The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-02-27
u. S. WRIGHT.

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u. S. WRIGHT.
IN THE WILDERNESS SCHOOL.
The people had demanded a symbol of
Jehovah's presence and had glorified
the representation of physical strength
IN the calf. But the need which they
sought to meet was provided for by the
ark which was to them the throne of
DEITY and by the Tabernacle, (known as
the tent of meeting) hich covered it.
The provisions of the law enforced by
the judicial organization that had been
effected and the ritual that war carried
out by the priesthood both instilled the
discipline needed for their developing
life. Months were spent under the
shade of the mountain while these
things were taking shape but at last
they took their journey toward the land
of promise. All was not smoothe sail
ing for hunger again reused opposition
and even Miriam and Aaron headed a
little revolution of their own against
Moses because they seem not to have
liked his wife. But they reached Kad-
esh Barnea within easy reach of the
southern part of Palestine and paused
once more. They had reached the
critical point in their journey when the
lessons learned should be put into prac-
tice or else the forward movement be
abandoned. A little more than a year
had passed since their exit from the
slave pits of Egypt. 1t had been spent
entirely in organization and instruction
and Moses was confident that they were
ready to enter on a national experience
We are we'll into the second generation
since our own slaves became freemen;
is there a question even now in the
mind of many that these comrades Of
color are equal the task of building a
nation? Their tutelage has been both
better and worse than Israels but the
experience would make large demands
upon ones faith in the possibility of
creating nation from them in their
first twelve months. Yet Moses be-
lieved that God and free opportunity
would bring this to pass. Talk about
your believers in the common people
and point to Lincoln and Wilson as ex-
amples and then look back to this man
OF yesterday to see how far he outran
them. There is nothing else like it in
history.
PREPARING FOR ADVANCE.
There is not a foot OF territory in
Western Germany that was not on
Pershin2's maps accompanying the
plans for the forward movement of our
army. 1t was wise provision for
Moses to send spies turnout the coun-
try to locate roads, cities and provisions.
Whether the people requested it or God
ordered it it held Cody wisdom in it..
So twelve Egyptian travellers, possibly
in pairs, took their way far beyond
Damascus even as they inspected every
thing of interest to an invading force.
Forty days later they made their re-
port to the congregation. Thoroughly
had their work been done for they knew
where each particular nationality was
located, showed the fruit and declared
the land good but well defended by
fortresses and fighting men. Moses
shrewdly did not allow Joshua, known
to be his partisan, to speak but Caleb
voiced the conviction of his leader and
urged immediate action The others
declared it was an impossibiIity but a
lawyer might criticise their statements
that the land was unhealthful late I'D
its inhabltants) and yet all the men
were of great statue. Their mistake
was similar to Germany's for they esti-
mated only physical forces and were
entirely right in their conclusion that
on that basis they were utterly I'M
equalled to the task. But moral forces
are the decisive ones in any struggle
and tho the battle be long the outcome
is never uncertain.
THE PEOPLES WILL.
That was terrible night both in its
scenes and in its consequences. Ex-
pectation had been at fever heat over
the prospect of entering the land of
their desire and finding settled home
instead of the wandering uncertainty
of desert life. 1t had been further
reused by the luscious fruit that was
lifted on the shoulders of their repre-
sentatives. But to struggle against
odds. to fight giants that made them
look like grasshoppers was something
upon which they had not calculated and
the ten opposed the attempt while only
Caleb urged it. Tears and despair
marked the early hours, then excited
planning that settled into deliberate
purpose with the dawn. They would
elect leader, reject Moses and &c
back to Egypt. All the machinery OF
camp was in motion to carry out the
peoples will while Moses and Aaron
fell under the weight of dishearten.
ment and lay upon the ground in utter
despair. For they knew that the blooc
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