The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02
WHEN \ NATION CHOSE THE SEC
OND BEST.
The International sunday School Les
son for March Is saul Annointcd
kiny"-I Sam. y: II tO 10: ].
M William r. Elli-.)
By William r. Fills

do YOU think the Chinese will ever
give up their beautiful and comfort
able garments for Western dress
INQUIRED a missionary OF n mandarin,
less than ten years ago.
NO. I'm sure they will not was
the positive reply. Nevertheless, TO-
day that mandarin, like most other
progressive city Chinese, Is wearing
European clothes. The craze 10 be Ia
fashion has seized China, even as IL
earlier seized Japan. Half the econo-
mic and social difficulties Of the Japa-
nese nation are due 10 this unreaSon-
ing desire to be like other people.
There is nothing new about that,
however. Old Israel was in the same
case. at the time OF our present lesson
Under Samueis leadership something
like national solidarity had been at
tanned Far reaching social and edu-
cational institutions had been estao-
lished Song had been introduced into
public worship. Religious schools had
been founded. A simple and effective
democracy, which was also Il theo-
cracy, was in operation.
Every sheep thinks the grass in the
next pasture greener, and these Israel
ties, quite in the spirit of our own
Young people who want above all
things else to be in fashion and to
do what Everybody does" had be-
come infected with the microbe of
emulation. They We're tired Of being
peculiar All the other nations had
Kings, SO they wanted q king also
With the same shallow reasoning that
has misled men and women in all
ages, they decided that to be in fash
ion was the ultimate goal If We were
not so guilty ourselves we should scOrn
these foolish, foolish old Hebrews,
who chose 10 be miserable imitators,
when they might have been originat-
orS.
The Chance That Was Missed.
Imagination reels rs we cOntem,
plate what might have been the
course OF history had Israel under
Samuel lived up TO it's possibilities
This was one Of the most tragic OF
the might have beens" with which
the narrative OF human progress is
crowded.
Instead OF the worlds having tc
wait all these centuries for democracy
70 come to flower, in a continent ther
undiscovered, Irael would have hello
aloft this beacon 10 tighten all ma.
tions. Under Samuel the nation was
real democracy. The people ruled
Life was simple. The kingship Of the
individual, and his responsibility t
God alone, Was expressed as perhap
never before or since. Chosen men o
God sought to administer justice, ant
to keep operative the beneficient law
of Moses which are still in advanc
of the statutes which govern the mos
civilized communities.
This was mankind's great oppor
tuity. Israel might have led all tn
world, ages ago. into the Just an,
brotherly life OF IL true democracy
lifting off the necks OF humanity tn
king-curse which at this hour
drenchinS the world with blood. Wha
. chance TO have missed! Even tn
shameful failure of the Crusa 4 er
seems small alongside Of this.
The Right to Do Wrong.
Since man is not rnannikin or a
automaton. he enjoys the terrible priv
hege OF making a fool Of himself. De
20 To the devil. The right to 4
wrong, and TO flout and defy God.
the rrice mortal man pays for h
Godtiko possibilities a free NOR;
agent man must be, il he is ever +
conform to the image OF his Maker. r
can repudiate all the most beneficer
plans IF God for his welfare. Th
sons are not slaves.
Ia the exercise of this awesou
fiShI, lSrael decided that it WOu]
rather follow the multitude to do ey
than To follow God to do right.
rejected the divine program of a the,
cratic democracy, because it wanted
he in style. So q deputation of leac
ers waited on faithful old Sa1nu
tone of the few characters in the O.
Testament concerning whom the re
ORD has no criticism) and told hi
bluntly that he was old and onto
date. and that they wanted an ey
hlilng king, like the nations arou1
them. We think of African nativ
trading diamonds for glass beads:
American Indians selling empires +
few yards of calico: of farmers ha
gaining oil lands for paltry city house
as we contemplate the exchange tn
Israel asked.
Let us make no mistake about
Inc present meaning OF the lesson
which Is Of greatest significance TO
is that the mad desire to foil,
fashions and to be like cur neishho
Is responsible for many OF tht. grave