The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-06-26
SAMPEY'S LECTURES
AT PELHAM HEIGHTS
Confines Discourses to Early History
and the Book of Psalms

Pelham Heights June &.-(Special)
During his series of lecture here for the
past 16 days DIR. Sampey has carried on
two lines of study in the Old Testament
during his stay at Pelham Heights, one
in the early history and the other in
the Book of Psalms. In his lectures on
Genesis he cautioned the preachers not
to treat the book as scientific treatise on
the origin and early history of the world,
but as a great religious book. Using the
language of every day life. It was not
written, said DR.. Sampey to forestall and
render unnecessary the researches of
and His relation to men. He is the Gre
ator of ALL and man was made in His
image and likeness. When sin marred
Gods work, God took UP the magnificent
task of winning man back to Himself.
DR.. Sampey spoke at length of the re-
markable discoveries in Babylonia and
Egypt which throw so much light on the
times of Abraham and the other patri-
archs. He pictured the early life of Abra-
| ham at Ur. city which was more than
1000 years old when Abraham was born
The civilization of that early time Is re-
| flected In the code of Hammurabi. copy
! of which was discovered few days be-
| fore the present century was born. The
religious history of the world took a fresh
start In Abraham, said DR.. Sampey, fol
judaism, Christianity and Mohammedan.
ism alike look back to him as the father
of believers
| DR.. Sampey remarked about Jacob that
| a Il. -
4 what He could do with tough timber. The
upward struggle out of a selfish life was
strilsingly portrayed, until at last the
| supplanter became a saint. The lecturer
spoke with enthusiasm as he told the
beautiful story of Joseph.
Inasmuch as DR.. Sampey had lectured
on Moses last year at Pelham Heights
he passed from Genesis directly to the
dark days of the Judges. He showed how
God sometimes calls a woman to do work
properly belonging to men. Deborah be-
came a prophecies a deliverer and a fe-
male judge. When men are faithless and
| cowardly, a brave woman may save the
day.
The lecturer called attention to the low
state of religious knowledge during the
period of the judges, Jephthah being SC
poorly instructed as to offer up his own
daughter as a burt offering to Jehovah
and Samson living on low moral plane
| The story of Ruth shows that there were
| families in Israel. even In this dark time
who maintained a sweet home life In the
midst of anarchy.
| DR.. Sampey next took up the stories OF
Samuel. Saul and David. He urged the
| ministers to preach on the ministry OF
children, using the account of the boyhood
! of Samuel as a text. Ell was described
! as a striking example of men who lose
| through sins of omission. Saul made
good record at first, but self will was thu
ruin of him, said the lecturer.
| The life of David seemed to appeal t.
| the preachers with peculiar power. DIR
| Sampey made the story fresh by liberia
use of the historical imagination. an,
sought to put his students into heart toucl
with David. He described the ruddy shep
herd boy with beautiful eyes and well
knit form, as he was ushered into TIL
presence of the old prophet to b.
Amounted King of Israel. AS this sam,
shepherd went forth to meet the Clan
Goliath in single combat, he chose hin
five smooth stones from the brook pre-
ferring to have some reserve ammunition
if his first aim should not be perfect.
| The beautiful friendship between Davit
and Jonathan was described by DIR. Sam
pey as the finest example in all history
| He showed that Jonathan had more t.
lose and less to gain from the friendship
and hence Jonathan stands forth as tn,
model friend for all coming time.