The Topeka state journal., 1913-05-31

spirit of which We are reading II
the newspa pers. The determination not
TO betray a comrade, which is the
highest code If the gang, takes its rise
from an altogether creditable sentt-
ment The opposite side of the shlei !
is the Spartan spirit of the judge VINO
condemns his own son for law-breah-
ing. This the undiscerning do not see
The New York hoodlums who are going
to jail rather than betray a fello"
criminal do not reckon with the rela-
tive value of principles. They see only
the idea of a lower loyalty, and :re
blind to the higher loyalty to public
welfare The average politician binds
his followers to him by this same
spirit of fidelity. He stands by his
friends. through thick and thin. More
of the same spirit of family alleg1ance
in religious matters would De well 'ol
the church.
The theme is brought forward by
the story of today's Sunday School les
son. which deals with a group OF men
who, in an emergency, were not false
to the call of loyalty. The ten brethren
of Joseph. when put by him to a dr1-
matte test, showed themselves stead
fast to the ties of blood. In brave self
abnegation they offered to share the
suffering of the brother who seemed to
be guilty of a crime The qualities If
sheer manhood appeared in the conduct
of these sons of Jacob. The years had
been teaching them much
The Mystery of the Bags.
The mysterious ruler of Egypt had.
all unknown to them, large plans for
the eleven len from Canaan. He
could not yet reveal to them that ne
was the brother whom they had sold
into slavery. 1t was necessary first to
test their fitness for this new fortune
that he had prepared for them. We
never know when we are being proved
for what is being prepared for us
Every day may be judgment day i'll
a way We little understand.
In this case everything hinged on
benjamin. the youngest child. He, like
Joseph, was the favorite son of father
Jacob, the only child of the beloved
Rachael left at home. Joseph had good
reason to know the lengths to which
jealously of the older brothers could
go. But they had changed for the bet
ter. He had proved that they could
treat Benjamin well in the long journey
from Canaan. Now he wanted to hnj
out how they would behave in an emer- |
gency. when Benjamin's name and
safety were imperiled. Would they |
make the youngest brother a scape- |
goat, and leave him to his fate? Or
would they play the brother part?
Therefore as he sent the party back /
to Canaan with their bags laden with |
food, he had each mans money re-
turned to his bag, and in the bag OF
Benjamin his own cup was placed !
Then, few hours afterwards, he sent
charge them with a theft of his cup.
The Hidden Cup.
The sons of Jacob had scarcely got
outside of the city on their homeward |
journey They were full of stories f |
their great adventure The glamour of
Their incredible good fortune was dis
cussed over and over from all angles /
Not only had they seen the lord of the
land, but they had even dined with
him. Thus they We're bearing back to
Canaan not only sufficient food for
their families. but also a rich tale that
would open the eyes of those left De
hind.
The high spirits of the caravan were
suddenly dashed by the appearance of
Joseph's steward, who came fastening
l1p on horseback, follow ed by a retinue
As he drew near he made sharp ac-
cusation that these men had stolen
Josephs precious cup. At once arose
the oriental cIamor which all travellers
in the east know. Jacobs sons made
cxtravag CANT protestations of innocence.
They spurned the idea that any one
of them was a thief, and they re-
minded the steward how they had re-
turned the silver which they had found
IN their bags on the previous trip.
with whomsoever of thy servants
It be found. let him die, and we also
will be my lora's bondmen." This was
the usage Of the harsh law of Ham
murabi current at the time. Death for
stealing still prevails in some parts of
the world.
''CircumstantiaI Evidence"
Many a man has been hanged on
evidence far less than that which
convicted Benjamin of theft. An eX-
animation revealed in the bags of the
ten older brothers the money they had
in of lar in
which was last searched. there was
found the silver cup of Joseph. Then
what a wailing and lamentation arose!
Shrill shrieks filled the air. Dust was
thrown upon heads; garments were
rent. The stewards feet were embrac-
ed. We of the west can scarcely imag-
ine this scene of wild excitement, for
it Is not the Orient's way to meet such
crises in dignifed silence.
The point of the story is the con-
duct of the older brothers. How would
they behave in this emergency? Would
they leave Benjamin to his fate, and
hasten off toward Canaan with the
food? This was what Joseph wanted
to know. That they were determined
to share Benjamin's sorrow and pun
ishment appeared on the instant. Then
they rent their clothes. and ladeC !
every man his ass. and returned to the
city"
'Nhcn Judge and Brother Are One
Trouble proves who is who. In this
testing hour we find Judah stepping
into the place of the head of the fam
lily as sponsor and spokesman for the
whole group. new dignity rests upon |
him. His words before joseph are those
Of a strong man. Listen to the beauty
Of the simple speech, even as translated
into English: What shall we say unto
my loro? what shall we speak? or
how shall we clear ourselves? GOO !
hath found out the iniquity of thy ser
wants; behold, we are my lords bond
men, both we. and he also in whose :
he i-