The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1911-11-17

Ezra leaves Babylon with his company
lon the LIST day OF the LIST month, March;
and reaches Jerusalem on the LIST day OF
the 9Th month. July
The convocation was on the 9Oth day Of
the 9th month lin Nov.-Dec.)
His reforms were made during the win
ter, Dec. l6S. to March 4S7.
The nearly sixty years between the
sixth and seventh chapters OF Ezra, Of
which there is almost no direct REQ
ord, could scarcely be called the
blank annals Of well-being." Without
these happy periods OF dullness our
lives would be hell, and our hearts
.eternally bubbling and boiling In a
huge pot made hot with thorns. But
these were years Of slow progress, Of
dullness. and neglect, like a garden
wherein the heavenly plants, while
still growing, were overrun with
weeds, and the vines and olive trees.
untrimmed and neglected, bore but
small and scanty fruit.
The temple had been built, but the
opposition had been so great that
the walls had not been restored and
the rubbish still arose In lonR-stretch.
Ing mounds. The visions Of glory had
faded. They had expected vast In.
fiux Of their brethren, from Babylon
and other lands, but had been to a
great extent disappointed.
Ezra. no doubt knowing the condi-
ton Of things In Jerusalem, had not
only prepared his heart to seek the
law OF the Lord, and to do 1t, but he
planned to go up to Jerusalem and
teach In Israel statutes and judgments.
Moved by religious zeal, and also, II
would seem, with the statesmanllke
view Of making Jerusalem once more
the real spiritual metropolis OF Ju-
daism, Ezra conceived the Idea Of In
fusing new life and new ideals into
the Judean community by leading a
fresh band Of Eealously religious ex-
lies back to Judea on a mission Of re-
form.
They came to Jerusalem, after q
Journey OF four months, arriving there
the first day Of the fifth month, or
about the middle Of July. The dis
lance In a direct line was about 500
miles, but the road followed by Ezra's
caravan made a long detour to avoid
the desert and could hardly have been
less than 900 miles.
Ezra brought 100000 for the re-
pair Of the temple, and for all that
was necessary to put the outward
forms Of worship In perfect condl-
ton. He infused the community with
his own devoted and consecrated spir-
itual life and ferYor He brought with
him the Book Of the Law and the
Prophets, with it's strict morality, and
made It known to the people. In con.
trast with this holy law the conduct
OF the people in adopting the abom-
nations" Of the heather appeared In
all Its glarlng wlckedness.
Then Ezra entered upon his great
reform. Some Of the leaders pointed
out to Ezra that the people, even the
princes and rulers, we're intermarry-
ing with the idolaters, and there was
danger that the religion Of Israel
would be destroyed, that all the sins
which caused the exile would be re-
peated, and all that the exile had done
as a discipline would be lost.
Ezra first by himself was astOund.
ed and stunned by the report, and
showed all the signs Of deepest sor.
row and humiliation. Then there was
a meeting together with him Of every
one that trembled at the words OF the
God OF Israel, because Of the trans
gressIon Of those that had been car
ried away" They sat In bitter aston.
ishment till the time of evening
prayer. Then they bowed themselves
before the Lord. and wept and prayed
and confessed and entreated.
Then followed a public meeting,
great congregation Of men and women
and children. There came the great
moral reform. There was proclama-
ton throughout all Judah and Jeru.
salem, that all should gather them
selves unto Jerusalem, upon pain Of
having their property conhscated and
themselves accommodated from the
brotherhood OF Israel. In a great rain
they confessed. repented and re-
formed
Those who are bribing and taking
brlbes-trylng to get rich by graft
and dishonesty. forging, cheating
banks, committing all kinds OF crime,
although the sinners are rich. and OF.
now working in falls
separated from their wives and chill
dren, and are learning honest trades.
II is sad, indeed. but there is no
other way OF saving the nation.
The suffering involved by Ezra's
course was not necessarily so great
as II would seem, not so great as i'm
prisonment Of family man causes to-
day. The man could still support the
wife and children. and do
all possible for her comfort. But he
must not join In her Idolatry. or be
subject to a bad family atmosphere.
The suffering caused by this course
was the fruit, not OF Ezra's work, but
Of tho wrong doing. The physician Is
not to blame for the bitternesgaof his