Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-15
~ Great Man. But

He was a generous man, but he
drank" He was brilliant. but un-
reliable" She had charming man
ners, but was inslncere." They were
wealthy and cultured, but their son
| was a prodigal." All, these blemishes,
these handicaps, these skeletons in the
closets. The great Naaman, COM
mander-i chief Of the Syrian armies,
the brains of Syrian craftsmanship,
closest confidant of King Benhadad,
was great man but he was
a leper"
That terrible fact took the sparkle
from the jewels, the glitter from the
gold. the flavor from the feasts, the
qualification from military and po-
litical honors. Nothing else in all Da-
mascus, or in all the world, really
mattered to Naaman alongside of the
fact that he was a leper. So sin, and
its consequent sense of separation from
God, mars all the successes and joys
that come into a mans life. A man
with a wastrel son, or an unhappy
home, cannot get any peace out of
prosperity or public honor. Little
cared Naaman for the huzzahs that
greeted him as he went forth on the
streets of Damascus; he saw the look
of compassion in the eyes of the
crowd, and no strong man wants to be
pited.
4 little Girl TO the Rescue
Nevertheless, it was the compassion
OF golden-haired little Hebrew
maiden. a sIavc-girl, torn from her
home and people and mere menial
in Naamans palace, that effected his
deliveTanCe. A rare character was
this girl. She did not nurse griev-
ances nor eXult in the ill-fortune of
her master. Her religion was upper
most in her mind. While busy about
the tasks of her mistress. her thoughts
were off in Israel, and she feasted her
memory on the words and deeds of the
prophets of God among her own
people. Only such a broad-minded
child of Jehovah could have been
chosen to do so notable deed for her
faith. This loss is famous illus
tration of the truth that it is possible
to live a great life in a small place
No mistaken modesty kept this
/ Hebrew maiden from bearing witness
to her faith. Doubtless her heart
was in her mouth" as she said to
Naaman's wife, Would that NV lord
we're with the prophet that is in Sa-
maria! then would he recover him of
his leprosv." That ray of hope flashed
through Naaman's household, and into
the most sacred precincts Of the royal
ralace itself. and reached the ears of
tho king.
OF course the king knew only one
way of putting the idea into execution:
he sent formal embassy to the king
os Israel That is a bunder kings and
rulers. are forever making They think
that all things can be accomplished
according to the ancient royal rules of
order. Oficial processes, sometimes
called red tape bind them hand and
foot. They do not understand that the
simple. direct measures of democracy.
and Of the quiet, unobserved relations
of the common pople, are often more
notent than the mandates of royalty.
The greatest force in society to-day is
not the DEGREES of governments.
CONSERVATION fell upon Israel when
this extraordinary embassy came from
SYRIA with its message that Naaman
should he cured of his leprosy. The
king in terror. rent his clothes, CRYING.
Am God. to kill and to make alive?"
Politically, the whole affair looked like
trick to embroil the Jews in war.
The General at the Preachers Door