The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-06-25

Considering that they had been
taken far away from theiu home and
from everything dear 10 their tradi-
tions. the children Of Judah had
been wonderfully well treated by
their BabylOuian captors. The one
thing dear to every human heart,
liberty, they were largely denied. II
never was absent from their minds
that they were an oxiled' people and
subject 10 the commands OF an alien
monarch, Yet they wero located In
a pleasant fertile region where every
opportunity was given to prosper and
live happily, II only they would for
get their national individuality and
become a part OF the great empire
OF Babylon. Many faithful souls
would not forget the humiliation Of
captivity. ana refused TO be COM
fortcd in a foreign land. but the ma
iorlty with the Characteristic THRIFT
Of the Jewish race, went ahead and
acquired wealth aud influence, until
at one time they came 10 be recOg.
nizod by their Captors as a people
worthy Of consideration. II came TO
ho that the matter OF religion was
a secondary consideration, as 1t L.
with many OF the race now, or at
least Il degcnerated into "A formality
that kept alive only the aspect Of
their faith but left II powerless to
Influence their manner OF living or
their future hopes. Some held on
to Gods promises and lived In ex-
pectntion OF that day when they
would be restored TO their native
land and n portion OF their religious
and political rights. Some hung
their harps on the willows and re-
fused to sing the songs OF Zion In
a strange land.
slavery TO Outward Forms.
But the peculiar thing after all Is
this: Prosperity deadened their con-
science TO the reason for their cap
tivity and they forgot the lesson God
had given them for their redemption
as a people. They grew stiff necked
and impudent and were impatient of
the voices OF warning showing them
the way TO the restored favor OF
God. II they could prosper so we'll
In pagan land, under a heathen
government, and without the worship
OF Jehovah, what reason could they
see to mourn their past estate and
seek TO remedy the condition into
which their own unfalthfulness to
Jehovah had brought them. They
were impatient OF reminders and re-
garded the prophet as n nuisance.
ivy Ia fl'l Ifh W bt utu III
the pursuit of worldly wealth, rather
than TO be called to a sense OF their
lost opportunities and of the chance
offered them TO regain the glory of
Jerusalem, To most OF them the
idea OF religion meant Jerusalem and
the temple-they had seen the tenn
pie sacked and the city burned--to
their conception there was no more
religion of Jehovah, but the faith of
their fathers had passed away with
the removal OF its visible reminders.
Like many people Of today, the forms
and ceremonies of worship was all
| they comprehended of religion. and
the spiritual part was unrecognized.
Like many others, what Is not prac-
tically available for their individual
advantage might as well not exist.
Yet there remained a latent rem
nant OF their one-time fidelity, n few
who cherished the faith OF Jehovah
until such time az return TO tho hal
lowed precincts OF the promised land
was an actuality.
An Unwclcome Messenger.
This was the character of the peo-
| pie to whom Ezekiel was sent 70
keep alive the embers of faith and
awaken the careless TO knowledge
| of their criminal forgetfulness. The
| Lord had allowed these people to be
/ taken captive and removed to a