The Irish standard., 1909-04-03

we Tedu IN tne Old IeStament, III
the Book of Judith, how Nahuchodon,
osor, king of the Assyrians, who
reigned in Ninive less than seven hun
dreds years before the birth of Christ,
had conquered to his rule all tho peo-
ple round about him, until he came
at last 10 the land of Juda. Here ms
demand to be- accepted az their king
and god Gor he aspircd in his pride
to divine honors) met with resistance.
He was terribly angered thereat and
vowed before his assembled court that
he would wipe the people Of Israel off
the face of the earth.
He sent his great army, great oven
for that time, with the mighty Holo-
fernes at it's head and they encampe:l i
before the walled city of Bethula, In
The land of Juda, and sent insoent de-
mand for its speedy surrender.
The Israelites cried to the Lord
the God Of Israel, with one accord
that their children might not be made
prey. and their wives carried off. and
their cities Destroyed, and their hol,
things profaned, and that they might
not be made a reproach to the Gen
tiles" For the fear of Holofernes and
his army was in the hearts of every
one Of them.
When the helpIessness Of tho Israel
ties, increased by the length OF the
siege, was at It's worst God heard
their prayers for help. and put it. into
the mind and heart of one woman,
cf the Israelites to 90 single handed
into the camp of the Assyrians, and
with ono blow of his owl, sword cut
off the head Of the naughty Holofer.
nes. and SO demoralized that vast army
OF invasion that they fed in dismay
and left Israel in peace and JOY.
And all Israel adored the Lord and
said to Judith: The Lord hath blessed
thee by His power, because by thee He
hath brought our enemies to nought
All this story Of the providertial
Intervention Of the Almighty in a. M :
tons crying need. says the New York
Frecman's Journal. repeats itself in the
history of Joan Of Arc, who, when
France was on the point Of being
wiped off the face of Europe as a ma :
tion, came with A. miraculous sword
and swiftly turned the tide. In q
few months she completely routed tho
English armies that for a hundred
years had encamped round about the
French people and only needed one
blow more to make themselves masters
Of France.
That she came not a. day too soon
:ilat her victory was so complete that
nor appearance and previous training
had nothing to do in the least with
ner great deed, that it was simply and
purely nerciful intervention OF God
for His own wise ends, grow more ap-
| aren't every day to those who look
back to the time and tho place and the
deed and the woman and once more
tho people OF God cry out as they did
in Judt1's time:
"Give all Of you glory to Him, be-
cause He is good, because His mercy
endureth forever. Blessed art
thou, o daughter. by the Lord the most
high God. above all women upon the
earth.
Because He hath so magnified thy
! name, this day, that thy praise shall
not depart out Of the mouth Of men
who sholl be mindful Of the power ol
the Lord forever"
, For d hundred years England had
heen fighting her way into France. II
began in 1886 with commercial ieal.
ousies over the Flanders wool trade.
Edward III WAS king Of England
Philip vi king Of France. Edward
made trade overtures to the duke o.
Flanders and in time won him from
mis- allegiance to Philip. Philip OF
| the other hand was friends with tn