The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1911-04-08
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.JEPHTHAH'S vow.

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Jehovah. XII. 80.
It's thriiiingly dramatic story this,
,unrivaled In tragic power by anything
in human literature. This Jewish
hall Of fame hero was an illegitimate
son, cursed for sin not his own. Like
many such, Jephthah develops rare dar
ing and force of character Crowded
out Of his home, he becomes an out
law, yet patriot, loving the country
that did not love him. In a national
emergency. in the face of Il great
enemy, they call the exile home. And
the outlaw of the desert shows him
self born leader, great soldier, skilled
diplomat. He's one of those coura-
geous men who In time of national
panic become popular heroes. Wars
gigantic gamble at best, with human
lives and national destinies as stakes.
There's an element of chance as well as
heavy battalions. Rain, muddy roads.
torrents sweeping away pontoons, up
set all calculations of strategy. Sol
dlers become superstitious. Vows are
registered Covenants made with the
Almighty. Jephthah makes one-that
which first crosses his door when he
comes home victorious shall be burnt
offering.
The warrior returns In triumph. A
nation cheers. Then back home to
his own hearthstone. But the VOW
the almost forgotten vow! Out from
his door comes an exquisite piece of
womanhood to greet him. Horror,
amazement, self reproach, sit on his
Iface-it's his only child, his noble
minded daughter. the victim for his
triumph, the bride of death! oh. that
vow! bad promises are better bro
ken," says the proverb. What should
the stern warrior do? "Hedgef" Lead
out an OK garlanded? And the girl
what Of her? Should she rebel? God
of nations, send us such patriotsl In
language heroic she bids him perform
his vow. A soldiers word is his honor
She's soldiers daughter. What's her
life more than another's as a part Of
price in a great cause? This Jewish
Joan of Arc feels while. life is pre-
cious truth is more so.
The Price of Victory.
ali great service demands sacrifice.
Great souls seem to recognize that
"If thou wilt drive Lee from the soil
of Pennsylvania will free the slaves"
vows the man of sorrow on his knees
at the White House Antietam is the
answer No great cause 1ourishes
till its soil is wet with blood. The re-
ligious soldier deals staggering blows.
A Cromwell, a Gordon. a Robert 2.
Lee, makes a terrible antagonist. His
vow Ia with God. His cause, Gods
cause. There's something awfully
splendid in the man who VOWS to God
and cannot go back, even though his
heart breaks and his life is wrecked.
He's willing to buy his country's good
at a terrible price. | know common
tators get nervous when they reach
this story. know their explanations
and respect them. But how do we
know that the sacrifice was not ac-
ceptable to God? If he demanded the
cross from Christ, why not broken
heart from Jephthah? OF John the
Baptist he asks death in the dungeon
at Machaerus. of Paul martyrdom III
the Mamertine prison at Rome. of the
Nazarene crucifiXion on Golgotha. OF
his saints he has demanded prison
torture, lives of insult and physical
agony; the thumb screw, rack, fagoi
and arena were their part. Theil
greatest attachments were made by
hi coarfHnn tho world
shall have tribulations." they are as
sured | do not know but that the
defect In modern religion is that it is
too cheap; that 1t asks no vows, nc
sacrifice. We ask gifts of God and
give nothing in return. To go to O
luxurious church on a beautiful Sun
day morning, when the sun is shining
dressed in our best, bow our heads to
be observed and admired of all, lister
to trained choir and an eloquent
; minister, drop our smallest coin or
the plate-this is called "servicer
He that stitch in the heavens laughs
A true religion not only gives all, but
demands all. Who knows but that
semibarbaric Jephthah had his cropping
hand on a great truth?
Pay Your Vows.
Ever make promises to God? Ger
tainly you have. When you were sick
thought you were going to die. yot
promised God If he would spare yot
you'd give time, money and service fo
him Says Mr. Richman, IF God pulls
me through this time I'll give half my
fortune to him." He's better. Preache
reminds him of his VOW. Then III
hedges. Half? That's too much
Must make allowance for sick mans
ravlng" Fourth? Why. no man eve
gave that much" Fifth. tenth. hun
dredth part pa different arithmeti
has to be used iii tell you preacher
I've deal on now. If It comes out n
hope I'll pony up" The deal" goes
Brilliant stroke. He made a small
fortune The check comes-for 50
Shame! Give God ungrudgingly you
eostliest. Remember that sickbed