The Elbert County tribune., 1911-05-19
MICAH'S PICTURE
Of PEACE

LESSON rExr-xieah t:t-a
MEMORY VERSE;.
GOLDEN TExT-"Nation Shall Not
rAft up Sword Against Nation. Neither
Shall They Learn War Anynore."-Mic-
TME-Micah prophesied In the reisns
of lothian. Ahaz, and Hexskfah, who
reigned (BeecheD from B. c. ia to d. c.
PrAcE-H. probably lived in his ra-
Jeusaiem.
PRoPHErs-Is.iah and Hosea
This important lesson deals with
a subject that IL OF the greatest
moment in our modern life, . prob
lem that il rapidly approaching solu-
tion- After ages OF warfare the world
seems nearing the era Of peace. In
the forming Of The Hague Tribunal
the world has taken. in our lifetime.
by far the longest step ever taken
toward realizing the Christian ideal
Of universal brotherhood. But. strange
to say. while this has been going on,
the worlds expenditures in prepara-
ton for war have been increased be-
yond anything the past has known or
imagined. 30 that tho cost of . MILL
tant peace has become the worlds
heaviest burden. We are to discuss.
therefore. as . vital. urgent theme:
Tho Terrible Evils CT War. and the
Coming Of the Reign Of Peace"
Micah has been picturing the sins
Of his nation, and tho terrible punish
mont that was to come AZ . result.
Now he turns in = fash to n contrast
ing picture, the glorious. peaceful
reign Of Messiah.
There is no thought that this happy
time Is to conclude human existence,
but It IL to be the last stage Of hui
man existence, and is to be unending.
Micah saw tho beloved Mount Zion,
tho eastern. Temple hill Of Jerusalem.
1t was called the tower Of the flock.
tho flock being the Hebrews, and the
Temple being compared to tho watch
tower into which the shepherds went
for shelter In a storm or for protec-
ton from robbers. 1t is also called
the strong hold. Zion Is not a noun
tain but only small hill. about 400
feet above the valley; yet the prophet
saw It rising grandly and surely I'M
til 1t was lifted up far above the
Hottest submits of tho highest noun
tains on earth.
He saw restored the first dominion,
the glory that was his nations under
David and Solomon: yes, even moro
than that. since he saw many nations
now unto It to learn Of the ways OF
Jehovah. tho teachings OF the true
religion. Flow implies an impetuous.
voluntary onrush. like the inward
sweep of the 60-foot tides in the Bay
Of Fundy. Nations then will be born
In day" Converts will como by
Pentecosts. The earth will be filled
with the knowledge Of the Lord, az
the waters cover the sea. 1t II from
this triumphant Church Of God that
universal peace will spring. 1t can
not come from any other source.
The central thought OF this magnifi-
cent passage is the reign of Messiah.
that which all our churches exist to
establish. The most striking evidence
of that reign is the Inauguration of
universal peace
An effective federation OF the ma
lions. such as might fifty be called
THE United States Of the World"
will take the place OF war 1t will
have world constitution. a world
legislature. a world judiciary. and a
world executive. just as individual
nations now have these instruments
of government.
We can inaugurate the reign OF
peace by helping the peace societies
do their noble work. BY studying the
question In Sunday schools and pub
lie schools. BY an earnest advocacy
and study OF missions, which do more
than anything else to cultivate the
! spirit OF love for other peoples. and
understanding of them. BY protest
ing against the war spiri. In con-
gress and against the appropriation
OF vast sums for unnecessary war
ships.
What are recent gains In the direc-
ton of international peace and fed
GRAFTON? The establishment of the
International court OF arbitration at
| The Hague. which is the beginning
of the world Judiciary. The enacting
by the nations of more than eighty
treaties agreeing to submit disputes
to The Hague court for arbitration.
The peaceful settlement of more
than 600 international disputes. some
Of them most dangerous. such as that
caused by the firing of the Russian
feet upon British fishing vessels In
the North sea. The establishing Of
the Central American high court Of
nations. The forming of the inter
national bureau of American repub-
lies. The placing Of beautiful
statue of Christ upon the summit of
| the Ander between Chile and Aroan
tina. in token Of their agreement not
to fight each other. The forming Of
the interparlIamentary union. large