Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-08
WHEN A NATION SETTLES DOWN
The international Sunday School Les
son for October II is "God's From
Use to David" Chronicles II.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

In all the spheres of nation-build'
ng in the world today there is no
finer spectacle than that OF the atti.
tude of the men of Canada toward
their new and imperial northwestern
country. Throughout the DOMINION
there is manifest resolute detern-
nation to conserve the Canadian type
IN this newer region, and to build the
northwest soundly and permanently
upon lines that will make it great.
This means that the church must ac-
company the pioneer. So with magnifl-
cent sudacity, Canada's churchmen
have pledged themselves to the task
Of creating Christian Canada on the
fast-moving frontier. At the present
time there is in progress throughout
the Dominion. stretching from sea 10
sea, a great series of Laymens MIS-
siorary meetings, one avoWed purpose
Of which Is to secure a symmetrlcai
development of the new Canada with
Christianity as it's chief cornerstone.
That is old Israel's experience
brought down to date; the present
Sunday school lesson in the terms OF
today. The assigned subject is David's
desire for an enduring kingdom, and
for the continuance of his own family
line: and for place for Jehovah in
the social and national life of Israel
that should be greater than that held
by any individual or institution. He
wanted a house fit to be Jehovah's
dwelling about which more later.
He especially wanted to see his
own line persist, and this theme oc-
cupies more than half the chapter
This second ambition, while distinctly
oriental is altogether laudable. AS
supreme court Justice said the other
day, "How better can we bring in the
kingdom of heaven than by having
Christian men in all places of honor
and power?"
The American Emperor.
A successful Scotch preacher, the
Rev. DR.. John kelman, of Free st.
Georges Church, Edinburgh, was
lately on his way home from this
country. when he fell to discussing
with a we'll known American scientist
the pressing problems Of life in Amer
lea. DIR. KEENAN, asked the scientist
If he knew of a solution for these
problems. The answer, says the Con-
gregationalist. was prompt and en-
phatic. Eyes, an emperor"
"An emperor" asked DR.. Kelman,
surprised. 81 thought you had done
with all that in America. And would
not your emperor need to be very
wonderful man, incapable OF making
mistakes, and able to lead the nation
on to victory?"
"Precisely," was the quiet reply.
"And we know of such a man. We are
waiting for Him. We expect Him to
come And his name is Jesus"
All thoughtful men are, like David,
concerned for the state Of religion in
the nation. Some, like the scientist
quoted see clearly that the only hope
of the state lies in the reign OF King
David's greater SON. Even politicians,
with no personal, sympathetic interest
in the church, are vying with each
other, as the present political cam
paign in the United States reveals,
in their endeavor to lay stress upon
the Importance Of religious ideals
and institutions. When David perceiv-
ed that in the midst of the now pros
porous kingdom, with its own capital,
Jerusalem, there should be erected as
a pre-eminent structure temple to
Jehovah he was but expressing what
is universal truth. Religions place
should be first place. The wonderful