The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-07
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

OsA 1--we otOTJ'. Lie DooA VI null
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
This famous Old Testament pastoral is
commonly spoken of as love story;
yet the book of Ruth is less love
story than a story Of loyalty-less the
tale of the love of man for woman than
a rnother-in-law. And the latter is the
less common experience OF the two. We
have plenty of love stories in life. and
number In the Bible. but life and lit
ersture are less productive OF this sort
of mother-in-law story.
=
There was apparently more Of world
ly wisdom than of romantic sentiment
her kinsrnan Boaz. The trainers of this
topic have not been particularly happy
in their phrasing.
The common instinct is right which
selects as the characteristic passage
from this charming book Ruth's words
to the mother OF her husband. Naomi
"'Entreat me not to leave thee, nor to
return from following after thee; for
whittier thou goest, will go; and where
thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people
shall be my people. and thy God my
Cod
All the good fortunes that came into
the life OF Ruth the Moabitess, after her
husbands death, were direct results OF
her loyalty to her mother-in-law. 1t
was this fine spirit of fidelity and de-
votion which won for her the attention
and favor OF Boaz, and later his hand
in marriage.
Seemingly small actions often have
great consequences. A fair young
Moabitess, widow, decides to become
the friend and support of her husbands
mother. In the train of that act fol-
,f11, 40 t1ElTs
the great-grandmother of King David,
and thus an ancestress of Jesus him
self.
The commonest jokes deal with the
most serious matters The Importance
and deicacy of the mother-in-IaW
question doubtless is responsible for all
the mother-in-law jokes. For countless
thousands of young people starting out
in married life the relationship OF each
with the others parents has been
grave problem. The merging OF the
two lives of husband and wife into one
is in itself hard enough task: 1t be-
comes greatly complicated when 1t IN
wolves a measure of identity with per-
sons to whom one was not first drawn by
a spontaneous affection. The story OF
Ruth like the guiding cord in maze,
shows the best way out of the perpiex-
tiles that often exist In the situation.
Loyalty should be the guiding law The
new relationship creates new oDiiga-
"A
duty to the mother of ones partner In
wedlock; she is part OF the family
Brave uncriticising and unfaltering 10y
atty is the first duty in the case. AS
this is the plain duty of the son-in-law.
or daughter-in-law, so 1t is also the
duty of the mother-in-law. Each Is
bound to stand by the other: they are
kith and kin. And shall one be disioyal'
by speech or act, to ones oTnf
&4$
If more loyalty went with the mar
riage relation. love would continue
longer.
All true friendship is fine. OF peculiar
beauty, though, is the friendship OF
younger woman for an older. 1t partakes
of the nature Of worship and disciple
ship By its pure flame character is
Illustrated. Ruth was a stronger, wiser
woman and better fitted for the respon-
sibilities which came to her later as
wife of Boaz, because she had the
friendship of the older woman to tenn
per the impulses and to direct her pow
erS.
We never give but that we get. Ruth
was lavish with herself toward naomi;
but she achieved a great future there
by. Naomi gave the protection OF her
name, the comfort of her presence, and
the strength of her wisdom to her
daughter-in-law: but she received sup
port from the latter, who became
cleaner in the harvest field, and she
eventually won new place OF dignity
in the community, as member Of the
household of her kinsman Boaz and as
the nurse of his son Obed.
y
The goers-out enter In. Ruth had to
leave Moab but she won Canaan, and
linked her name to the royal line of
Israel.
.
whatsoever CLEANS in Duty's field is
certain to garner sheaves OF delight
AMI NOTES.