Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1909-08-27
FRIDAY. AuGusr %. 1909.
The M osaie Law.

ing, resulting of course in a better SP y
preciation of the aims of those Who de- =
wise laws, still inseparahle from liberty
Surely one of the most valuable parts
of such an heritage is the all too hrlri !
account Of the discovery, education, ser
vice aud death of the father OF the
Hebrew nation. The incidents OF the
finding of a beautiful child by the Egyp-
tiau princess, aud her adoption aud pro-
lection of him eau he passed over with
out comment since What concerns us
most is the sublime ideas which &C.
Cured to him subsequent to the impulse
which liberated mighty host from
foreign rule, and established a distin-
guished nationality.
We learn through research the fact
that Moses, the greatest OF statesmen,
was in his oyhood partly educated by
Chaldean, Assyrian and Egyptian teach |
apparent in his ideal policy which rigid
~ excludes the chief features OF the
social state of Chaldeans, Assyrians and
other ancient political entities. The
notions Of morality that obtained under
the first monarchies differs as much
from the idealism and policy of Moses
as does the habits of animals from those
of the gentleman of today. And when
we have every reason to believe that the
despotism of Moses WAS instituted at
time when the most crude and vicious
notions of religion and morality OBJ
tanned every where else, there could only
be one acceptable inference from COM
parison of ideas. There can be no rea-
souable contradiction of the assertion
that the Mosaic code originated in the
Divine Mind and was transmitted by
one especially fitted for the mission
Think of the vitality of the principles
laid down as law, as fit for US as for the
wandering tribes who first profited by
them. These laws have survived Re.
Nuisance, and still live because they are
an irrefutable appeal to reason as vel
as a command. No one can positively
assert how long a time has elapsed since
IS Va 1, n
ments which was incorporated in thu
Mosaic law as it is in the civil law o
today. Our reverence for the teaching
is in a measure due to the fact that tn
fundamental thought is regarded by al
thoughtful people as imperishable. |
is not strange that many highminde'
students of religion and ethics sfoul'
think that the code is inseparabe. Fo
a strictly literal Interpretation and obed
fence to each one of the parts of thi
ideal could not fail to be beneficial t.
humanity, collectively and individually
The lamentable fact that men hav
so mismanaged things that the indust
rial system of today makes a prope
obedience to one of the laws an impos
sibility is no reason why we should re
gard as obsolete the mandate ,whic|
says: Keep the Sabbath-day to sdncty
it, as the Lord thy God hath command
ed thee.-I)eut. v. -. The idea tina
at least once in seven days man shout
refresh body and soul by resting, an
thinking will still be regarded with rev
erence when obstacles to fullest obed
ence shall be recognized as faults in on
way of living to be amended.
No man that is sane enough to
out alone believes that person can /
made to sanctify one day in seve
through legislation alone as this hs
probably no more effect as preventiy
of proclamation than have the acts dea
ing with murder, theft and adulter
But it is thought that something mu
be done t., secure, at least, a show of r
spect for the fundamental Principle
law. If we do away with reasonab
restrictions as to conduct on Sunda
. not personal matter, we shall in son
degree bring into contempt the who
system of law and order, and institu
Instead license for selfshness. Belle,
that we cannot afford to do that ho
ever hard may seem deprivation in tt
matter OF liberty.
All thought should be directed
such distribution of means, and SUI
a direction of the collective energy
the people as will make obedience, whi'
would be certainly beneficial to tt
whole number, logical and natur
consequence. An agitation which W
secure to workers in mines, factorie
stokeholes, and in all branches blesst
respite OF few hours duration at Il
week end, Saturday, in which pleasu
and health could be found without a
noyance to others, would be the mo
Legitimate Cause ever promoted.
This seems very much like beil
generous at the expense of many othe
interested in keeping things just as tn
are, at any cost to the social state. B
as the reading public are only gratef
for the amount of reform that is like
to no affactad INV tho nypraoS;onu