The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-05-03
International Sunday School Lesson.
Second Quarter. Lesso 5 Gen. 40:
May (. 1913
Joseph Interprets Dreams
The Story.

The Story.
Joseph Was a Rose of Jericho.
He bloOmed anywhere. Palace, pit,
or prison, it mattered not. He was
brilliant and fragrant under most
adverse conditions. He has justly
become the universal ideal of per-
sonal purity and disinterested kind
ness. That is what makes his story
fascinating and valuable in the
highest degree. As it is a tran
script of human life, it is illuminat-
ing and applicable wherever and as
long as there is human life. Jo-
geph came in contact with SUI
perb civilization, hte architecture of
which remains a marvel to our
day. He heard more musical in
struments than he ever dreamed of;
harp, Tyre, guitar, flute, single and
double pipe. tambourine, cymbal,
and drum. He saw more industrial
arts plying than he knew were in
existence; the making of pottery
and glassware and metal vessels,
arms and domestic implements, and
the weaving of such linen as the
modern loom can not match. Egypt
was to Joseph schoolroom crowd
ed with object lessons. He was
Oaffino oil tho of for
eign travel and residence; coming
IN contact with one of the oldest
and best civilizations of earth read
ing its literature, studying it's laws,
observing it's customs. That was
what Providence sent him~to Egypt
for. His position as a domestic
slave. instead of limiting his OPP
portunities. actually added to them.
But the rose tree in Joseph's lovely
character developed into sturdy
oak under the blast of powerful
temptation. He stood erect, crying:
How can l do this great wicked
ness and sin against God?" Con-
scious of Innocence and integrity, he
suffeytd with patience the foul i'm
mutations against his character,
which he could deny but not dis
prove, the circumstantial evidence
being strong against him. Now
followed the second great and in
applicable reverse in his career. The
lot of slave was bad. That of a
prisoner was worse. The question
Why" must have often framed
itself in his mind, but he did not
brood over his lot. On the con-
trary. he adjusted himself to the
situation. Just as in the palace of
a prince, so in the prison of a
king, he gave such evidence of ca
pacity and fidelity that everything
was put in his hands, so that what
ever was done there, che was the
doer Of it, After his own fateful
experience in dreams, one would
have thought he would have side
stepped the dreams of his fellow
captives. That he did not do so is
evidence of his strong human feel
ing. For one, he anticipated the
poy of deliverance The other he
helped to prepare for his impend-
ing doom.
The Teachers Lantern.
A wave Of popular conviction is
sweeping across America. In it's
proportions and strength it seems
destined to vie with any reform the
Nation has ever witnessed. Anti
White Slave legislation and prose-
cutfon, Chicago Vice Commission, Sex
Hygiene are evidence of this rising
tide. 1t seems an effort at self
preservation on the part of the
Nation. 1t has come none too
soon. For the most part the meth
DDS are admirable and effective But
when all is said and done, 1t re-
mains In large measure matter of
Individual character. Laws and
literature are instructive and re-
straining. In the ultimate analysis,
however, it turns upon the consci-
once Of the.person. Does he, like
Joseph, recognize the exceeding sim
fulness of the sin, and that it is
direct offense against the Deity?
II SO, he will not commit it. Much
is said these days of the Social
Conscience" But the social con-
science is simply the sum of all the
cOnsciences. 1t can be no better,
no worse, as John Stuart Mills says,
THE worth of the State is the
worth of the individuals who COM
pose the State" So as the mass
Of men get better consciences, quick,
tender, and intelligent, the deadly
evil will be abated. A good con-
science will not permit one to in
dulge animal passions at cost of
souls and bodies of others. 1t will
lead unerringly and powerfully to
self-denial and confluence. In pro-
portion as such consciences abound
will society grow clean, healthy,and
happy. There is nothing occult or
in the dreams and
their Interpretation recorded in
this connection. The psychology of
it is perfectly. evident, and the