Evening star., 1915-02-13

spending to the call
to the colors when
they could have exhibited the unifyinr
tie of race and religion was due to their
sinfulness as a people. While there
existed the unifying element of loyalty
to Jehovah. it manifested itself in OBJ
serving the outward forms of their re-
ligious ritual without changing their
spiritual character.
The advocates of universal peace will,
nnd the darkest possible outlook for
the fulfillment of the program of the
Prince of Peace upon the Tooth an
nlVersary OF the ratification of the
treaty of Client, which will be OBJ
served as an international peace Sun
day In connection with the study of
TINS lesson by many Sunday schools of
the English speaking world. This study
has its announcement to all who are
IN darkness, for it shows how God all
ways has reserve force in preparation
for every crisis. When the moral and
religious. as we'll the national life
of Israel seemed hopeless, God was
preparing to send forth. in answer to
Hannah's silent prayer for a man child
the reformer who would rescue Israe
from national extinction and restore
them to a purer worship of Jehovah" by
laying new foundations upon which the
nation should rest; especially in the
education and the founding of an order
of trained men who would be fitted to
give instruction in the law of God and
esta blishment of a constitutional gov
ernment" The present European war
may end In an era of universal peace.
Light in the darkness always comes in
Gods providence from the unexpected
quarter. as it did in the case of Samuel
the consecrated child, or Nazarite, from
birth.
Consecrated Child.
Before he was born Hannah had
suffered. because she was without
any offspring, unbearable harshness on
the part of Peninnah. Elkanah's sec
ond wife. whom he had probably Sc
lected in accordance with the practice
of his day because of the barrenness
of Hannah. Hebrew women have al
ways considered it to be great mis-
fortune to be chfldless. The petty per-
secutions of Peninnah, who was jealous
over the love and devotion Hannah re-
ceived from their husband, were in
creased during the feasts when she
saw Elkanahs generous gifts to his
first wife.
The spiritual-minded Hannah was
filled with great grief because her rival
twitted her with her barrenness during
their visits to Shiloh to worship Je-
hoyah. Suffering compelled the broken
hearted woman to carry her troubles
to the Lord. The occasion of her trial
became the path of her triumph. God
heard her cry for man child that
she dedicated to His service. as a
Nazarite. even before the lad was born.
Many pastor, priest and preacher has
learned from their mothers lips how
she followed the pattern of Hanna h
and dedicated them to the service of
Christ and His Church during the
period preceding their birth.
According to the general law of vows
(Num., 30:S) Hannah's conservation vow
of her child required the consent of
his wife's promise and plans for
Samuel. The child received his name.
Samuel. meaning, heard of the Lord"
because God had looked with favor
Eli to misunderstood Hannahs action
when she was uttering the first silent
prayer recorded in the Scriptures.
Elkanah. in the verse that precedes
cept his son. whom He had given in
answer to his wife's silent prayer. and
fit the lad for the service of the
temple.
The grateful father offered a special
offering. the only one of the three bull
locks offered that is referred to in the
second verse of the lesson, because
Samuel was consecrated with it by Eli
to the service of the Lord, The boy
was proba ably three years old when he
was weaned. He was thus well able
to care for himself when he was COM
mitted to the care of ELI, the high
priest. to be trained for the service of
Jehovah.
The conservation of children to the
service of the church by parents may
not be the privilege of all, yet it is the
duty of every parent. as well as their
privilege, to give their children to
God. The failure on the part of par
ents to recognize their duty to train
and devote their children to God and
His service accounts for the failure
of the Church of Christ to impress the
chara cter of the Christ upon many that