The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-10-10
In the Religious World

and material CONSIDERATIONS tTlulHpil0u
over sentimental and spiritual ties.
The Goers and the Senders.
The stay-at-homes helped the goers-
forth. That is the universal rule.
When / climbed the sacred mountain,
F~uji-yaYna. with bands Of japanese
pilgrims, L learned that they were but
representatives Of their respective
communities: the whole neighborhood
had united TO pay the costs. Thus
Christian EndeaVOr delegates go to
conventions. So. also, it is with Zion
ism today: Jews all over the earth
pay for the maintenance OF their tel
low religionists who nave returned to
Palestine. Practically every Hebrew
in the Holy Land today receives a
portion" from abroad.
In this manner the more pious and
devoted Of the expatriates were help
ed home. The immense sums neceS-
sarv for the journey. and for the re-
establishment Of life in the Promised
Land. were provided by those who
so themselves. Similarly, the great
missionary propaganda Of today is
made possible by the few who go
abroad and the many who stay behind
IF you cannot go. send, was a cry
raised in Bahylonia by Ezra and has
li~eutenants early 2,5O0 years before
it was heard in missionary meetings..
The Restored Treasures.
AS the buried libraries Of Babylonia
are today being dug up to shed new
light upon the beginnings Of ciViilza-
ton. and as the tombs Of Egypt are
yielding UP their well-kept records, SO
the treasures OF the Jewish temple
were restored to the returning eXlieS
by Cyrus.
God moves in a mysterious way.
His wonders to Reform
He had made Israel a nation by the
bondage in Egypt; now He had cured
them Of idolatry by the exile in Baby
Ion. SO He had strangely preserved
for them, in the hands of their enc
mics, the utensils for temple use.
They could not have kept these them
selves; SO Jehovah provided a Baby
ionian storage vault for them. We
may yet learn that He has likewise
kept the Ark of the Covenant in the
secret depths Of Mount Moriah, to be
restored in His own good time.
The return-which a later lesson
will enable us to study more in detail
was in sharp contrast to the journey
from Jerusalem to Babylon. Then the
Jews were captives in tears and mis-
cry, spoiled Of all their possessions,
torn from their homes. Now they
were a We1i-organized company, num-
bering above fOrty-two thousand, with
more than seven thousand
They had the royal favor Of the king
Of the known world. They were prop
erly equipped, and had great treasure,
both for their own use and for the re-
building of the temple. They were
a predetermined and more worldly
wise than they had been half
a century before. Their %sojourn at
the seat Of the worlds finest civiliza-
ton had taught them many lessons
that WOl)1H t1npa all their fntnro ax-
perfence.
Back Home.
"Hard-hearted" men would be like
II to approve Of the Jews who stayed
in Babylon. rather than Of those Who
went back to the ruined city on Mount
Zion. The contrast was complete.
Babylon was a great city. The whole
world centered there, and sent its trib-
ute Of trade and people in a rich and
constant stream. Babylon was full Of
business, social and political oppor-
tunities. As h cases OF Daniel and
his friends proved. the right sort Of
man might any day fall under i'm
perial favor and contract profitable al
liances. So far as prudence could
foresee. Babylon was safe from the
ravages Of war: who would dare at
tack this SO great city, the capital of
the earth? The comforts, pleasures
and luxuries of life abounded there.
On the other hand, Jerusalem was
only a ruin. There were none Of the
comforts Of home, even of the old
home that their fathers used to know.
Business opportunities would b.
slight, and agricultural opportunities
less. Robbers and hostile armies both
We're to be feared. Every man who
Went back would be severely taxed in
purse, body and mind for the rebuild
ing project.
That sort Of reasoning would have
Kept Abraham in the rosperou city
of tT Of the Chaldees; and the Pill
grim Fathers in Holland. 1t was the
old. old choice that was offered the
exiles. The could have the best. at
q high price. Up III Judea awaited
varied hardships-but also the pure
worship Of God. They had to make
choice between the material and the
spiritual. Sentiment>and spirituality
called them back to the old home,
where thew could honor Jehovah NV