The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-10-27
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for The Republi-
can by DIR. U. S. Wright.

SUNDAY, OCIOBER 81. =,
STRONG DRINK IN A NATIONS
LIFE-Isaiah %: lib.
Woe unto him that giveth his neighbOr
drink.-Hab. 2:15.
THE CLEAR VISIONED PROPHET
Assyria and Egypt were rivals for
the rule of the world. And the history
of recent events is a striking comment
upon the methods they pursued, for
each was bidding for the support of
the little neutrals that might bring a
bit of advantage to one or the other.
There was war of ideas such as we
have known in Democracy against
Autocracy,' for they were merely 2
pair of robbers quarreling over the
loot that might belong to the strong
er. In such company there was
small chance for any small power to
escape destruction and with the secret
diplomacy whose perilous possibilities
were so we'll disclosed during the
World War there was the greatest
need of holding to a steady course of
neutrality. The little buffer states,
among which were Israel and Judea,
were being continually courted and
urged to break with one or the other
of the contending powers in those days
when Assyria threatened to sweep the
map clean of all rivals. Isaiah con-
tinuously urged the Hebrew people to
keep clear of any break, but they were
constantly being embroiled in the
trOublous affairs that ultimately over
threw them both. The experience of
Holland and Denmark during the war
is a vivid comment upon the situation
and the difficulties that they encoun-
tered. And it was in the midst of such
times that the rulers of Samaria and
the leaders both of men and women
were giving themselves to self-indul-
gence and muddling of brains with
drink so that there was small hope of
sane thinking and acting. 1t was this
that brought out the bitter condemna-
ton of the Prophet who saw clearly
the suicidal policy they were pursuing
the picture that he draws is that of
the wondrous beauty of the capital
smitten by the biting wind, cut by
hail, drenched by storm, until its glory
was Irodden in the mre and only its
memory lived. Yet in that day there
was the contrast of the few standing
undismayed in the overthrow because
their lives as well as their lips kept
covenant with Jehovah and they would
throne justice instead of sottishness
and would turn back the battle at the
gate. He would woo those deluded
headers from their cups by the pic
tuTed contrast from the folly of meet
ing the times in anything but the pos
session of all their faculties. Jack
SOY, Lee and Grant kept their brains
clear and won their victories by their
sober judgment where some others
lost through mixing drinks with their
orders. Fields Uttered withbottlesfrom
French cellars may help to explain
the Marine where Germany missed
winning the war. Foch and Haig and
Pershing needed no stimulants to
carry them to victory. Drunken lead
ership portends the worst disaster"
was Isaiahs message.
TIRE SHORT-VISIONED POLITI-
CLANS.
But the politicians of Samaria were /
TO farther sighted than those of to- |
day. They were warned but refused |
to accept the word and turned back to |
their debauchery. What had been |
would continue and their safety could |
be secured at any time by call upon
Egypt for relief There was no such |
thing as a new day. There is the same
attitude in the country now over the
keeping of the ground gained at so
much cost of time and tears. There is |
no longer room for argument over the |
hurtful effects of the use of the bottle. !
Business, war, science, medicine, art |
are a group of prophets that declare
against it. Yet in the face of all evil |
dence there is a personal liberty red |
herring that is dragged across the |
trail of the Eighteenth Amendment to !,
befooi the nation into following an
other course. And to perpetuate the !
Iawless gain of gold, short-sighted |
folk raise an outrageous clamor !
against the deprivation of the privi- ,
Iege Of getting drunk and manning I
some one through reckless driving,
killing someone through released pas
sion ,blackening the reputation through |
AN Arbuckle debauch or destroying the |
JOY of home. And there are still |
politicians who will cater to such a
crowd and expect to carry a State or
nation into the following of such a |
course that will bring nothing but dis
aster- In these days of unemployment |
and of starving world it is criminal |
indeed to turn to drugged minds as a |
remedy for conditions which all hope |