Evening star., 1917-11-03
DEFEAT THROUGH DRUNKEN
NESS.
I Kings, 20.1-11.
Golden Text-"Let not him that
g1rdeth on his armor boast him.
self as he that putteth It off,
Kings. POLL.
By Rev. Hugh T. Stevenson.

ny hSv. auSu /. 0teVSUeVAs
The lesson assigned Is an appropriate
one for the world temperance Sunday
because it points how drink brings
defeat to any army. It emphasizes the
need OF a sober army to win the war.
Never before in the history Of the
world has this principle been moro de-
liberately recognized than in the
present world conflict. Washington
the capital Of the nation. is now under
prohibition. and Congress within . few
Yeeks will be facing the question OF
amending the Constitution concerning
national prohibition. Alcohol 10 DOOM
cd as beverage because Its use by
men makes them incompetent, inso-
lent and in many cases insane.
England is considering as a wal
measure the prohibition Of the traffic
In alcohol liquors. The leaders in the
11on ,I5 casa1 claim that only by prohini
Its full strength in the conflict and
save the infant and child life Of the
nation.
They have pointed out that the use
army and hampers the navy by re-
ducing efficiency in king
and in shipbuilding and repairs. II
abSorbS mercantile marine needed for
other purposes. 1t destroys food sup
plies. In twenty months 1t used UP
enough sugar to have kept the entire
nation eighty days. It wastes finan-
cia1 strength and skaters moral cour-
age.
Commerce that will face the most
hotly contested battles for world trade
after the war has recognized that only
dry" nation can attain to world su-
premacy in trade. The American busi-
ness man Is against the use OF intoxi-
eating beverages. Drinking men are
OF the railways. in 70 per cent Of the
manufacturing establishments, in sc
per cent Of the trades and in 70 POI
cent OF the agricultural" work Of
Of Labor. When commerce and a worit
conflict unites with tho sentiment OF
the Christian leaders to abolish the
traff1c in liquors the time Of prohibit
ton draws rapidly near.
The Scriptures assigned for study call
for the turning back to the history OF
Israel several centuries preceding the
release OF the Jews from captivity
There had been perpetual feud be-
tween Syria and Israel for many years
with the result that at the time Of our
lesson "the greater part. il not all. OF
the territory north of the plain O.
Esdraeleon and east OF the Jordan had
been seized by the powerful Damascus
King, beHNauaQ IL, VINO was one OF
the mightiest rulers of western Asia
had invaded Israel with an army OF
132.00O men, made up Of his own forces
and those of thirty-two kings who
were united with Damascus in an Of
fensive and defensive alliance. that
was made necessary by the fact that
Shalamaneser was across the Eu-
pirates river. threatening to cross and
subjugate the weak and numerous king
doms Of Syria and Palestine. His plans
forced an alliance as a means Of Sc
curing safety Just as nearly all the
nations of the world have been forced
into defensive alliance against the
German government. Ahab had refused
to join this alliance. SO that Benha-
dad II had determined to subjugate
Israel as a matter of protection. He
had succeeded in surrounding Israers
capital. Samaria, and forcing a tribute
from Ahab, who consented to surrender
his gold and silver. Join the confed-
eracy against Shalamaneser and &C.
cept Benhadad as dictator.
When the King of Israel received
the second demand of the Damascus
king to permit the spoilation of Sa-
maria. Ahab Immediately summoned g
council of the elders and representa-
tives to decide upon his future action
In this one can see the germs Of Amer
ica's government-evecutf Senate
and House Of Representatives De-
mocracy, the safety of which has com.
PEELED us to enter into the world war
had its prototype in Israel, for the