Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-20

\ l
lamp unto. my feet. and light
unto my oath.-Psalm 11s105.
tendants Of a Washington mission
were greatly moved by the expert
ence Of an eloquent Italian, who told
OF his conversion as a result Of his
| having found among rubbish a copy
Of Gods word. He proved the genu-
ineness of his faith by championing
among Italian socialists in meetings
held almost within sight of the ma
tons Capitol the teachings of Jesus
as the solution Of all economic prob
lens. Living upon bread and water
in the land which his countrymer
helped to discover. and without
friends or funds. he stood up alone
for the power of the gospel Of Christ
to save men and society. He later
| studied for and entered upon the
Italy entered the war he responded
to the kings call for him to return to
his native land and help fight to save
the world for democracy. He rose
from the ranks by his ability and
bravery to hold a commission among
the war ended he returned and took
up the pastoral work in a New Eng
land city, where today he is repeating
the message Of salvation and freedom
as a result of his accidental discov-
cry among rubbish Of an old copy of
the sacred Scriptures.
Our lesson tells us of another and
earlier discovery of a lost copy of
Gods word. 1t had been hidden
among the accumulated rubbish of
the temple. which had been neglected
by the son Of Hezekiah. Mannasseh
reign OF fifty-five years. by cultivating
heathenism, all that his famous father
had accomplished for religion. He
was succeeded by his son. Anon
C"Security'D, who, during short
reign Of two years, followed his
murdered him and placed Josiah
CJehovah healethD. who was only a
lad Of eight. upon the throne OF
Judah. A century after Hezekiah's
reformation Josiah faced a similar
task. Two women played an tmpor-
would never have undertaken his
work as reformer If it had not been
for the influence Of his godly mother.
Jedidah cthe beloved OF God'), and
the encouragement of Huldah. wife
Of the high priest. whose divine gift
her a place of equality with the
prophets of Josiah's time.
When the king was twenty years OF
age he entered with the spirit of a
Cromwell upon a reformation to de-
stroy the idolatry and denominations
years of deepening darkness and
spiritual ignorance. He was sup
ported by Zephaniah. jeremiah. Ma
hum, Baruch, Habakkuk and others in
his endeavor to restore the faith OF
their fathers, which had been almost
lost. During the days of Hanasseh
the old Scriptures had been set aside
for heather philosophy and foreign
faiths. The word of God had not been
completely lost. for many had handed
it down from generation to genera
ton by mouth to ear. Corruptions in
the statement of the law are apt to
occur when this method is adopted.
During the repairs to the temple,
which was the first duty undertaken
by Josiah in his efforts to restore the
worship of Jehovah. Hilkiah made a
great discovery of copy of the law.
Books were so few in number that
this wonderful find made a great SEN
sation in the nation. 1t may have
been the copy of the law required to
be placed in the ark of the covenant.
which had been hidden during the
persecution of Hannasseh to prevent
its destruction. 1t may have been
copy, misplaced in one of the numer-
GUS rooms of the temple. that had
been lost for a long period. It's re-
covery was accidental. and ii con-
firmed the word of the Lord, which
had been hidden in the hearts Of men.
Living up to the light which he pos
sessed, Hilkiah came into possession
of the light that God had given to
Moses to guide His people.
The story of how Tischendorf dis
cly at Of a
convent Of St. Catherine forty three
pages torn from an ancient copy OF
the Septuagint. and later in that same
convent upon Mount Sinai discovered
the Codex Sfnatticus. reads like
romance. While this copy of the
is one of the last to have been found.
it is one of the oldest copies of Gods
word in existence. Its antiquity and
completeness make it one of the
worlds greatest, literary treasures.
1t is probably the most valued pos
ment of Russia The only one that
can rank with it is the copy of the
New Testament that has been pre-
served for centuries in the Vatican
library at Rome. The great scholar
gave the copy of the sacred SCRIP
waste basket to kindle fires in the
old convent. to the late Russian car.
who helped him to secure it from
monks who had neglected their most
valuable treasure. The copy of the
law of Moses Kilkiah presented to
Shaphan, the kings secretary. who
reported to Josiah concerning the
progress of the restoration OF the
temple and of the discovery of the
roll of manuscript, which he read to
the king.
mower to find men. All who listen
to it hear a personal message that
touches their souls. Patton tells how
a native chief of one of the islands
of the Pacific came to the missionary
after he had completed a translation
of the Scriptures and printed the
read to him the Scriptures the chief
with the demand that he make the
book talk to him. When DR.. Patton
read to him the scriptures the chief
wept. When Josiah heard the words
Of the law read he rent his clothes.
He was filled with distress. dismay
and despair. He felt the rebuke that
rested upon the people and himself
for the nations neglect of Gods
word. We boast of the tremendous
sale Of the Scriptures as the best
seller. but we will be filled with the
realiza ton of the nations sinful neg
lect of the sacred Scriptures when we
dwell upon the Importance OF the
message that 1t contains for our day,
which the world has failed to receive
through its neglect to search the word
of God for guidance and direction.
In all probability it was the elabo-