The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-04-26
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared especially for The Republi-
can by Rev. U. S. Wright, D. D.
SUNDAY, APRIL 20.
RUTH. THE FAITHFUL DAUGH-

SUNDAY, APRIL %.
RUTH, THE FAITHFUL DAUGH-
TER.-Ruth 1.
Thy people shall be my people, and
thy God my GOd.-Ruth 1:16.
UNEXPECTED BEAUTY
"In the days when the Judges
ruled" was as rude a period as that
of our own frontier. every man did
that which was right in his own
eyes" spells individualism with ven
geance. Hemmed in by enemies as
vindictive as savages, trying to build
I'D some stable government of their
own and conquer a place Of homes at
the same time, left little opportunity
for the gentler things of life. In
such day to find this gem of story
as well as so perfect a picture Of love
and peace is like coming upon violet
in a snow bank. For sheer beauty it
is unsurpassed in all the Old Testa-
ment records. Its seems likely that
it was written later than the days of
David, to which point the narrative
reaches, an dit may be a problem
story out of the troubled period of
Ezra and Nehemiah when the fam
lies were being broken up as the for
eign wives were weeded out from
among the pure-blooded Hebrews Of
the return. Certainly, it would chal-
lenge such a procedure with an his
torical parallel whose argument could
not be met. But regardless Of time
it tells the ever-new and ever-needed
word that under whatever condition
the world may exist there is POSSIBLE
ity of beauty in the humblest life.And
it calls loudly to each one facing the
grimness and darkness of many
situation that the modern world
knows all too we'll. MAKE your life
a glorious thing. If there seems no
possibilities in your own, look about
you and see what others are doing
in theirs"
Bethlehem where a hopeful family
has been blessed with two boys and
then famine stalks in. Elimalech can
not bear their cry for bread and
yields to the call of the green covered
horizon of Moab. They pack their
scanty furniture and enter the land
of aliens only to find hospitable treat
ment and the sharing of both bread
and land. Years pass and the boys
do as all boys do, love regardless of
religious lines or language ditferen-
ces. Presently death knocks at the
door and three widows mourn tOgeth-
er over their dead hopes and buried
desires. Naomi feels the hunger for
home and faces toward Judea where
the latter events have their setting.
THE DECISION
1t was a sad breakup after all
that had been lived and loved under
the farm roof and Naomi began to
return empty handed and heavy hear
ted. Two girls walked with her to
the edge of Moab and would have
gone all the way but for her urging
that they return. Proud in her power
ty she would not mention any rela-
tiyes who had sent no word thru all
the days of her exile and hardship
and it was a dismal picture she pain
ted of Judean possibilities. And the
Hebrew exclusiveness that looked
with contempt upon every member
of an alien race was too well known
to leave any doubt of the great
probability of events proving her
words. Orpah accepted her sugges-
ton and with many a tear fastened
to end the heartbreaking parting.
Ruth fingered and declared her in
tention in words of striking beauty
and comprehensiveness: "Entreat me
not to leave thee, or return from fol
lowing after thee countered Naomi
head which spoke one language while
her heart spoke another Regardless
of her love for this girl she would
sacrifice that love in doing what hel
judgement told her was wise plan.
ming yet the girls devotion to thC
need of this broken woman made hel
refuse to accept the verdict. Mrs
Judson was called all sorts of foo
for marrying missionary and fol
throwing away her splendid talent:
upon the heather. Sometimes W,
must pray to be delivered from GU
friends" and neither Ruth nor Mrs. J
would have filled the place they hav
if perfectly good advice had beel
listened to. where, thou goest,
will go"-there is no foreign land t.
where thou lodgest, l vii
lodge"-there may be poverty but
is wealth if thou be there. "Thy pee
pie shall be my people"-all the rae
becomes related thru love-"thy Go
my God"-it was the God of Abra
ham, Isaac and Jacob who won Nose