Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-05
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR DEC. 8 BY THE
REV. !. w. HENDERSON.

1:14-22 - Golden Text, Ruth
1:16-Memory Verses, 16, IT,
Read Ruth Ia.
Leaving the Book of Judges and
opening the story of Ruth we pass
from vehement outdoor life, from
tempest and trouble into quiet domes-
tic scenes, says the Rev. r. A. Wat
son, D. d. After an exhibition of
the greater movements of a people
we are brought, as 1t were, to cot.
tage interior in the soft light of an
autumn evening, to obscure lives
passing through the cycles of loss and
comfort, affection and sorrow. We
have seen the ebb and flow of a ma
tons fidelity and fortune, a few
leaders appearing clearly on the
stage and behind them multitude
indefinite, indiscriminate, the thou
sands who form the ranks of battle
and die on the field. who sway to-
gether from Jehovah to Baal and
back to Jehovah again. What the
Hebrews were at home. how they
lived in the villages Of judah or on
the slopes Of Tabor, the narrative
has not paused to speak of with de-
tail. Now there is leisure after the
strife and the historian can describe
old customs and family events, can
show us the toiling flockmasters, the
busy reapers, the women with their
cares and uncertainties, the love and
labor of simple life. Thunderclouds
of sin and judgment have rolled over
the scene: but they have cleared
away and we see human nature IN
examples that become familiar to us,
no longer in weird shadow or vivid
lightning flash, but as we commonly
know it, homely, erring, enuuring.
imperfect, not unblest
And Ruth-memorable for ever is
her decision, charming for ever the
words in which it is expressed. BE.
hold" said Naomi, "thy sister-in.
law is gone back unto her people,
and unto her god; return thou after
thy -in-law." But Ruth replied,
"Intreat me not to leave thee, and
to return from following after thee;
for whittier thou goest, I will go;
and where thou lodgest, will lodge:
thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my God where thou diest,
will die, and there will be buried;
the Lord do so to me and more also,
IL augbt but death part thee and me-"
Like David's lament over Jonathan
these words have sunk deep into the
human heart. AS an expression of
the tenderest and most faithful
friendship they are unrivalled. The
simple dignity Of the iteration in
varying phrase, till the climax Is
reached beyond which no promise
could go, the quiet fervor of tho
feeling, the thought which seems to
have almost Christian depth-all
are beautiful, pathetic, noble. From
this moment charm fingers about
Ruth and she becomes dearer to us
than any woman of whom the Hebrew
records tell.
Dignified and warm affection is the
first characteristic of Ruth, and close
beside it we find the strength OF a
firm conclusion as to duty. 1t Is
good to be capable of clear resolve,
parting between this and that of OPP
posing considerations and differing
claims. Not to rush at decisions and
act in mere wilfulness, for wilful-
ness is the extreme of weakness, but
to Judge soundly and on this side
or that to say: Here see the path for
me to follow: along this and no other
| Conclude to 60. Unreason decides
by taste, by momentary feeling often
out of mere spite or antipathy. But
the resolve of q wise, thoughtful per-
son, even though it bring temporal
disadvantage, is a moral gain, step
towards salvation. 1t Is the exercise
of individuality of the soul.
Life has many partings, and we
have all had our experience of some
which without fault on either side
separate those well fitted to serve
and bless each other. Over matters
of faith, questions of political order
and even social morality separations
will occur. There may be no lack
of faithfulness on either side when
at certain point widely divergent
views of duty are taken by two who
have been friends. One standing
only a little apart from the other
sees the same light reflected from
different facet of the crystal, stream
ing out in q different direction. AS
it would be altogether a mistake to
say that Orpah took the way OF
worldly selfishness, Ruth only going
in the way of duty, so it Is entirely
a mistake to accuse those who part
with us on some question of faith
or conduct and think Of them as
finally estranged. A little more
knowledge and we would see with
them or they with us. Some Cay
they and we shall reach the truth
and agree in our conclusions. Sepa'
rations there must be for time, for
as the character leans to love or JUS
tice, the mind to reasoning or emo.
ton, there is difference in the vision
of the good for which a man should
strive.
Yet one difference between men
reaches to the roots of life. The com.
pany of those who keep the straight
way and press on towards the light
have the most sorrowful recollection
of some partings. They have had to
leave comrades and brethren behind
who despised the quest of holiness
and immortality, and had nothing but
mockery for the Friend and Saviour
of man. The shadows of estrange-
ment falling between those who are
of Christ's company are nothing
compared with the dense cloud which
divides them from men pledged to
what Is earthly and ignoble; and SO
the reproach Of sectarian division
coming from irreligious persons
needs not trouble those who have as
Christians an eternal brotherhood.