Evening star., 1921-04-23
BY REV. HUGH T. STEVENSON.

by manifold inequalities into hostile
camps. Civilization is threatened by
the discord, division and discomfort
of these two forces at this moment
in every land that faces the prob
lens of reconstruction. Its serious
ness is seen in the crowded, con-
gested centers of population more
than in the country, where poverty
is seldom found as it is in the cities.
In nearly every great city within
five minutes walk from where many
of the worlds wealthy citizens live
multitudes can be found whose life
is a prolonged battle for bread and
shelter. In one form or other it has
existed throughout the centuries.
Principles of the law given to the
lection of the poor, provided for
the prevention of the evils of wealth
and the relief OF the poverty
stricken peasant. The land belonged
to Jehovah. the God of the nation.
It's land laws by various provisions
sought to prevent the growth OF
great estates and landed ariStoc-
racy on the one side and the growth
of landless proletariat on the other
side A hungry man had the right
to pick and eat of the gfatn~or fruit
as he passed through the field or
orchards. The owner was prohibit ed
from harvesting too carefully the
corners or to gather the fruit from
the trees or vines more than once.
Principles for which the industrial
workers are contesting today were
secured for them in the decalogue,
which are in the greatest danger of
exploitation, the slaves, the immi-
grant and the beasts of burden. In
terest was forbidden to be charged
to Israelites. The year of jubilee
provided for redistribution of the
given his freedom: the peasant re-
stored to the ancestral acres. The
influence OF these laws upon the He
brew race is seen throughout their
history as a people. They have al
ways recognized a peculiar responsi-
bility for the weaker members of
their race and nation. Probably no
other element in community's
life excels the Jews today in the
thoroughness and munificence Of
their organized charity work
Isaiah, who ranks as the greatest
prophet. whom God raised up among
the Hebrew people, was one of the
nations most eminent statesmen. He
was deeply concerned. as every serv-
ant of God ought to be, with all the
VIAL Interests VI HIS cOuHtTyIneN. he
gave himself increasingly during his
lifetime to heroic endeavors to save
the nation from peril and disaster.
which threatened Israel because Of
their apostacy and failure to trust
in Jehovah. Theland question. which
is presented in the lesson, is a case
in point. He recognized that it had
not merely a political lesson. but a
moral one, which was also religious.
Land, with its power to increase the
seed, belonged to Jehovah. who gave
it to the nation to be used for the
cured the control of the natural re-
sources of the nation and had turn
ed the land into personal use for
their profit and pleasure. Micah has
told US how the greedy monopolist
secured control by means of "the most
cruel evictions and disinheritances."
He saw the religious significance
in the social problem presented by
the action Of the luxurious land
owners grasping monopolistic policy.
He warned the wealthy avaricious
land owners that their greed would
Their love of money, which is the
root of all evil. has developed in them
a proud spirit and blinded them to
spiritual values, which are the only
real and abiding riches. He predict
ed that their great palaces and private
prophesied that the soil would fail to
produce paying crops; in due time one
would reap only about one-tenth
what he sowed. Ten acres would only
produce one bath. or ephah, which
is about eight gallons, yet under or
dinary conditions ten acres ought to
have yielded 500 baths. A. homer.
which is about ten times the size of
a bath. or ephah. would only yield
an ephah.
Amos introduced a new era of
phophecy. When he answered Gods
prophet, the shepherd of Tekoa
aroused the nation by insisting upon
right and justice. He warned men
Of the peril that they faced for op-
pressing the poor and the helpless
He traced the poverty of the hour to
the avaricious profiteers. who regard
ed nothing as holy that interfered
with their making wealth. He saw
in "the cruel negligence of the rich
the injustice of the rulers land the
that the nation was Fastening to its
doom. The unfettered prophet fear.
lessly condemned "thrusting the pool
freeman into slavery to collect q
trifiing debt and protested against the
venality Of the Judges who took y.
law for the rich and the poor" His
messages to his countrymen stated
principles that are applicable to the
social problems of our age. TIT
avaricious pronteer can depend upor
| il, that although he may by technf
| calities of the law escape punishment
from men. that God will summon
them to His Judgment for He Is q de
fender Of the poor. He will surel,
| punish those who for gain hav,
sought to turn the day OF worship
| into one Of profit.
Ruskin has pointed out how tina
| in all cases Jesus illustrates a man!
| faithfulnetss by the way he used hi
| money. The roots of His teachingi
are found in the Old Testament. Thu
text for His first sermon in Nazareth
| was selected from Isaiah. The Mas
| ter claimed that hs had been an
nointed by the Holy Spirit ITO preacl
| the gospel to the poor" Following
| the example of the prophets as
champion of the people. Jesus sough
to convert the helpless. self-distrust
ing and consciously incapable through
poverty into q COURAGEOUS. consecrate g,
power for the Advancement Of tn
kingdom. He was not antagonistic T.
men of wealth, although He laugh
the peril of riches In the devslopme n
of spiritual power, He claimed tha
prosperity was not a special sign o
/ (.Ofpa fayOF