Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-01
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

III hSy ONCl IhO 81 ohSAAASo "a SOAASsASN
tional government has been the en-
phasis that has been laid upon the
religious side of this momentous
trade. Moslems and Christians have
suddenly become as brothers. When
Ottomans of all names got together IN
New York few weeks ago for eel.
ebration, the point most emphasized
was religious liberty. It is more than
a coincidence that religion seems in
separately bound up with the crises OF
every nations history. In the COM
monplace days of humdrum prosper
ity religion may be subordinated; but
in the epochal periods which shape
the future it is to the fore. Many OF
the greatest wars recorded have had
their genesis in religious questions.
The enlightened Judgment OF the
world today opposes any alliance OF
church and state; but it discerns with
equal clearness the need for the
church in the state. Religion IS vital
to progress. The real estate men may
not be theologians, or even historians.
but when they advertise, as they COM
monty do, the presence of churches IN
the neighborhood they are booming,
they show knowledge Of human ma.
ture and of those conditions which
universally make for prosperity.
AS the old kingdom of Israel, united
under King David, entered upon its
most glorious era, it was first Of all
concerned about the conservation OF
religion. This period showed Israel
at it's best. First outstanding, OF
course, was the man David You can
not have even a religious revival
without man behind it. The Al
mighty himself seems unable to full
fill his purposes without mortal help.
David, the man, is the explanation OF
the greatness of Israel at this time.
He had captured the ancient strong
hold of Jerusalem and meant to make
the city his capital. He could not help
imposing his own personality upon
the place; for man is bigger than
q city. The world is filled with places
Of pilgrimage that are notable simply
because of their association with
some one personality. Jerusalem will
be remembered and honored as "The
City Of David"
Piety Plus Common Sense.
It was a wise political move for Da-
vid to make Jerusalem his capital.
The city was just within the borders
of Judea, but also close to the bor-
ders of the northern kinedom. AS
commentator has said, "This would
onciliate all parties and be bond OF
union, since it was the center of the
district within which has been
wrought out the life and history Of the
twelve tribes. A circle of thirty miles
radius, with Jerusalem for a center,
embraced almost every name and al
most every achievement In Hebrew
history" It was the Gibraltar of Pal
estine.
In his choice of a city, as in his gen.
eral procedure upon assuming the
throne, David displayed strategy of
the first order. He is a splendid model
for the modern statesman. He did not
needlessly antagonize anybody, and
he went out of his way to make a
good impression upon the people; for
their favor was his most direct path
to the achievement Of his patriotic
purposes. a certain conspicuous char
acter in the politics Of the United
States man Of unquestioned virtue
and ability, is widely opposed be-
cause he cannot "get along" with
people. He maintains the role of a
Crusoe marooned on an island of vir-
tue in an ocean Of political iniouity.
Not so David He was careful to cul-
tivate many counsellors, and he
sought advice widely before proceed
ing to any important action. So
whatsoever the king did pleased all
the people"
Welding Nation Into Oneness.
It is easier to build capital and to
create an army, as David did, than to
unity a people, He had been chosen
ruler Of many divergent interests. His
problem was to present some domi:
nant and unifying ideal that would
weld them into oneness. Naturally,
this ideal was religious. The strong
est sentiment of mankind concerns
It's religion. Myriads of men who
scarcely ever give a thought to the
church or to their faith, would in
stantly face the lannon's month were
the religion of their fathers in danger.
So David summoned Israel to rally
round the ark. He designed to make
Jerusalem. as 1t quickly became, the
religious capital Of the chosen people.
No other city has so deeply won the
spiritual allegiance of so long, as the
City of David, toward which. to this
day, the eyes of Jews in exile every
where turn longingly.
A vital religious appeal always
awakens response. In our own DAYS,
the men who strike boldly into the
realm Of spiritualities get hearing.
Certain charlatans and mountebanks
who perceive this truth to which
some ardent preachers Of the gospel
are blind, get large following by
their insistence upon the life of the
spirit. Wherever men hear the note OF
fresh, actual religious truth sounded,
whittier will they rally, even as Israel
resorted to the ark.
A Historic Chest
Israel's history was wrapped up in
that small ohlong box called the Ark.
of the Covenant. What the Magma
Charta is to England, what the Dec-
1aration of independence is to the
United States. the ark was to Israel
their most precious national posses
sion. Therein were the tablets of
stone containing the decalogue which