The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-10-28
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republic
can by DR.. u. s. Wright.
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 81.

Every tree that brlngeth forth not
good fruit is hewn down, and cast into
the fire. Matt. 6 10.
THE ROAD.
. Jesus always led hearers to place of
choosing. There was never any ihdefi-
mite talking for talks sake with Him.
The lesson is taken from the conclusion
of the address as Matthew gives it and
the orderliness of it all is worth any
speakers study. First there is de-
scrlption of the life of kingdom. citi-
zen as we had it last week. 1t is re-
lated to the old Israelitish past so that
the unity is clear. (5:17-20). The husks
are stripped from the old laws so that
the inner Kingdom-corn is perceived.
(5:21-48). Its life is expressed in wor-
ship. in trust and in the attitude of
goodwill (6:1-7:12). Last of all there
is the privilege and reward of obedience
pressed upon the will of the hearers and
this is the text taken for our lesson. A
series of pictures carries the truth Je-
sus desired to impart. The first is that
of contrasting roads each of which is
entered thru a gateway that is wide
open. No bars obstruct the free pass
age of any traveller upon either one.
Life's great choice is made here for
there is no connection between the
ways and they lead in opposite direc-
lions. One is narrowed to the single re-
quirement of obedience to the Lord of
the way while self interest, expediency,
the swift success of show and desire
give ampleness to the entrance of the
other. The roads are no less distinct
for one is merely the wide plain over
which one may wander aimlessly if so
desired while the other is 'rutted" by
the traffic of laden lives. There is di-
rection and progress here and since
obedience is followed by all the way is
deeply worn but few are they that find
1T (narrow.) With eyes looking ever
forward into the fulness of life they are
thralled by the far reaches ahead so
that there is no sense of narroNress as
they journeyed toward their goal. Ger
tainly eff rutted is the way there
must have been many who have gone
over it which Is precisely true, for all
strong souls have obeyed the moral law
written in the Word or in their own con-
sciences. The peril of the traffic in
strong drink is that it makes 1t i'm
possible to Leep any direct path but al
lows only the straying foot that wan
ders aimlessly. the striking character
istic of the other road.
GUIDES AND GARDENS.
Distractions beset travellers always.
The corner taker of nickles for look
through his telescope who made sure
of pleasing patrons by, a painted star
does not differ from Christ's deceptive
prophet who sought to stop the ad-
vance by guile. Enemies of life would
@,,ry all &c 1a1yOfnoo fn cFr.,otian nd
lose them IN the windings of the road
How may they be known? What do
they producer" is the test submitted by
Jesus as final in their judgment. There
may be entire absence of fruitage
which is itself the bitterest condemna-
ton. Parasites are to be destroyed in
whatever realm they may exist. They
may be converted into something useful,
tree by grating or a germ may be
made to produce toxin that will de-
stroy disease. But if there is product
look at that to determine what is the
nature of the producer. Test the church,
the school, the state by this means and
find how very much good is coming
from each of them. The fact that there
are some faulty apples does not con-
denim the tree, unless that is the only
sort it bears. But it takes more than
one apyle to save crop That Is pre-
cisely the trouble with the saloon. 1t
has had its defenders on the basis of its
social ministry but there are so many
rotten fruits that its condemnation has
been complete. The record of savings
banks. of groceries, of orderly strikes.
of built up health and home, of closed
jails and depleted rescue missions are
to much in evidence 10 pt rmit the y of
those who for profit would pander to
appetite to longer camoufiage their
character. No "slush funds" eyer
grew on good stock. No corrupter of
the heart of youth appears on a per-
feet tree
THE TONGUE OR THE HAND.
The passing of the class meeting"
has been much discussed with many
sad shakings of heads. God pity the
day when the thing for which the class
stood passes from US but if that abides
in other forms then there is small cause
for anything other than praise. The
testimony of the tongue is not final
with God. Youth today is more willing
to work than it is to speak of its inner
dreamings and the witness of the hand
is just as valid as that of any other
member of the body. A dumb man
may be better Christian than a para.
lytic. Neither hand nor tongue can
criticise the other for Jesus probes be-
low them both. rejecting both word and
deed unless each is based upon tine
obedience of love. The class to which
He refers is that company that speaks
and practices for profit rather than for
service. Their pay-envelope has al
ready been received so they cannot
justly ask for more Again we run in
to the position of the saloon. The whole
system is built upon the idea of person
al profit, capitalizing stimulated ap-
petite for gain. Posing as the meters
of public need they robbed it of its
very life. Small wonder that the peo-
pie ultimately said: Il know you not"
It's plea of personal liberty will bring
the same answer from all its true low
ers. And whatever voice it is that
banners its service and banks an I'M
holy profit may expect the same ar
resting word from the Lord of Life.
THE STORM SWEPT WAY.
No building is made for sunshine only.
The test of every structure is its abil.
ity to weather storms. That is true of
lives or businesses or states or houses
And it is down underneath where the
eye does not rest that the final deter
mination is made. Not the witness of