The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-04-19

Organizes PROF. 0ia ". G. vvanNess, Denison
Temperance, Rev. c. E. LaReau, Denison
D4''. 1900. M Mrs. A. II. Harper. Dow City
Executive Committee-E,.. L. HOFFMAN,
Denison; F. L. VanSlyke, Manila; n. r:
Stillson,, Arion; e: II; stark i;o Cn I;rant
Oak; John Vennlck, west Slde' frdhh
Woolston, Boyer
April 23.-Joash Repairs the Temple.
. Kings II 81 to -, 16.
We must turn our minds away from
the New Testament, where 1t was cen
tered last week, thinking Of the glor-
ious thoughts OF the resurrection OF
the Saviour, to an event which TOOK
place 500 years before His birth. We
are to consider history in the south
ern, or what is known as the king
dom of Judah" The capital of this
kingdom was Jerusalem. In course
of time there came to the throne
wicked woman named Athaliah. She
was a daughter of the wicked Jeze-
BEL whom we heard SO much about
when we studied the life OF the
prophet, Elijah. One will not be sur
prised to hear that she had ordered
killed all Of the young princes who
might claim to have the right to be
king in her place. 1t appears that a
babe, who was in the kingly line, was
hid from her fury. His name was
Jehoash, or as called in our, lesson
today, Joash. He was kept in Sc.
curity by the priest Jehoiada until
he was seven years old, and then it
was arranged for him to be crowned
king. This was done, and the wicked
Athaliah slain.
Having been brought up in the
great temple at Jerusalem the king
saw that it needed repairing and di-
rected that this be done. The priests,
however, took the money coming in
from the people and used it for their
own support and the wishes of the
king were not needed. In time the
kings attention was called to this and
again he commanded the repairs to
be made Now to make sure that
funds given be put to the intended
use, it was arranged that chest with
a hole in the top be placed beside the
sacred altar, and into it was put
the money given by the people. When
it was full it was opened and the
money counted by the kings scribe
or clerk and the high priest. 1t was
then put in the hands of the men
who were to do the repair work. So
faithful were the carpenters and
masons, so enthusiastic to see the
work done right, that there was no
accounting made of the funds with
them. All this led to a revival of in
terest in the religion of the true God.
Then as noted in the golden text,
'"The people rejoiced, for they offered
willingly"
The lesson brings thus to mind the
subject of giving toward the support
OF the church and Gods cause general
ly. 1t was put upon the Jews of old
to give one-tenth Of their income to
the support of the church and many
now contend that this is what all
christian people should do. Those
who nave tried this, say they have
been blessed in SO doing. 1t is not
for you and to make set rule for
the giving of our brother or neighbor
to Cody purposes. There is no doubt
that Christian people cannot expect
success for Gods cause unless there
are funds to carry it on. Men and
women cannot be expected to give up
all other means of providing for their
wife and children, devoting their
lives to the bible religion, and not re-
ceive enough to give them food to
eat and clothes to wear. The minis
tiers and the missionaries should not
be asked to be the only ones in the
church to sacrifice for Christ. 1t is
as much the duty of the common
member to deny himself or herself
for the gospel as the minister and
the missionary.
One cannot and does not have right
interest in the success of the gospel
unless he has put some money or
some effort into having it such. The
man whom God blesses as a success
full farmer and business man should
divide with the man who devotes his
life to religious work Gods cause
needs churches, colleges, teachers
and these can only come by the help
of those having the money to make
these things possible. 1t should be
the joy of all to help Gods cause
along with money. There should be
no trouble about money in church af-
fairs. Jesus commended the cheer
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