Evening star., 1917-11-03
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.

Hebrew commonwealth was the first
to have q representative assembly. the
firsi to ask the peoples judgment by
means Of general election; the first
power Of their rulers; the frst to abol-
ish class distinctions and make pro-
vision for popular education. When
the dictator's demands were submitted
to the lovers of liberty: who gave to
dom and democracy. they voted against
complying with the demand.
When their decision to fight until
death to preserve their liberty and cap
ital reached Benhadad he was furious
and boasted that he would lay Samaria
In ruins so that there would not be
left Of the city enough for each mem
Der OF his army to carry away q hano.
full Of dust. Ahab's incisive reply. that
proverbs. revealed not only his man
hood, but suggested to the Syrian ruler
the folly Of boasting Of triumph until
after he had won the victory. Il
vsaHe'o wsiie they sSs esr @srs in Aa dssraeefui
drunken debauch. The idiotio COM
mand that Benhadad gave to his force
in his frenzy reveals the power Of alco.
holic liquors to paralyze the brain ana ana
defeat.
Benhadad's contempt Of Jehoxah was
the primary cause OF his defeat both
| times that he entered Israel for con-
quest. Underneath every page In his
croft. the fact that God reigns" The
gates of heaven are forever closed
against the drunkard. because OF the
close relation Of intemperance to all
sarleycorn" enters into human life
| it causes the defeat Of men by making
them Incompetent, inefficient and In
! solent- unbalances men so that they
make irrational demands. similar to
that Of Benhadad. One cannot estimate
what it has cost America in manhood
money and morals to meet the con-
stantly increasing demands OF the
| drunkards' army. II no other good
should come out Of tho war than the
liquors as a beverage the results OF
prohibition will repay the nations fol
/ the cost Of the war. II the social curse
is eradicated there will no longer be
need Of enlargtng the penal institu-
lions, poorhouses. orphanases and insane
| An unnamed patriotic prophet
pointed out to stricken Israel the way
! to victory. Jehovah. who had been be-
hS sS s 81 ssns Ms es e
Tense. The 2s2 enthusiastic and On.
| erEetic young mon following the
prophets plan. went forth at noon
when they were not expected. and
the attention Of Benhadad ana his al
lied kings whom they were in q
| drunken carousaL
The commands issued under tho in.
huence Of liquor brought disaster te
Benhadad's plans and caused the defeat
Qmri to Benhadad I were restored tt
Israel, whose small army. following the
prophets strategic plan, scattered tht
army Of $4,000 with which the allie:
l al a1.
fare are full of the stories Of brilliant
and brave leaders who have been de-
feated by drink, which is a menace t.
I the peace. progress and power OF any
army or nation.
The army Of King Alcohol has de.
fed the army of the Lord of Hosts long
enough. He calls America to repent o.
her sinful copartnership with 1t in thu
past. break of the chains that have en-.
shackled her freedom and win thu
greatest victory of the war. One OF ths
| first steps Of Secretary Baker at The
| time Of our entering the war was t.
plan to protect the morals Of the Army
In his efforts to remove from the sol
diers Of freedom the Intoxicating cup
which would enslave them, poison theil
minds. break down their physica
strength and destroy their moral char
acter. he has sought for the co-opera
Let all respond by giving to the mer
who have been selected to represent thu
nation and help make the world saft
for democracy. every possible help. ait
and assistance. SO that they may bs
able to enter the conflict equipped with
help from above. The battle for free.
dom is the Lords and there is part fol
| all to do. SO that the cities which are
citadels of iniquity may be purified ant
freed from the power OF the saloon
Although the nations capital is nov
dry" territory, the battle will not b.
won until every state in the nation i.
| freed from its iniquitous grasp.