Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1909-02-04

tlAAAA UtA Ct NNlNT - " uA1ufI N IN
brilliant light Of the midday sun.
What a contrast there was There
the people we're living In comfort ane
case. 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 ths
prophet In a voice Of mingled grief
and anger. And blessing canno, come
to Gods people while they neglect
their obligations to him he added
shaking his head With serious EN-
phssis
For a long time he was silent. while
conflicting emotions stirred In his
heart Then the thought selzed hold
upon him that he vas sitting idly
there. and doing nothing to stir the
people 20 action
oh. God. he exclaimed. as the con
sciousnsss OF a neglected mission
swept over him. help me to speak &c
the people. Give me a message"
The voice OF the prophet rose and
rsssrbsrsted hack and forth through
ne mass Of ruins which surrounded
him. and he turned to listen ~ the
sound died away.
Thy cry Is heard spake a voice
from the mids, OF the ruins Go thou
with this message to Zerubbabel. the
governor. and Joshua. the high priest.
saying: Thus speaketh the Lor. OF
Hosts. saying; This people say. The
time Is not come. the time that the
Lords house should Be built Is IL
time for you. o ye. 10 dwell in your
ceiied houses. and this house. the
house Of the Lord. lie waste, Nov
therefore thus saith the lord Of hosts:
Consider your ways
With breaihless eaEeruess Haxxsi
listened. and when the voice ceased
be sprsng from bis seat upon thu
stone and fastened back over the
ruins and down into the city as rapid
ly as possible. and soon burst uncere-
roniously into the presence Of the
governor
One look at the intense. flushed
face Of Hsggai checked the word Of
rs3rOof which he vas upon the point
II uttsring for the abrupt entrance.
aud the next instant HAgxai VAS pour
ing into Zerubbabers ears. all that
had transplred al the ruins Of the tenn
pie and the words which the Lord bad
spoken
4; is enough exclaimed the gov
eTnor. We have erred
And without further comment. but
with an earnextness which betokened
that Il was a time for action and not
for words. he ordered that II b. pro
claimed throughout the city that the
next day the governor would go up TO
the temple site and would inspect the
ruins and plan for the work which. de
clared be. should begin As soon as
possible"
The governors message created o
great stir throughout the city. and at
the appointed hour on the next day
when Zerubbabel. the governor. and
Joshua. the high priest. and Haxxak
reached the temple ruins they To-
all the city come together to ssS
the governor would do. Some devous
hearts there were who waited rev.
erently. others were there out Of curl
osity. while the great majority were
unsympsthetic II not hostile. and de-
elared that IL was worse than folly
for the governor to attempt the task
Of rebuilding.
Was not the work stopped i4 years
ago by decree Of King Artaxerxes
they asked And who Is there Who
dares to again take up the work
ZerubbabeI had spoken and then Hzz-
gal had repeated the message which
God had given him. and as his voice
ceased a great fear fell upon the pso
pie. and their murmurs ceased
And then the religious wave OF sen
ument was swept back BY the return
ing wave OF doubt. and The people
cried out
How can Il BE- done. Our enemies
about will again trouble Us We ~
member the prosecutions Which zrssa
against US. and Of the final decree Of
the king which put a stop to the WORK
And now. how dare NE begin a wcrx
which will bring down zpon cur
heads the hatred and opposition Of th@
San1Titanss
ZeruhbabeI and Joshua and HaxxaI
watched the struggle between he
hopes and doubts of the people aaa
then Hasgai stepped forward aza nss
ing his voice 50 that all IN that great
assembly could hear be shoarea
Thus saith the Lord. am ~ifh yea
As the inspiration of thar tAouxAf
gli9Eed the hearts Of the people tksy
shoutec back: And with his help No
will