Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-05-17

lamp unto my feet. and light unto
my path.--Psalm cxIx. lo5.
IiiIkinh's Great Discovery.
The temple WAS "A junkshOp. Its
floors sagScd hopc!essly. There were
wide breaches Iii it's walls. All the
fine gold had been stripped or to buy
vadcrs. All the Eoodly and siEnih-
cant furniture had been crowded into
the unoccupied rooms surrounding the
courts and their places had been
filled with the affairs and cmblcins Z
alien religions. The ritual OF the
Hebrew religion had ceased aud tho
dust OF civili2atIon--thc deposit in
cidcnt TO a great city accumulated in
the unkempt building -. Among
other things which had disappeared in
the 200 years. OF neglect Was the vel,
low scroll of the law. II they had
only known it that old parchment was
the nations palladium. If II had
been preserved the nation would have
VIII OF Jehovah. Obcyed-thc sceptcr
would not have departed. Aside also
from It's indcscribably precious con
tents it was a souvenir of the highest
value. What hands had penned III!
What eyes had scanned II, What bps
had read II aloud to wondering con-
ErGgations! BUT It's very existence
entirely. ut least by the, great mass
were the gains OF E?noTins God in
the restoration of His temple un-
dcrtakeu by the good king. In that
crude age there were no safety boxes
or vaults. The custom os hiding
treasures maintained. Tho high priest
probably sccrctcd tho money raised
fer the work OF repair. lie possibly
put 1t under some old plumber in one
OF IN" unoccupied rooms. IL was while
treasure that he made tho most re-
markable lind" of that age. lie un-
earthcd the only, the long lost copy
OF the Bible. The result OF this dis
Of \
rule OF life both for nation and IN
dividuai was fouud-a standard of
conduct to which peasant and King
might resort; No wonder t6at
at first reading tho King rent his
clothes in regret and fear-the will
OF Cod having been so long and gross
~ neglected.. EcCauGc OF the low
standard OF education at that time
need of an Interpreter was impcra-
t!Ne--somc one with an Inner light. q
sense for tho Diviue-must needs be
found. II was in this way IIuldah en-
and joined Miriam and Deborah.
Under the study limp.
II is an ancient story with modern
applications. There are many today
TO whom the Bible is as perfectly u
los, book as II was TO Josiah. /.
The public display OF the Bible on the
sacred desk Is to be commended. In
is never to be a fetch. /, is only
Gods vehicle. To worship 1t would
be idolatrous. II the hook could
speak 1t would try as tho angel did
to John. See thou do II not" .
Life is more than the book" In the
ultimate analysts II is not so much
what man knows as what he les.
=. Interpretation OF the Scripture
is the distinct function or the min
istry as II was of the prophets in
old time. Not. however. that the min
!stry has monopoly OF the func-
ton. Many unordaineG persons in
terpret skillfully. hut as general edu-
cation increases. need OF specific in
tcrprcters decreases. Here ia an
old-time Illustration OF the principle
that Jesus cnunciated: "He who does
shall know" Josiah was doing
II was when he began to repair the
temple that he found the book"
The Bible is n potent book. The
reading OF II brings things to pass.
1t rrovokcs either revolt or obedience.
Josiah sought an Interpreter TO max e
its contents plain. on tho other
10 cut IL in shreds. The Bible receives