Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-09

prophe., with it's message OF being pre-.
waved FOR unlike Elijah we know not
The dav or hour when the time snah
come for us to go-to our future nome
Before going hence Elijah. knowing
that the time when God woulo tahs
him up was rapidly drawing near, pau
a farewell visit to the sons OF the
prophets.
These groups of ministerial STU.
dents lived in various parts OF inc
land. and for their support .. oSpe tell
of his visit to Gilgal. Bethel ana Jeri-
cho. where divinity schools naa nesn
established in communities that were
filled with sacred memories:
But, alas. these places OF consecfa-
tion communion and conquest had peen
stained by sin. The frst two became
centers Of idolatry. and jericho was
monument of disobedience.
miles. that was made for the purpose
of STRENGTHENING the ministerial stu
dents of the several schools by the IN
spiration and instruction OF the
prophet's farewell message. the ntness
Of Elisha the prophets personal pupil,
who had been selected to succeed
Elijah, was tested
Testing Of Pupil.
a successor to the sturdy. stalwart
prophet of God had been serving his
apprenticeship "as a washer Of the
hands" of Elijah, ministering unto the
prophets needs and learning by con-
tact with this great character the
secret of his masters power. He we'll
understood that the issues of that Jour-
ney meant much for his own life. so
when Elijah politely but plainly re-
quested him to stay behind at each
school visited so that Elijah might con-
tinue his Journey alone Elisha positive
" refused.
Love for his friend more than per-
sonal consideration prompted the re-
fusal of Elisha, for the strongest pos
sible tie Of affe had grown up be-
tween the prophet and his pupil. He
recognized Eiijah's need of friend to
prevent a possible recurrence of his
juniper tree experience.
Every extraordinary life. like Elijah's
needs a friend whose spirit reaches the
deepest portion of his soul People &C.
cupying eminent positions seldom find
a kindred soul that understands and
sympathizes with them The selfish man
never develops great friendships. Fail
ures in life are largely due because
there has been no such tie formed to
inspire and draw out the dormant pow
ers Of life. Back of every success in
life there ia some love that has in
spired the effort. The person in most
cases that has aroused the best in us
and made us win has been either our
mother. wife or child.
The greatest friendships are formed
now, as then. in the school of Christ
The church planted by our Lord Jesus
Christ is the greatest fraternity in the
world today teaching the lesson OF
brotherhood formed upon love apd
labor for God and our brother man
Elijah found in his chosen successor
the character he needed. who proved
his loyalty and fitness for his coming
work by remaining with him until the
end. When tempted by the sons of the
prophets by their pessimistic sugkes-
ton concerning his future to turn from
the path of friendship and duty. he
calmly, through his confidence In God
silenced his tempters. II is only when
we are supported by the desire to share
ia the glory of Christ Jesus that we
can continue with the tenacity OF
Elisha in the pathway of sacrificia
service and be recipients of the trans
fer of power.