Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1910-12-31
PLEASANT FIELDS OFHOLY WRIT
The international S. S. Lesson.
First Quarter, Lesson l; Jan. l.,
1911: / Kings X1I-I:24.
preface to the New Year 1911. A. D.

LtOlN 10 Ola AAfOA b. wa ~
leaf of it ever grows scar or drops
to earth So though in the cycle of
International Sunday School Lessons
we come to the so-called Old Testa-
ment we find it fresh and new. It's
leaves are still potent for healing
ills, personal, national, universal! In
this instance we have series OF
rulers, good and evil, a searching
analysis of traits of each, types Of
citizens and the qualities which
make for good citizenship. Nothing
could be more timely Elijah, Isaiah,
Daniel, Esther are patriots not for
their own day only, but for every
day. The reproduction of their fas-
cinating portraits in connection with
current reforms is most fortunate.
It illustrates the fact that the Bible,
so far from being effete, is really a
handbook of CIVIC duties.
The Kingdom Divided
1t was a crisis hour in the history
of the Hebrew commonwealth when
Solomon died. Tribal jealousies,
popular discomfort, threatened in
vasion, created state of affairs,
calling loudly for man of ability,
patriotism, and courage. To meet
such a situation there came shambl-
ing out of the luxurious environment
of the harem the shallow, effeminate,
inexperienced Rehoboam, SolomonS
only son. He went up to Shechem,
to meet a body resembling the
states-general of France before
which Louis XVI appeared. The
historic scenes, sundered by three
thousand years, have some points
in common. The Hebrew National
Assembly was resolved that the new
king should plight his faith as a
constitutional monarch. Had he
consented, rebellion would have
been nipped in the bud. There was
a three days truce. The pause be-
fore a great castrophe is always
solemn. Then came the kings reck-
lessly insolent answer, in which he
threatened to add to his fathers
yoke. The cry arose, To your tents,
O Israeli aptly called The Hebrew
Marseillaise." Even David's sacred
name had lost its spell as the people
cried, See to thine own house, Da-
vidr Hebrew history parted into
two streams that day, never to be
reunited. Ten tribes, carrying with
them two-thirds of the population
and territory, flowed off into the
channel of the kingdom of Israel, to
continue for three centuries, until
swallowed up in the Assyrian cap
tivity. The tribes of Judah and
Benjamin formed the other stream
of Hebrew life, flowing on for four
hundred years until ingulfed in the
Babylonian captivity. If Judah re-
tanned the temple and priesthood,
Israel at least was graced with
galaxy of flaming prophets. In BIZ
bic story; the dreary incompetence
of Rehoboam is Offset by the bril-
liant genius of Jeroboam, the first
king of Israel. He has been called
the costle builder For twenty-five
years, as far as valor and worldly
wisdom is concerned, he proved
himself worthy of his throne. His
sin consisted in his following the
principles of worldly policy too far.
For reasons of state, he interfered
with the fundamental principles of
the Mosaic law, and divided the
nation religiously as well as politi-
cally. He set up the mutilated imi-
tations of the coerubim at Dan and
Bethel. To keep the first command
ment he broke the second He poi
soned the stream of national life at
its head. So the history of his king
dom is history of decay.
The Teachers Lantern.
1t is an added stain on the char
acter of Solomon that he did not