Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-10-20

The fifty thousand exiles that re-
turned from Babylon when Cyrus gave
permission commenced their career in
Jerusalem by rebuilding the altar and
restoring the worship of Jehovah
amid the ruins of the temple on
Mount Moriah. The religious unity that
marked the opening chapter of the re-
vival of divine worship proved that the
exile had blotted out the spirit of idol
airy and promised well for the res
toration of the feasts and regular tenn
pie services. Their fathers. when they
entered Palestine, HAD neglected to
obey God by permitting heather
neighbors to exist within the land
which He had given to them. Dis
obedience resulted in their fathers I'M
doing, because II led them into idolatry.
Americas greatest need in this hour
is to prove the nations loyalty to God
by restoring the family altar and re-
newing the vows of devotion to Him.
II will avail nothing II We stamp In
God We Trust" upon the coins of the
country If in personal religious life the
Lord is forgotten.
The temple had been the center of the
political, social and religious life Of the
nation before the captivity With its
destruction many had thought that the
nation had been annihilated. The re-
ligious passion which had inspired them
during the struggles Of their homeward
journey helped to fill some OF their
brethren who had remained at Jerusa-
lem with zeal for the rebuilding of
the temple. which had been destroyed
band had been carried into captivity
Before the work of restoration could be
undertaken there was much prelim-
mary and preparatory work to do in
connection he nj
The ruins had to be cleared. Plans for
the new building were needed The ma
terial had to be assembled. 1t called for
a systematic effort to secure the money
materials and men to build the new
temple upon the sacred site. The wood
had to be imported from Lebanon.
The masonS had to be obtained from
Phoenicia. The world has marveled at
the rapidity with which the new cities
have been erected in the various parts
OF the land to take care of the Ma
tfonal Army, which Is now being pre-
pared for their great task Of making
the world safe for democracy. II was
a more difficult task to prepare for and
complete the rebuilding of the temple
The first temple had been built by King
Solomon. but the second temple was
erected by the people. 1t was democ-
racys tribute to the Lord, who had
given them freedom
1t was not until the spring Of the
second year of Cyrus that they were
able to commence the rebuilding opera
tons. AT convocation Of the people,
who cheerfully gave to God as an act Of
worship the first fruits of their labor
in the fields, the building fund was
started The work OF building the tenn
pie. which would express in stone the
to Jehovah, was inrusted to a few
Levites who had come out of the cap
tivity. They were appointed oyerseers
OF the building operations. They,
through their religious sympathy, would
see to 1t that the plans of Zerrubba bel
"a royal prince. grandson of Jehoiakin)
and Joshua, the chief priest, would be
carried out with ecclesiastical correct
ness.
1t was a great day when the founda-
have been a day of great excitement.
The great spiritual aspirations of the
people found expression in song The
ceremony Of laying the corner stone was
ushered IN by great antiphonal chorus
that filed the people with a spirit Of de-
votion and of praise. The singing of the
priests. "praising and giving thanks unto
Jehovah, saying one to another, He is
good, for His loving kindness endureth
forever toward Israel" expressed the
feelings Of the masses. who remembered
their past trials and looked forward to
their coming triumphs and blessings.
The transformation that had already
taken place in the city was prophetic of
the future changes. They had faith that
Jehovah. who had sustained them In the
disaster of the nations overthrow. in the
despair Of the exile and during the diff
culties of the homeward pilgrimage. would
bless their rebuilding operations, so they
praised Him.
Amid the songs of rejoicing old men
were seen weeping. They recalled the
glory of the former temple. They did
not dream 1t possible that 4 people in
their poverty could ever build building
that would equal the glory of the former
temple. The voice of the singing and the
noise Of the weeping mingled in great
noise, which could be heard afar of.
From the distance no one could dis