Times-promoter., 1909-02-04
THE STORY.

IL AGGAI did not often pass that
IL way, but on this particular morn
ing, moved by some strange Inn
pulse, he had escended the heights to.
ward the temple site and stood view
ing the desolate ruins.
To the heart of the devout prophet
the sight brought but one feeling, that
of Encouragement and doubt.
"Could 1t be that the temple was
ever to be completed?" he asked him
self, and then by way of answer shook
his head In a detected way, while the
tears filled his eyes and a sigh burst
from his lips.
Fifteen years before he had been
among the colonists who had returned
to Jerusalem from the captivity in
Babylon and had hopefully begun the
building of the city and the temple.
And while the enthusiasm lasted the
work went on splendidly. The city
began to take on something of it's
old-time activity. The people rebuilt
their homes and the ruins of the
temple had been partially cleared
away and the foundation of q new
structure begun.
Then had come the check in the
work caused by the jealous Samari-
tans, and now for IA years nothing
further had been done towards re-
building the temple of God. The walls
were overgrown with vine and bush,
for nature is never idle, but with
sympathetic touch seems to try to OBJ
literate the evidence of mans neglect.
But the very luXuriance of natures
covering only emphasized the neglect
the more. 1t was sight which Hag-
gai did not like to behold, and 1t was
seldom he came thither.
'Will it ever be completed?" he
again asked himself, as he picked his
way over the rock-strewn ground and
seated himself upon one of the larger
of the stones which had been hewn
ready for its place in the wall so long
before.
From his vantage point on the tenn
pie site he could look out over the
city lying below. He marked the
goodly dwellings which had been
reared by the people since their re-
turn, He saw the smoke lazily creep
ing up from the fires in the central
courts of the houses and where he
knew the women were busy preparing
the midday repast. He could see the
people passing about through the
streets and caught an occasional
bright bit Of color as it flashed in the
brilliant light of the midday sun.
What a contrast there was. There
the people were living in comfort and
ease, while the temple of God lay
in ruins. There was the activity of
the busy mart, while here no sound
broke the stiffness and God was for
gotten.
1T Is all wrong!' exclaimed the
prophet in a voice of mingled grief
and anger. "And blessing cannot come
to Gods people while they neglect
their obligations to him." he added,
shaking his head with serious en-
phasis.
For long time he was silent, while
conflicting emotions stirred in his
heart, Then the thought seized hold
upon him that he was sitting idly
there, and doing nothing to stir the
people to action.
ooh, Cod" he exclaimed, as the con-
sciousness of a neglected mission
swept over him, help me to speak to
the people. Give me message"
The voice of the prophet rose and
reverberated back and forth through
the mass of ruins which surrounded
him, and he turned to listen as the
sound died away.
"Thy cry is heard" spake voice
from the midst of the ruins. go thou
with this message to Zerubbabel, the
governor, and Joshua, the high priest,
saying: Thus speaketh the Lord of
Hosts, saying: This people say, The
time is not come, the time that the
Lords house should be built. Is it
time for you, o We, to dwell in your
ceiled houses, and this house, the
house of the Lord, lie waste? Now
therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts:
Consider your ways"
With breathless eagerness Haggai
listened, and when the voice ceased