The Washington herald., 1922-09-02
Home Forms Logical Start
For Bible Study, Says Bryan
Testament Should Be Regarded as InfallibIe
Guide to Life and Conduct, IL Ad-
vice of Commoner.

For several weeks past we nave
been studying the lessons contained
for all Of US today In the return
to Jerusalem of the Jews carried
into q long and bitter exile after
the sack of their city by Nebuchad'
nezzar.
We have seen the great temple of
Solomon restored by the friendly
aid of Cyrus and furnished by the
aid Of Darius. and the city's walls
rebuilt by the assistance Of q third
famous Persian king. the Artax-
erxes of secular history.
We have seen the noble Ezra
leading back and sustaining the Sec
ond band Of exiies. We have fol-
lowed the indefatigable and re-
sourceful Nehemiah as he erected the
walls and organized the people even
in the face of the weak-hearted
within and the threatening enemies
without.
The Jews are once more firmly es-
tablished in their beloved home
land; how the people are called
back to worship and obedience; and
we have Ezra and Nehemiah brought
together before US on this highly
important and impressive occasion.
And all the people gath cred
themselves together as one man
into the street Cor the broad place.
as the Revised Version has 1t before
the water gate: and they spake
unto Ezra the scribe to bring the
book of the law of Moses, which the
Lord had commanded to Israel"
There was unity among the peo-
Pile; all desired to hear the reading
of the law. There had been d.so-
bedience and wanderings. repent
ance and punishments; now with
one accord they sought instruction
as to their duty.
what Of Ameffcaf
What IL the same could be said
of all the people Of this great ma
ton? Statistics show that more
than one-half of the adult males in
the United States are not connected
with any church organization. Ten
years ago the people of the United
States were spending five times as
gion-five dollars were laid on the
altar of the drink god for every
dollar dedicated to God.
Ezra brought the law before the
assembly and read therein from
the morning until midday. before
the men and the women. and those
that could not understand" He did
not read to a sleeping congrega-
ton; the ears of all the people
were attentive unto the book of
the law"
They were not so exhausted by
the social functions of Saturday
night as to be dull on Sunday morn
ing; they were not SO occupied with
trial balances and plans for the
coming week as to be oblivious to
what was being said. Having e.s,
they heard
And Ezra blessed the Lord. the
great God. And all the people an
swered, Amen. Amen, with lifting
up their hands: and they bowed
their heads. and worshipped the
Lord with their faces to the
ground" II was a very solemn oc-
casion, as every occasion Is that
calls US back to fundamental
things
And Nehemiah (the governor)
and Ezra the priest the scribe, and
the Levites that taught the people,
said unto all the people. This day
Is holy unto the Lord your God:
mourn not. nor weep. For all the
people wept. when they heard the
words OF the law" 1t was a day
for enjoyment rather than for
weeping. They were told to "eat
the fat. and drink the sweet.=and
send portions unto them for whom
nothing is prepared"
Inestinable valae Of Law.
And yet. there are those who
would discredit the Bible-who
spend their years endeavoring to
prove that there was no such per-
son as Moses. or that the books at
tributed to him were written by
others-critics who see nothing ex-
traordinary in the Pentateuch.
Instead of celebrating upon the
verses suggested by the text,
venture to call attention to the in
estimable value of the law. the
reading of which SO impressed the
Children of Israel nearly twenty
Ave hundred years ago.
The Christian faith rests upon
the Bible. The Bible is either true
or false: II is either the Word of
God or the work of man. The
Christian church must either de-
fend II or abandon 1t. II 1t is not
inspired. as It claims to be. 1t has
practised an imposition upon the
world for centuries. II 1t can be
convicted of being an imposter. 1t
will not be as valuable as works
of fiction which have not laid claim
to inspiration.
| 1t cannot be taught in a doubtful
way with Interrogation marks aues-
tionIng its authority. II 1t is in
fact the Word Of God. the revealed
will of the Heavenly Father. there
is no other book in the same class
with It. Those who accept II as
the Book Of Books will be interest
ed in reading 1t and in bringing II
to the attention of others.
Book That Never Wears Out.
Its use may be considered from
four standpoints; first. the personal
reading, OF it..
1t differs from other books in
that it never wears out. No mat
ter how often one re-reads II, 1t Is
ever revealing new truth or giving
new emphasis to old truths. Some
times a single verse. or a single
word, will stand out as never be-
fore and become the basis of life
resolve or Of line Of argument.
The Pocket Testament League is
gaining q large membership by cul-
Il tivating the habit Of carrying a
copy of the New Testament In the
pocket for daily consultation. II
Is astonishing how much one can
read in odd moments IL he chooses
SO to employ his time.
Second, there is the study OF the