Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-30

For four months he prayed. thought
and waited.
The following April CAD he obtained
permission to go to Jerusalem.
The journey occupied four months and
he arrived at Jerusalem in the first day
Of the fifth month, Alb - July-Aug. Or
1911 the first day of Alb was August G; In
1915 1t will be July ~
PLACE-shushan and Jerusalem.
RULERS-Artaxerxes. Emperor OF Per.
sian Empires: Nehemiah, governor OF
Judea; Ezra. the scribe. the religious
leader Of the people in Babylon.
When tho right time came, and Ne.
hemiah's heart was burning with sor.
row and desire. he found "opportuni.
ties concealed in apparent ~hlndrances."
It was dangerous to show sorrow In
the presence Of the king. Even a mod.
ern autocrat like Louis XIV. expected
e~verybody's face to shine II he did but
appear, and how much more an Artax-
erxes? What, wear a sorrowful face
when he was presiding over Joy and
-sayety. gliding them with his pres
ence? II he had ordered this melan-
choly visage away to prison or death,
It would have been justified by prece-
dent. A gloomy face might mean dis.
affection against the king. The light
OF his favor ought to be enough to
drive all sadness away.
Nehemiah had hitherto been able
to keep a smiling face when before
the king: but n day at q superb
banquet. when the queen was din.
ing with her husband, amid gold plate,
gorgeous silk dresses Of every hue,
marble pillars. fountains, music, lights,
sultanas. courtiers respondent as the
sun. and all worshiping their sun Ar
taxerxes. smiling when he smiled, his
sorrow shone through his face In
spite Of himself, so that the king no.
ticed 1t and said:
Why is thy countenance sad, see
ing thou art not sick? this is nothing
else but sorrow Of heart" Then he
was very sore afraid, and said unto the
king. Let the king live for ever: why
should not my ~countenance be sad.
when the city, the place Of my ia
Tiers sepulchres, lieth waste, and the
gates thereof are consumed OF fire?
II 1t please the king, and II thy serv-
ant have found favor in thy sight, that
thou wouldest send me unto Judah,
unto the city Of my fathers se%pulchres,
that I may build It."
The kind was pleased to grant his
request. made him the Tirshatha, or
governor Of Judea, royal agent or
"plenipotentlary," with full powers.
He travelled 10 Judea in state, with 8
military guard Of cavalry, and with let
tiers to the rulers o fthe neighbor!ng
provinces to give him whatever no
needed for his work.
Nehemiah was very wise. He lay
quiet for three days, doing nothing, but
learning everything. He showed no
credentials, he proposed no plans, he
told no one what he hoped to do. His
first business was to learn the whole
situation, the feelings OF the people,
who would oppose, and who would
help, how able the people were, what
obstacles must be overcome.
Nehemiah met the rulers, mobiles,
priests and people, and told them OF
his purpose in coming. how he had
learned OF their need, how he had
wept and tasted and prayed, and how
God had heard his prayer and caused
the great emperor to favor his plans,
give him permission to come, and eu-
thority, with orders for the surround
ing rulers to give the needed help. He
told them Of his midnight investiga-
tions.
The business side Of religion should
be done as Nehemiah did 1t In the
most skillful and ideal business man.
ner. Nehemiah had a layman's good
sense in religion. Walls were neces-
sary to the safety Of the city. They
were also necessary to true religion.
The division Of labor, the noble COM
petition, the interest in their work that
kept them from taking time to even
put off their clothes, the giving each
his own work, and over against his
own house, the union of watching and
praying and working, the working to-
gether Of old and young. rich and poor
form a real master-stroke Of genius"
The wall was parceled out among A
working parties. 1t was like the re-
building Of the walls OF Athens after
the invasion OF Xerxes, like the build
ing Of the walls Of Edinburgh after the
battle of Flodden. This plan made each
n more earnest and faithful as he
saw what others were doing. 1t ami
mated the work with a noble emula-
ton. and a personal pride. See how
fast my work goes on! See how well
piece is done! Now, my sons, grid
up your tunic. or Rephaiah the son
of Hur will get ahead Of US. True