Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-29
The Kingdom
Torn Asunder
Sermon by
REV. FLOYD w. TOMKINS.
Texts I. Kings XII. 1-24.
Texts I. Kings XII. 1-24.

part OF Solonon's reign was quite I'M
worthy and the kingdom was weak
ened In spite Of the many BLESSINGS
through which God had proved His
love. and in spite OF the strength OF
inc kingdom In the early part of Solo
mons reign, there came n revolution
Immediately after his death and the
Kingdom was rent IN twain Hence
forth there were two kingdoms: one
OF Judah. consisting of two tribes: and
one OF Israel. consisting of ten tribes.
Ihere ID nothing sadder than internal
discord. II Is bad enough when people
who are not associated closely with
each other fail TO agree. but when the
members OF family, or the members
OF church. or the citizens OF n smnil
community are unable to live together
peAceably and do Gods work harmon
lously, then indeed is the case pitiful
The home should be place of peace
and good will, where men live together
without strife or bitterness, and where
there Ia common desire for the com
mon good. Brothers and sisters should
DC very near to each other In fellow
snip and IN service. and parents should
see 10 IT that this spirit Is inculcated
from the very first. / am afraid that
IN most cases where there are family
separations the parents are to blame
They either have not lived themselves
as they ought TO have lived. or else
tney have not taught tho children from
their earliest years the necessity of
loving each other.
PRINCIPLES OF RIGHTEOUS
BROTHERHOOD ETERNAL
NO nation is strong enough to hold
together where there are not those
principles OF righteous brotherhood
among the people which are established
oy God, and therefore must he eternal
Wherever sin and unrighteousness
nave had their way in the history Of
any nation, sooner or later, there has
oeen division and consequent ruin.
Oniess we strive after those things
sh MAKE 'or righteousness and pur-
Ky ana truth we cannot hope that our
past history. or the great men, some oc
them now living. OF whom we are
proud. or the rapid advance OF our
institutions. or our wealth can save us
righteousness cxaltcth nation" The
lesson is very clear for US in our own
loved land. We have much in which
We may rejoice and for which ne may
thank God. but unless We strive might
NY. both individually and as a peoplo
skeihet intemperancc. impurity and
o'"honesty. there may come 10 us. as
there came 20 the Jews a sorry and
unhappy division
FAULTS WHICH LED
TO UNHAPPY DIVISION
Let US look little more CLOSELY at
inns story. We find that Rchoboam
Solomon's son. re!gned in due order
AFTER Solomon's death. But Jeroboam
o! tho tribe OF Ephraim FELT thar tba
rule of Solomon had been too scvern
anu so he and many Of the people called
Tor more freedom and less oppression
Kehoboam did not listen to the advice
on inc oioer men who were about him.
OUT consulted the young and wild youth,
with whom. probably, he was won, ~
associate. and rejected the request ~
Jerohoam and his followers The re
suit was division, as we have seem
and a long and bitter warfare began
There were three distinct faults which
ied to this unhappy division:
First. The oppression OF the people by
those in authority.
second. The rejection OF the counsel
OF cider men by Rehoboam
Third. The lack of unity between Re-
hoboam and Jeroboam
flrst. There is nothing worse than
oppression. No man has any ripbt
whether he be ruler or commando mr.
employer. TO deal with those who are
serving him rs II they were slaves. No
inherent power can give the King OF
nation the right 10 do as nc please,
with the lives and property OF his sub
Jccts. Wherever oppression is found
there must he unres, and consequent
revolution. ] state this. not only MS an
historical fact, but as a great moral
principle.
GREAT DEMOCRATIC TRUTH
SPREADING THROUGH WORLD
II housekeeper has no regard for
her servants, but treats them as il they
were machines, she must expect 70 nave
domestic difficulty. If an employer
/, treats his employees as if they were
fslaves. and calls then hands" instead
OF regarding them as brothers and fell
loW-workmen then ne is bound TO have
trouble. II any man who is chosen TO
be the leader OF others begins to pre-
sume upon his authority and to feel
himself superior because OF his posi-
ton. that instant his decline begins and
he Is doomed. This great democratic
truth OF human existence is spreading
nov throughout the world: whether il
"aH the cause or not OF the European
cenhlct. 1T certainly must be the result.
Goa Is working, and as He has made
every man in His own image, so He
commands every man to respect his
brother. Never let us look down upon
any one, or think that we are SUPERIOR
Always let us feel within ourselves that
nrotherly spirit which shall bring us
near to others and keep us from taking
advantage Of others weakness because
Of our own strength.
Second. Rehohoam did not listen TO
the advice OF men who were more ex-
perienced and wiser than himself. tits
always difficult for the young to follow
the advice OF the old. And, indeed IL
will be recognized that one has to learn
from experience a great many Of the
truths OF life.
SHOULD PROFIT by
WISDOM OF ELDERS
Yet, he truly is foolish man who
does not take advantage OF the wis
dom of his elders and try to profit
thereby. Children to-day think that
they know moro than their parents
They should be taught the fallacy of
such an idea. Independence among
young men to-day often partakes Of
the spirit OF license when man
thinks he can do as he pleases regard
less Of the rights of others. And some
times in our own souls we have kind
OF mpatience with those who try to
advise us and help Us. All OF these
things are of tho same spirit as that
which tho unhappy king INDUCED and