Evening star., 1921-05-07
as a nation ought to have filled them
annually with spirit of great re-

joicing
In every aspect of this feast, which
they were called upon to observe an
nuaily. there was the expression OF
ing His permission for them to in
dulge in innocent plays and amuse-
ments. Jehovah revealed His inter
ests in the happiness and joys of
His people. He planned for season
Of play so that their love and wor-
ship might be filled with rejoicing.
Divine institutions are speedily
marred when they are left in the
hands OF men. This feast was omit
ted from the days Of Joshua until
the restoration of Ezra, when the
captives returning from exile joy
ously restored this feast OF the Lord.
1t called for the grand illumination
of the court of the temple. the even
ing procession in holiday dress, and
the people going in body to draw
water. which they poured out at the
foot of the altar. while there arose
the Chant-accompanied with glad
music--"Therefore with JOY shall ye
draw water out of the wells of sal
vation." 1t was concerning this cere-
monial that there sprang up the say
ing: whatsoever hath not seen re-
ioicing at the drawing of this water
hath never seen rejoicing at all
The joyous character. which IN the
beginning was almost bacchan nalian,
was never entirely lost but pro-
phetic and priestly agencies gradual
iy reformed the practices and mac
the tabernacles the greatest OF the
He brew feasts" 1t summoned the
people to live and sleep out of doors
for week in what Robert LOUIS
Stevenson calls the Inn OF ths
stars" 1t preached the gospel OF
good health and prophetically point
ed to the Establishment of the king
dom when the prophet said in our
golden text: The streets Of the city
shall be full of boys and girls. play.
ing in the broad places thereon.
Christ Jesus. who was loved by the
dom for their recreation that Will MI
them with happiness and JOY.
No code of ethics has ever innu-
enced men like the standard set for,H
In the decalogue. In Exodus the
command to keep the Sabbath was
based mpon creation. while here in
Deuteronomy it was based upon re-
demption without any regard to crea-
ton The keeping of the Sabbath as
day Of holy rest was en1oined upon
the Jewish people as sign OF a per-
petual covenant between Jehovah
and the chosen people for all genera
tions. The observance Of the seventh
day as a rest day was practice OF
the Babylonians and appears to be
demanded by nature. The French
tried to establish the decades, ont
found that the keeping OF the tenth
day impaired their health and had to
give it up. Steel rails and machin.
cry require rest to give their pest
service. Christ taught that the Sab
bath was made for man, and not man
to give the needed break in service
to men that toll. 1t furnishes not
only the needed rest. but an oppor-
tunity to reflect and reverence God.
While the Lords day supplies foi
the Christian the needed time for
rest ref,ection and reverence. its OBJ
servance is not based upon the law
which was given especially to the
Jewish people. although the princl-
Piles and precepts concerning its oo-
servance, as interpreted by the LORD.
furnish all guide as to the best
way to enjoy that day of rest. which
commentaries His victory over death.
Dr. Haegler in his book on The Ex-
penditure and Repair OF vital Force
has called especial attention to the
need Of a proper observance or
weekly day of rest to supplement the
rest secured by sleep. He claims that
''the night rest after a days work
does not afford a complete recupera-
ton of vital force" This is the uni-
versal testimony of science. as well
as Scripture that insists that rest.
recreation and relaxation are required
by all.
Mark in his gospel of service
teaches how solicitous Jesus was that
His disciples should have rest. The
One who was weary so that He tried
value Of spiritual service in restor-
ing the tired bodies of men. He un-
derstood the moral value that came
10 men who obeyed the command to
remember the Sabbath day to keep it
holy. The obedience of men to the
f! 1, \ nj sot n
result in increasing their strength.
honor and moral worth.
Men in their desire for pleasure GnG
profit have forgotten the meaning OF
recreation. II is not a question OF
pastime, but the proper use OF time so
the body. the blood of the veins. so that
by proper resting one can do. if neces
Sary, twelve months work in eleven.
The speeding up for the war in factories
proved that those who rested. as they
ought, could produce the most. The
proper relaxation that let's go of the
task Of the moment will also let down
his nerves. so that his mind. heart and
body may have rest. and he will return
to his task refreshed and prove by his
work that efficiency follows rest. relaxa-
ton and recreation.
There is a peril for the child in unsu
pervised play. which it has been demon
strated has a great part in developing
character: especially Is there danger
in modern recreation which is being
furnished for profit. The play or recrea
ton that is not wholesome. clean and
cultural. healing and helpful will defeat
the purpose Of rest. In all the studies
of the Scriptures one will observe the
close rela ation that exists between wor-
ship and rest. 1t is important TO OBJ
serve the spiritual part Of rest. The
Master. who invited His disciples to re-
tire to quiet place. calls US to plan for
a vacation with Him. He gave them
chance in that selected place Of being
of service to Him and their fellowmen.
We. too, in our rest. ought to consider
others. II our recreation makes others
work upon the Lords day, then our rest
is not wholesome for them. Those who
are turning the Lords day into one of
sport will find that the day Of rest is
lost to the next generation. The only
hope for those who are weary and heavy
laden is to heed the Lords call to come
unto Him and let Him be their rest.
The one who can find Christ in his rest:
recreation and relaxation will have all
the forces Of his life revitalized through
and by the Lord.
CARDS OF THANKS.
BUSSARD. We wish to express our sincere
thanks and appreciation TO our relatives and