The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-02

ills of our time. Nauoidi il'ai! 80
arnaments and fleets was basic
cause of the present world war. The
effort to outvie one another III lux
clothes OF the latest
mode. ostentatioUs homes and laVlsh
pleasure-seeking--is the real reason
for our hard times. why 90 boys
learn TO smoke and men 10 drlnK
To be like others, of course. Most SIN
ming is mere imitation.
The men who are clam mOring tnat
America shall join the worlds mad
race after military and naval suprem-
acv. and after diplomatic prestige, are
as grievously mistaken As those Ola
Jews who surrendered Israel S rlShtS
TO be distinctive nation, ana a.
leader Of the world. The analogy pc
tween conditions in Israel at this time
of change and our own time. When
all things seem to be in the melting
pot, is suggestive and significant.
Hunting Asses, Finds Throne.
Ability to give up ones own plans
sWeetly, and to be willing to work
well in secondary place, are signs Of
size and saintship. Most men, repudl-
ated as Samuel was, would have left
the people to stew III their own juice.
Achilles like, they would say, as they
sulked apart, "The people don't want
me; now let them get along without
me-"
Samuel. happily, was not of that
sort. If God could let the people have
their own way, so could he. Since
| the nation had chosen the second
| best course, he would help it to make
| the most Of the choice. In or out of
! office. Samuel was a patriot, and the
centuries have saluted him. Whole
| heartedly, he went in to cooperate
with God and the people III making
| Israel q successful.
Cod had q man for this emergency
OF course the man himself, who was
a farmer. Saul, son of Kish, knew
naught Of his high destiny. He was
off hunting some strayed asses from
the family place. Diligently and far
he searched. No thought above live
stock enter his handsome head. And
he was leaving no stone unturned to
find them. When his servant suggest
ed that they consult Samuel, the seer.
at Ramah, Saul agreed For this lead
er Of the people was a helper in things
small and great. Thus it was that,
all unwittiDgly, Saul stumbled up to
the steps of a throne; for ere he left
SamueIs company the sacred oil Of
) amounting had been poured on his
head.
, Il SauI Among the Prophets?
!, The marks of favor shown Saul by
, the prOpEet--the seat Of honor al
, the feast, and the choicest portion OF
the food--are familiar tale. OF
, which the race never tires. Signal
had been given to Samuel by Jehovah
. that Saul was the man to be crowned
, king. In the morning, the wonderins
$ youth was told his future, and SCI
T apart and instructed for his higt
!, office
si Thrilling, OverWheiming crushing
= was the great news to the young man
I Like every other epochal exDerienc.
that comes to a true man, it file,
him with q sense of his own unde
serving. Never did the youthful gian
= | feel so small as on that solemn da-
- | of amounting.
!, When he met q company OF propb
: cts, as Samuel had predicted, an &C
= cess Of spiritual emotion swept hin
o from his old moorings. New im
& pulses, new aspirations, fired him, an
he joined his voice with theirs. Q
course, the shallow. cynical crow
sheereo, is Saul also among tn
II prophets" But in that great hou
- OF exaltation Saul was the spiritua
= being that he might become
L The Gcod-Looking King.
- Formal choice by the people wa
- necessary to make Saul king. TIL
- natlon was In a transition state with
- out a capital or stated assembly. 8
10 samuel called Israel to rally ono
~ more to Mizpah, there to choose b
w. lot their first ruler, after the fashio
or the world. Of course, the choie
fell upon Saul.
lel Then an unexpected emergene
"a arose. The elected nominee con-
II not be found. He had hidden hin
IL self among the baggage. The hone
} covered him with diftidence Whe
20 haled forth. however. it was see
!, mat When he stood among the pc.
:, 81 pie, he was higher than any of r
~ people from his shoulders and III
ward. And Samuel said to all ii
- :. people; See ye him whom Jehoya
hath chosen, that there is none Ii,
hln among all the people? And :
ss ,he people shouted, and said, J.or
es live the king"
" So the desire of the eyes Of Isra
- was lul1illed. They had a king,
T. good-looking giant Because IN.
80 looketh on the outward appearance
"' this blushing big fellow saIisfi