The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1915-09-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL. NOTES.
Side Lights on Next Sundays
Lesson for Teachers and Pupils
Edited by. Charles x. Meyers.
CRAWFORD NTY SU "A
SCHOOL ASSOCIATIONS

Adult Department ~. .,.......r....
.... Mrs. +. L.. Hoffman, Denisor
Teacher Training Observation-Disclosures.
5000. Rev. A. =. Adams, Dow Cit.
Temperance. ..................
Miss Minetta JorgenSen Val
Missions. Mrs Anna Williams, Denisor
Home Department NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
Mrs Il. W. Pierce, Denisor
Executive Committee
r. l.. Hoffman, Denison; VIM. Lindherg
Kiron; A. NJ. Mcintosh, Manila; II. j.
Cook, Denson; Frank Woolston, DEM
son; Seth Calderwood. West Side.
Sept. 19-Defeat Through Drunken
ness--I. Kings 20, 1921.
We have one of the quarterly tenn
perance lessons today. 1t is not hard
to find bible verses which enter pro-
test against the evils OF strong drink
and group of these come right along
in connection with the history of the
Jews in the days of Ahab, the king we
have been studying about for the last
few weeks Here is the lesson story:
We place ourselves in the days OF
long ago when the Children OF Israel
and the ten northern tribes had Tor
their king Ahab. His kingdom was
weak as compared with many about
it, To the east, the great Kingdom OF
Syria was reigned over by power
full monarch, Benhadad. The riches
and that which came as SpoilS OF war
attracted the Syrian king and his sol
diers toward the kingdom OF Ahab,
and $50 the capital city, Samar-
ia was beaieged. Ahab feeling his
weakness was willing to say yes when
Benhadad sent word demanding much
silver and gold and the gOodliest
things inside the city. Encouraged by
this easy way of getting riches. for
himself and his followers, BSnhadad
made further demands. saying that he
would send in his soldiers that they
might take whatever they wanted OF
the property of the Jews.
To the demand for the right to sack
the city Ahab sent defiance and was
not alarmed when the Syrian said he
would make handfuls of dust OF the
city and it's contents. Ahab made use
OF the now famous expression, Let
not him that girdeth on his harness
boast as he that putteth it off,. lie
cdllGu lOSClucl IuC CluCIo VI ehS ~
pie and they were with him in resist.
ing the demands OF the Syrian mon
arch. The bible record says that Ben
hadad was engaged in q drinking bout
with his companions when the Veply
of Ahab reached him, and that win
much boasting he commanded his sol
diers to engage the city and take II.
While Ahab was bad king and
most of the people had gone or into
idolatry, the God in heaven was still
overlooking with befriending care the
fortunes OF the ten tribes, and word
was sent Ahab by a man recognized
as a .'prophet of God" that the Syrian
monarch and his men should be deliv.-
cred into the hands of the Jews, and
that this would again show 81 am the
Lord" Ahab was told that he should
lead his army. ThereupOn he gath
cred up his men and gave battle to
his foes King Benhadad was still
drinking and paid little heed to the
oncoming of the Jews. Soon it was too
late to make defense and there was a
great victory for the Isfaelites.
Defeat through drunkenness! 1t did
not need the bible account Of the de-
feat of the Syrian king to, give ex-
ample OF the truth Of the above state
ment., Every grown up, reader can
give from one to one hundred. In
nearly every family there. has been
sorrow, trouble, humiliation over the
results. Of. strong drink. The, history
OF every community tells the sa@s
story Death by violence, exposure, In;
sanity, deformed children In body ana
mind give evidence OF defeat by
drunkenness and It's attendant evils.
Business men gone wrong from drink
and gambling and debauchery face us
on every hand tits indeed time that
communities, towns, cities. nations
arise to nut the stamp Of condemnation
on tile drinking habit and the institur
lions which Seek to make gain from it.
When one considers how slow great
reforms ,of religion, morals, good COY
eminent, progress it is>indeed most
encDnraging to see the condemnation
Of the drink habit and attendant
drunkenness which now prevail in
the world. All OF the nations Of the
world are not going dry" inst vet,
but public opinion in America and
Europe has set hard against drunken
: u6SSS4 LII tsAhSii viz 49,
full. war, to cause governments to take
a. firm stand against intoxicants. What
has been done but gives high sanction
to what temperance people have been
insisting for these many years. Strong
drink and best efficiency do not go
hand, ia hand. With business men,
great Corporations, kings who care for
success in war and the best interests
Of their people, saloons and excessive
drinking are under condemnation.
Drunkenness with its attendant evils
is the, greatest enemy the christian
church has. to deal with. Saloons and
the, drink habit should be fought in
season and out Of season. There
should be no compromise. Christs
cause viii not come to final triumph
u long as drunkenness prevails. You
ano I cannot live to see its overthrow,
hut, we can be in the record for plac-
ing at least one brick or stone in the
wall which is being reared to obstruct
tho river Of debanchery. crime defeats,
which is flowing on, carrying destruc'
ton to lives. hearts and property
II