them
WITHOUT COW or sheep or horse or an ass
He found them free and left them slaves
He found them OF substantial yeornen
peasant propretors. owners OF the soil they TILED
and left them with all the land transferred to
Pharaoh. all land titles vested in the monarch and
with perpetual interest at % per cent to pay for
their seed
1t Is small wonder that Mr.. Rockefeller likes
Joseph as an example and quotes his act. as ap-
plicaoie to modern American conditions and the
ownership OF monopoIies
But the question is Did God approve Of this ad-
mlnistrRtion?
great divine retrbution followed these acts mas
was measured again to the very sons. grandsons
VINO was responsible for these acts.
Another king arose who knew not Joseph"
ana under his rule these very Israelites whom
Joseph loved became themselves bondslaves to
Pharaoh and their lives were made bitter by
bondage and oppression. that a very different
type OF ruler. a man of the people. who was also
them he was no obedient servant TO a king He
was no creator or defender of monopolies. His
and were largely the secret of IsraePs future pros
perlty. When he was come to years by faith hs
refused TO be called the son OF Pharaoh's daugh-
ter, choosing rather to suffer affection with the
people OF God than to enjoy the pleasures OF sin
for a season: esteeu1ng the reproach OF Christ
greater riches than the treasures of Egypt for he
God Endorsed the government and leadership OF
Moses. and with stern retrfbution He reprobated
those OF Joseph and showed:
Tho the mills Of God grind slowly.
Yet they grind exceeding small:
Tho with patience He stands waiting
with exactness grtnds He all
Poughkeepsis March 2. 1906