The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-05-22
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM
MENTs FOR MAY 20 BY THE
REV. I. w. HENDERSON.

Subject: Childhood and Education
of Moses, Elk. 2:1.15-Golden
Text, Acts 1928 - Memory
Verses, 8, 10.
The first two verses give us an in
sight into the humble beginnings Of
Moses. A simple man and woman
marry. And from that inconspicuous
union the leader of a mighty people
and the leader Of a social epoch ap-
pears. The mighty men Of God have
quite generally and equally remark
ably been the children Of humble
homes and of simple parentage. 1t
is unnecessary to mention names;
they are familiar to us all. In the
light of these verses every marriage
is fraught with everlasting possibili-
ties. And just because in our own
homes perhaps we may unwittingly,
and unconsciously be rearing the fu-
ture leader of a nation it behooves
US under God to look carefully to the
teaching and the training of u
youth.
The mother love of the humble
soul who gave the breath Of life from
God to Moses was as loyal and as
faithful as any that we may suggest.
She could not see her child slaugh-
tered, beautiful baby that he was,
and so trusting in the compassion
Of womanhood she foateS her child
into the presence of the princess OF
the Empire. :
Somehow or other we are I'm
-.a,..l -sSlr %64 o. M that fhfd Cfnn nla
woman must have been supremely
conscious of the providence Of God.
And her confidence was rewarded.
Her intuitions were correct. The
mother in the princess went out to
the lonely little waif in his little float
ing ark. By the most fortuitous of
circumstances Moses is returned to
the custody Of his mother before be-
ing taken to the palace to live among
|. the princes.
1t. Is after Moses enters into the
inner life Of the palace that u in
terest in his character deepens. We
are impressed with the fact that in.
spite of the ease and pleasures, the
peculiar charms and seductions of
the palace life Moses did not lose his
interest in his own people or his
sympathy for their distress and OPP
preston. The first act recorded OF
the mar as he contemplates the social
conditions under which his brethren
live is indicative of the character and
the future life of the man. Filled
with a holy indignation at the cruelty
Of the Egyptian taskmaster in his
dealing with his kinsman, he strikes
the Egyptian down. We may not be
able precisely to justify the act, but
we can readily understand the provo
cation and the spirit of the man who
In midst of ease could so condemn
and resist unnecessary hardship be-
Ing forced unwillingly upon any hu-
mar being.
The second act recorded of the man
after his life Of ease in the palace Of
Pharaoh is equally indicative of the
temperament, and more indicative OF
the philosophical insight Of the a
It was also the means to the reveal
Ing of the denseness Of the very peo-
pie whom he wished to rescue from
afaiction. His admonishment of the
Two fighting toilers shows US his wis
dom. Their answer, which drove
Moses in fear into a distant region
10 escape the king, reveals the lack
Of insight of these men whom he
wished to aid.
The most amazing thing in all the
world Is the unkindness of the worlds
| .oilers to each other. The oppression
If the poor by those who are socially
and ipdustrially above them Is an un-
questioned feature Of too large a por-
lion of our modern life. But the IN
Sharitableness and unkindness OF
multitudes Of the working class to-
ward their W kind is as inexpltca-
Bile from the standpoint Of wisdom as
It Is appalling. I am conscious that
The courtesy and generosity Of many
men and women among the poor Is an
object lesson to many who are boun-
tifully blessed with this worlds
goods. But no mar who Is at all
familiar with life and observant Of
conditions in the industrial life as
they are can fail to be impressed with
the appalling amount of ~divergency
and discord among the very class in
society to whom union and amity Is
strength. The salvation of the work.
ing class to-day is to be tolerant of
wise advice, to lay aside contention,
to cease to fight among themselves,
to make life easier for themselves as
they progress toward better condi-
lions by the exercise Of a common
courtesy and good will, to pull to-
gether.
The advice which Moses offered is
all too often answered with the an
swer of these men to Moses. Men
who might be leaders of the people
into a freer and a larger life are dis
couraged by the inhospitable replies
of the very people whom they wish
to aid. Moses was not Offering pat
ronage. He was offering sound ad-
vice. A child Of the common people,
though bred in luxury and ease, he
had a heart that felt for the common
woe of his people. There is a vast
difference between patronage and
sound advice. Oftentimes the sound
est advice may be annulled by the
appearance of patronage. But when
ever there may arise in the provi-
dence Of God a leader, whether he
live in luxury or in squalor, who has
the marks Of a divine gift for leader
ship, may the hungry, tired, weary
hs3t of this worlds oppressed have
the sense not to rebuff him, but the
wisdom to welcome him with rejoic-
ing, attend to his message, ponder
hA advice, adopt his wisdom as their
own guide, follow his leadership out
of Epynt I'm To the confines of the