The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-04-23
The international Sunday school
Lesson for April rs, 10 David and
oolIath."-I Sam. t7:3e5t.
-. Nayli lAaH - HlllS

oolIath."-l Sam. t7:3e-5t.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
As always. when unfamiliar war
bursts upon It's gaze. civilization
cries out aghast, "why, these sol.
diers are only boys!" q has never
been otherwise: all the great ware
have been begun by armies OF youth.
Youth is the lighting time. The hot
blood OF early manhood 10 heroic: Il
dreams and Il dares. II the supply
OF young hearts should fail. there
would be no wars waged against
heavy odds OF oppression. injustice
and poverty. Was there ever great
reformer who did not become such
In the days OF youth? Men and WON
en- past middle life are not enlisted
anew In any of the mighty battles
for God and humanity.
No: Il needs boy David TO run
jauntily--actually to run--toward
the heavily armed giant who APP
proaches. The hearts OF veteran
soldiers turn TO water before the
taunts OF Goliath: but David is but
quickened for the struggle; and he
gives word OF faith for every
heather taunt. With the story of
David and Jonathan before US, and
with all history supporting II. the
marvel Is that 80 many Of the causes
which call for heroism do not make
their appeal 10 the colleges. the
young peoples societies. the Sun.
day schools. instead OF wasting time
cultivating the favor Of the estab-
lished and the great President VIII
son recentl.' said, with characters
tic courage when pleading for the
education Of southern mountaineers.
1T Is very amusing sometimes TO
see the airs that high society gives
itself. The world could dispense
with high society and never miss H.
High society IL for those who have
stopped working and no longer have
anything important TO do"
Before we 60 into the days les
son upon David and Goliath. let us
get real grip upon this underlying
truth. that youth is the time OF hero
isms. Then II Is that courage Is
greatest. patriotism Is purest. ideals
are knightiiest and religion In most
genuine and natural. Every person
OF advancing years needs to fear.
even more than he fears the harden.
ing OF his arteries. what Longellow
calls.
-The hardening OF the heart that
brings.
Irreverence from the dreams OF
youth"
Enter the Giant.
The combat between Goliath and
David has passed into proverb. No
Old Testament incident is better
known. II Is one OF the hero tales
OF religious history that has fred
the faith and fortitude OF genera
tons.
In accord with the ancient usage
OF trial by champion. the Philis-
tines. who had been routed by the
bravery OF Jonathan and his armor-
bearer. and had marched against
the Israelites. offered to stake their
case on the prowess OF the giant
Goliath. a heavily armed warrior
more than nine feet tall. Day after
day this clustering fellow came out
into the valley between the two
-x~. u.Aloh ,.aea .n,a m, nad ahnuf
Is miles southwest OF Jerusalem.
and uttered his defiances. The Is
realities had no champion to put for
ward Day after day this huge
Philistine made them eat dirt. The
shame OF cowardice was eating into
their souls as actual defeat could
not do.
Then appeared from Bethlehem.
bearing food to his big brothers in
the army, the shepherd boy David.
son OF Jesse. Simple. unsophisti-
Gated. thinking in the clear, broad
lines OF those dwelling in the open,
he was astounded by the spectacle
OF the humiliation Of Israel by the
giant. He had not learned to con.
dition truth or bravery OF patriot.
ism: he could understand risking
ones life in pursuit OF duty-had
done II. In fact--but he could not
comprehend how a child OF God
could be coward.
Indiscreet remarks to that effect
earned him severe rebuke from
his big brothers, who did not relish
having heroism talked In the pres
ence OF their cowardice. Persons
who have compromised with evil re-
sent the rash audacity OF reformers.
The petulence OF "stand-patters"
who should be counted upon for
righteousness, IL sometimes harder
for a progressive person TO bear
than the open assaults OF those
whom he expects TO end arrayed in
clearcut opposition. David's broth
ers wounded him more deeply than
II was in the power OF Goliath TO do.
Persisting In his purpose tfor the
courage OF perseverance Is usually
az greatly needed by hero as sheer
audacity in the face OF dangefD
David won a chance to go up against
this heather tower of insolence. At
first they tried to outfit him In
Saul's armor; but David knew that