The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-12-16
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON.
Especially Prepared for The Republi-
can by DIR. u. s. Wright.

can by DIR. u. 5. Wright.
JESUS FEEDS THE MULTITUDE.
Matthew II.
Read Mark 6:30-56; Luke 9:10-17;
John 6.
They have no need to go away; give
We them to eat.-Matt. 14-16.
U. S. WRIGHT
SAVING A MOB.
Crowds feel much but think little.
Moved by impulses that are as gusty
as winter winds they may be as de-
structive as tornado and as violent
Jesus met the storm conditions on the
east of the sea just after the death of
the most popular leader after Himself
in all Judea. John the Baptist had
struck a responsive chord in his fore
cast of the coming deliverer and the
cleanup He would inaugurate His
daring to face tolerant but unloved
King and condemn him to his face
caught the admiration then as now
of the people. His Imprisonment had
made him revered as a prosecuted
saint. Prophet, patriot, hater of
shams and now done to a bloody
death to grace a drunken orgy, the
mass of the people were ready for
anything that would rid them of such
conditions. Like frightened birds the
Twelve rushed back to their Leader,
for no one knew what blow would be
the next or where it would fall. Jesus
took them Immediately out of the ter
ritory of Herod and the mob, ready
to let loose its bloodlust at a word
and not lacking those to speak it, fol-
lowed in such mad haste that it out
ran wind and oars. Blazing with ia
naticism, for many passover pilgrims
were among them, and demanding
only leader, they faced Jesus upon
the grassy slope above the sea. Would
even He be able to turn their passion
into proper channels and spend it's
force in other ways than revolution
Feeling the loss more than any other,
for Jesus had loved John, He turned
from His own pain that the need of
others might be met. So the Wichery
of words was tried for He "speake to
them of the Kingdom" and those who
were sick were healed that their
thought might be led awav from the
demand it held. Presently this Master
of man or masses of men sensed the
growing hunger that would make still
more difficult His task and while busy
here and there with cheer. healing or
counselling, His mind was plan
ming to meet the emergency, for when
1t came Jesus knew what He would
do 1t IS the unfed that create peril
in the nation and the world, and Christ
points the way for some present dav
solutions, for He gave the mind truth,
the hurts sympathy and the BODY
bread. And because He had done all
these things the later crisis with its
prOhered crown was passed and the
people saved from the onset of Rome's
legions.
THE MASTER STROKE.
The Disciples were as eager as any
that their Lord should wear a crown.
If this hour were to be safely carried
into history there must be unuues
toned belief in the judgement of Je-
sus upon the part of all. He began to
work for that with those nearest Him
self. Philip was questioned about the
growing need, but money and mathe-
MATES We're his only resource He
could judge both the crowd and the
amount of bread needed for it, and
since penny was a days wage of an
ordinary working man it would mean
SIX or eight hundred dollars in Amer
lea today. eff we only had the mon
ey" is the only solution that many
can think of today, but it has never
brought the required answer. Evil
IDENTIFY the disciples had that amount
IN their treasury, but it was brushed |
aside by Christ as useless. Andrew
did better. Canny, kindly, boylover
that he was, he had looked in the lar
der instead of the purse and said,
We've got a little" Yet he was even
more hopeless than Philip. For his at |
titude is that of the man who real |
ICES the value of his religion but has |
none for the crowd. He would "save |
America first" What about the boy? |
If he had his chance, and it's pretty |
certain that he had, there was sacri- |
tlce IN the giving of his poor little |
lunch. A boy who has run errands, |
picked berries and gathered pennies
IN various fashions, was counting over
his first dollar. '"How much would |
you give to God?" he asked his moth |
er. Knowing that the dollar was all |
he had, she said: Il think a quarter
would be enought from little boy like |
you" "Humph!" he cried. Il would |
not give Him quarter-that's too |
little. believe I'll just give Him the
whole dollar" And he did. Trust
boy to be generous if he has not been
spoiled by the adult attitude. This one
pooled his little with Christ's muchand
became partner with Omnipotence.
make the men sit down." was the
command that tried out the disci-
pies, gave them task and tested their
obedience. They did not fail, nor did
the crowd though they saw no ham
pers. But Jesus had every man, wo-
man and child cooperating in bring
ing to pass what could have been ac-
complished by word, for He could
have stayed their hunger as easily
as He could have furnished
bread. He would drain out through
action their spirit that was crying out
for violence and build through their
cooperation a stronger confidence in
Himself that enabled Him to say, go
home and be obeyed in the saying.
THE TEST.
1T works." was Marconi's only COM
ment upon acriticism of his wireless
outfit. Jesus found the same state.
ment possible concerning His plan
ming. The crown was proffered but so
faN11aV IrANT i