The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-09-17

sion Of the poor. the growing preva-
lence of drinking and social dis
orders were signs Of decay The ma
ton wac not fulfilling its mission; 10
was rather a hindranCe to God in
not showing to all peoples a king
dom OF righteousness. hugo said
Of Napoleon that he was source OF
trouble 10 God and he pushed him
aside. SO It was with Judah. All
men and nations are subject to his
sway
blessings From the Exile.
David recognized In his own life
the blessings that come from SEEM
ing disasters: Before | was af-
flictrd J. went astray" Sitting in
the darkness OF exile they could get
a sight OF the operation of Gods
moral laws, and see him at work
In the nations life. OF the tendency
10 idolary they were entirely freed
during the captivity on their re-
turn and In their subsequent history
the nation did not depart from the
worship Of Jehovah. Another bless
ing that dates from the exile was
he establishmeut Of the synagogue
worahiR Formerly, there were the
three annual feasts at Jerusalem,
nut no provision was made for any
worship IN the community. From
th.s time every village had its local
S2hbtth worship, with the scripturea
read and explained, with prayer and
song ana social fellowship. The
great preacher and. prophet of the
captivity was Ezekiel, who enforced
as ala no other prophet, the doc;Tln.
OF personal responsibility ana obli-
sa,lon to God. Chapter "a, in the
enforcement OF this teaching, stands
out Aone In the Oid Testament.
Ihere was gIlmmerinG hope in the
scriptures that the exile would end
IN a restoration. This could come.
not through Gods omnipotence
alone, but through a splritual re-
formation on the part Of the people
That was wonderful prayer found
in Daniel (chapter %, a history
making prayer without which the
exile would not have come to an
end,
Our Better Days.
TX Is a good thing to be a Christian
in America, Surely this land was
destined by the post High to be a
religious country. Columbus. in his
Journal, speaks OF the means to be
taken for the conversion OF the
natives to Christianity. Every en-
'erprlse or the Pilgrims began and
ended with God. Religious princi-
pies have been vitality effective in
every period Of our history. II was
so in the case Of the pioneers of
New England. II was so in the COM
Ing OF the Protestant Dutch TO New
york. 1t was so In the war for in
dependence. It is manifest in our
constitution. In contrast with the
olden times instead OF an outward
kingdom Of God we have a church
into which people enter as real cit
izens, Kings and priests do not
come TO us through n flesh-and-
blood descent. As a people, we have
behlnd us years OF experience In gov
eminent and In training In the OBJ
servance OF law. The Bible Is known
among us as II never was known in
Ola Testament times. In the words
or Jesus; blessed are your eyes. for
they see and your ears, for they
near (Matt l3;lO, II this nation
lose Its moral life, throw worship
aside, tolerate lawlessness, be bent
on materialism and pleasure, destroy
the sancity of home life, the same
forces that destroyed Rome, Israel
ana Judah will destroy us. We are
strong, but God is stronger. Gods
broken laws will destroy men and
nations alike,