The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1909-02-27

why" he exclaimed to Zechariah.
the prophet, who had come to see him
In response to his earnest summons
why. II the Samaritans again succeed
In blocking the enterprise. 1t will sim
ply be impossible to take 1t up again.
And what troubles me is this: Our re-
sumption OF the work is a direct vio-
lation Of the decree issued by the for
mer king, Artaxerxes, and should the
present king. Darius. choose to SO re-
gard 1t. he may descend upon us and
execute dire punishment upon the city
for Its holiness. What think your"
Zechariah did not answer at once.
He was troubled by the situation, and
saw the dark possibilities. But he was
certain that Gods hand had been in
the resumption of the building opera
lions, and laying hold upon that
thought, he responded, earnestly:
but we can have made no mistake
In obeying the voice Of God?"
NO." responded Zerubbabel, slowly.
land yet how can we know what trou-
BILE 1t may plunge us intof"
But God will be with us TO keep M
seeing that we have set ourselves to
do his WILL" protested the prophet, in
an effort to be hopeful.
True indeed. and 90 hope It may
prove. but cannot help but be trou-
bled by the dark outlook. The fact
That even now the messengers Of our
foes are on their way 10 Babylon with
their charges against No, has caused
many Of the people to cease their
work, and should Darius look with dis
favor upon US. and cause our enemies
to triumph over us. We should not only
fail to complete our temple but would
suffer oppression and prosecution ct
their hands"
Again Zechariah endeavored to COM
fort the discouraged leader Of the peo-
pie and TO point him to confidence In
God. and then took his departure. But
he went home not to sleep. but to give
himself up to night Of vigil with
God, and while the governor struggled
with his hopes and fears upon q fever.
ish, sleepless bed, Zechariah, the
prophet. reached up in prayer to God.
knowing that II help were to como 10
must come from him.
But how strong seemed the forces Of
evil. How mighty seemed the influ'
ences at work TO discourage the build.
Ing operations. As the thought Of these
things came to Zechariah he racked
his brains to think how such Influences
might be counteracted, and the enc.
mics put to rout. Surely there must
be something they could do. Surely.
there must be some line Of action
marked out. And while the prophet
struggled under this momentary con-
viction that something must be done.
he cast about him In desperation for
some plan, some effort which would
put their enemies to rout and Illustrate
their plans.
It was at that moment that a hand
seemed to reach out and touch him.
and he shook himself as though he
had just been waking out of q sleep
and sought to quicken his benumbed
senses. And then a voice spake. say.
ing:
What seest thou?"
Zechariah looked and in the midst
of glow of light before him. there
appeared golden candlcstick such a.
had formerly stood in the holy place
In the temple, and which he had seen
among the temple furnishings brought
back from Babylon.
II have looked" he exclaimed, with
growing interest, land behold a can
dlestick all of gold, with bowl upon
the top of 1t, and his seven lamps
thereon, and seven pipes to the seven
lamps, which are upon the top
thereof"
And then he paused at the unusual
sight before him, for there appeared
two olive trees, one on the right side
and one on the left side of the candle
stick.
Perplexed and astonished, he turned
in the direction of the voice which had
spoken to him before, and exclaimed:
What are these, my Lordr'
'.Knowest thou not what these bot"
the angel demanded.
mo, my Lord"
This Is the word Of the Lord unto
Zerubbabel. saying: Not by might. nor
by power, but by my spirit, saith the
Lord Of Hosts.'"
A great cry of Joy burst from the
lips of the prophet, and he exclaimed:
IT must hasten to tell him the won
derful message"
Thou shalt, indeed, hut hear the
rest. for It is message of good It'd
ings. So also shalt thou speak: Who
are thou. o great mountain! Before
Zerubbabel. thou shalt become plain:
and he shall bring forth Che headstone
thereof with shoutings, crying: Grace.
grace unto It. The hands of zerub-
babel have laid the foundation Of this
house: his hands shall also finish II;
and thou shalt know that the Lord Of
Hohts hath sent me unto you. For
who hath despised the day Of small
things? For they shall rejoice, and
sha1l aon tha v1vsuy mat In fha HAND NJ