Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1908-02-13

| his people knew that there was but
one God and he the God Of the peo-
PIE OF Israel. and that the worship Of
strange gods by the prince sses would
not make any difference with the peo-
| pie Of Israel
| Thus time had gone on. and one By
one the high places had increased.
until now all the strange gods had
been honored. There we're high places
| and beautiful groves to Ashtoreth. H.
| Milcom. to Chemosh. to the terrible
Muloch. and to all the other gods. so
that Jerusalem and the surrounding
country was dotted with these places.
| Ahijah watched all this with in
cre asing concern and heart ache.
/ What more could he say than he had
said2 What more could 70 do 70
check the idolatrous tendency Of the
/ people,
Filled with these thoughts he felt
impelled one day to go forth and visit
/ those high places. The one In par
ticnlar toward which he directed his
footsteps was that erected 20 the god
/ Ch"mosh. the abomination 81 the peo-
pie Of Moab. Il had been built on the
hill opposite TO Jerusalem and in plain
view OF the temple which years before
Solomon had taken such delight in
building TO his God
oh. can IL be possible he OK.
claimed. that Solomon has thus
0 a 70 40 "a
HaE he no regard for the God VIII
made him what he is and hath given
him all the great prosperity which
hath marked his reign, No. II cannot
be- that solomon knows 81 this lates:
iniquity. II must be that some one ot
the women more prssuming than the
others has caused this work to bs
wrought without the knowledge OF the
king. ! will see him at once And
turning around hastily Ahijah re-
traced his steps TO the city. and went
direct 10 the palace As he drew
near to the great gateway II swung
open and the king himself appeared
surrounded by brilliant company OF
people. IN the midst Of whom he
noted some OF the royal women.
They turned as they came out OF the
gate and took the road leading towards
the temple.
We're il not for the presence %
the women I should thirk that Solo
mon were going TO worship" Ahiiah
mut.ered to himself as he drew into
the shadow OF the high wall. Il will
follow and see whittier the compan,
Is iourneying Perchance I will find
an opportunity to speak with the
king
Aud so Ahijsh followed but as the
procession drew near TO the temple *
took the road which turned 10 the left
and went towards the gate that led
down into the valley and towards tie
hill opposite
Not going to the temple. that IL
certsin." muttered Ahiiah. as be
turned and followed.
Out through the gate OF the city pro
ceeded the procession, and on down
into the valley. When II started 10
ascend the hill on the opposite side
and draw near the place % festivity
where the ceremonies were to be held
In honor OF the god OF Chemosh. Ali.
Iah. no longer in doubt now as to
the intended destiny OF the king. has
tened BY sidepath to the center OF
the beautiful grove. and ascending the
high place on which the offerings were
made to the heather god he drew
his mantle about him. shruuding hi.
face in its depths. and waited
First came the dancing maidens. the
/ little silver bells with which they were
adorned mingling their music with the
voices which filled the soft afternoon
air. So enrspt were they with their
dance and song. and so fascinated was
the royal company with the gay sight
/ that none at first noticed the silent
| dark form standing before the great
/ image
Then one OF the fair maidens. lifting
/ her eyes. saw the prophet and gave
a cry OF establishment and fear. in
| which all the others Joined as their
/ attention was drawn TO the motionless
figure standing there For one brief
moment they stood and then fled like
/ frightened birds fleeing before the
/ hawk
During the silence which followed
/ King Solomon. by some invisible pow
| er which he seemed unable TO re
sist. drew near while the rest OF the
company fell back. Then the voice Of
the prophet broke the stiffness with
I
Thus saith the Lord. 'Forasmuch as
this is done Of thee. oh. King Solomon.
and thou hast not kept thy covenant
and my statutes. which | have com.
manded thee, I will surely rend the
kingdom from thee. and will give II &c
thy servant. Notwithstanding in thy
days | will no. do Il. for Da-fd thv
fathers sake. hut will reud It out of
the hand of thy SON
Immovable as stone Solomon stood
hearing. seeing. knowing nothing save
that God by his servant. the prophet
Ahilah. had spoken an awful word O,
Judgment upon him and his house. And
while he thus stood the prophet passed
down the hill and disappeared in the
distance.
He is gone" at last questioningly
spoke the king. looking up to the
place where the prophet had stood
But his words shall abide" he NUT.
tered with awesome voice as he. too.
turned and retraced his steps to the
palace
Why Korean Churches Grow
One reason why church membership
does not mean more to some is be