The Detroit times., 1915-02-04
The international Sunday School Les
SON for Feb. is Ruth Chooses the
True 0od."--Ruth I.
az. WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.


One day I was riding up from the
Jordan valley. through rocky deile,
into the land of Moab. There came
toward us little company of the
sort often seen in the migratory east.
There was first the man, afoot. and
without shoes and in poor raiment.
carrying a staff Beside him walked
a donkey on which rode his wife and
little child--a picture like that OF Jo-
seph. Mary and Jesus, fleeing 10
Egypt We tarried for a moment of
greetings by the way, and the man
told US that his home was in Beer
sheba, but local famine had driven
him over into the fertile uplands OF
Moab, there to work and live until a
harvest should be cleaned. Now he
was ON his way home.
The incident was SO like that OF
Elimelech and Naomi and their two
sons that il has stayed in my memory.
Famine. which comes so quickly and
easily to primitive people living al
ways near the hunger line, had sent
these Bethlehemites to the cast. They
had crossed the Jordan above the
Dead sea. On the high plain OF MoaD.
where the winds blow chill In the
mornings, there Is TO this day success
full agriculture. l saw the farmers
blowing with the same sort OF crook
ed stick and oxed used in Elimelecns
day. A fat land Is Moab, and II gave
succor and home to the Bethlehem
lite immigrants.
This lesson links TO the days news
I'm the grim reality of famine In the
land of Palestine. Today the people
are suffering even unto death On
able to harvest their crops, because
the men had been conscripted ana
the animals confiscated by the Iur-
kish army, the people OF the iand we
lovingly call holy are today the worst
sufferers from the war. Their phght
Is sorest because relief Is not near. as
in the case of Belgium.
In this dark hour, and in the ilght
Of this Old Testament famine story
we may cherish the cheer that the day
Is rapidly passing when any consider
able norton OF the race can suHer
from famine. The network of com
munications that is binding all man
kind together makes famine In lur-
kew or China the concern OF America
and Europe. Not for many genera
lions longer shall we be able TO Illus
trate this idyll of Ruth from contem.
rporary conditions. New bonds Oh
brotherhood, and new heart OF love.
will soon Danish famine, and It's tram
Of attendant ills, from the earth.
Life In New Land.
WIN Knows the heart OF an immi-
grant? Only he who has been a
Stranger In a strange land; and he Is
never heard to disdain the allen, pe
he ever so poor. The four jews rom
Bethlehem made a home TOT tnen
selves In the new land; and the TWO
sons. Mahlon and Chiffon, look 10
themselves wives of the Moabite MAJ.
dens. Ii seemed as II the family had
established itself permanently In the
healthful uplands of Moab: -
Death. that great nullifier OF ali
MANS. destroyed this prospect, for the
father and the two sons died, AFTER
10 wears of life In Moab, leaving three
cbildless widows behind them. New
ties were thus created for the survl-
vors with the land which had so hos
nitably provided for them. The three
graves were strong links.
Nevertheless. Naomi, the motner.
and now the head Of the family. found
her grief.stricken heart turning pack
70 bethlehem and its hills. The fam
inc was long since past. Fond mem
ory called, her to the home OF her girl.
hood and young wifehood. what
inconsistencies is filling the hearts OF
aliens in America only the Comforter
of the lonely knows.
In bethlehem dwelt the past: ana
the best promise for the future Also
Elimelech had property there, ana
there we're kinsmen, ready 10 luinii
the obligations which the hospitaDie
east. with its strong sense or FAMILY
ties, imposes. Sentiment ana pru-