Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-05-25

TIME Micah nr1phesled in the reigns
OF Jotham, Ahuz, and Hezekiah, whc
reigned iR"oaLc!I from u. c.. 754 to B. c.
6s5.
PLACE Isc probably lived in his ma.
1--WE town, Mor,s'"th-gath southwest OF
jerusalem.
PROPHETS Isaiah and Hosea.
This important lesson deals with
a subject that is of the greatest
moment in our modern life, a prob
lem that Is rapidly approaching solu-
ton. 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 prepare.
ton for war have been increased be-
yond anything the past has known or
imagined. SO that the cost of a mill
tant peace has become the worlds
heaviest burden. We are to discuss.
therefore, as a vital, urgent theme:
"Thc Terrible Evils of War, and the
Coming If the Reign Of Peace"
Micah has been picturing the sins
Of his nation, ana the terrible punish
ment that was to come as q result.
Now he turns in a fash 10 a contrast
Ing picture, tho glorious. peaceful
reign Of Messiah.
There IS no thought that this happy
time Is to conclude human existence,
but it is to be the last stage OF hu.
man existence, and Is to be unending.
Micah saw the beloved Mount Zion,
the eastern, Temple hill Of Jerusalem.
1t was called the tower of the flock.
the flock being the Hebrews, and tho
Temple being compared 10 the watch
tower into which the shepherds went
FOR shelter IN Il storm or for protec-
ton from robbers 1t Is also called
the strong hold, Zion is not a noun
tain but only a small hill, about 400
feet above tie valley; yet the prophet
saw 1t rising grandly and surely un.
I'll 1t vas lifted up far above the
loftiest SUBMITS Of the highest noun.
tains on earth.
He saw restored the first dominion,
the glory that was his nations under
David and Solomon; yes, even more
than that, since he saw many nations
flow unto 1t to learn Of the ways Of
Jehovah, the teachings Of the true
religion. Flow implies an impetuous.
voluntary onrush, Ike the inward
sweep Of the 60.f0o' tides in the Bay
OF Fundy. Nations then w..! be born
in a day" Converts VIII come by
P~"ntecOsts. The ca-h v.l, be filled
with the knowledge u the Lord. as
the waters cover The sea. It is from
triumphant Church OF God that
universal peace will spring. 1t can
not com" from any other source.
The central thought OF this magnif-
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.
tions. such as might fifty be called
The United States of tho World"
will take the place Of war. It will
a 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 tho reign of
peace L. helping the peace societies
do their noble work. BY studying the
question In Sunday schools and pub.
lie schools, BY an earnest advocacy
n study OF missions, which do more
than anything else to cultivate the
spirit OF love for other peoples, and
understanding OF them. BY protest.
Int against the war spirit In con.
gresH and against the appropriation
Of vast sums for Unnecessary war.
ships.
What are recent gains in the direc.
tion OF International peace and fed.
GRAFTON? The establishment of the
International court OF arbitration Mt
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
tho 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 q beautiful
statue Of Christ upon the summit of
the Ander between Chile and Argen.
H.. L. lo.-.