Evening star., 1923-10-20

No country In the world Is so at
tractive to people of every race and
nation as Palestine. No other spot
On the globe possesses the charm that
attracts men equal to that small strip
of Syrian coast land where Jereva
placed Israel in the midst of the ma
tions. The interest is not confined to
one class, to one people. to one ma
ton, TO one race or to one religion. Jew,
Mohammedan and Christians of every
church look upon it as the Holy Land.
whose history is closely interviewer
with their faith.
Although small in area, being about
one hundred and fifty miles long, and
from forty TO sixty miles wide, it has
played a more prominent part in the
history OF the word than any other
section of the world of an equal area.
Its strategic position in the center OF
the ancient world has made its pos
session the subject of contention in
all ages from the earliest time to the
present. History records how the
armies of all nations have swept
Egyptians. Hittites, Scythians, Per-
slams. Greeks, Romans, Franks. Turks
and English (Who today exercise
mandatory control over the land(
have ruled the Promised Land, as well
as Israel, to whom God gave the land
in accordance with His promise.
World Center.
When Joshua was summoned to the
leadership of twelve tribes, WHO had
been nodded into a nation during
their experiences in the wilderness.
Palestine was the commercial outpost
of western Asia on the Mediterranean.
sa In "A hHa
ocean IA highway of trade and com
merce, so lat the few harbors of the
Promised Land which were open for
navigation were filled with the
vessels of merchant princes, who
sought in Palestine the wealth of the
orient. The merchants of Babylon
and Egypt passed through the Holy
Land with their caravans, so that ii
was on th2 main line of trade be-
tween Asia and Africa.
Canaan by her intermediary posi-
tion placed Israel in the midst of the
nations, so that her people became in
commerce the great middlemen or the
then known world. Politically 1t was
buffer state between the powers OF
Babylon and Egypt. This gave her
the balance of power between Asia
and Africa The fortunes of the great
empires of the Euphrates and Nile
were reflected in the history of Pal
estine. The rise of one and the fall
OF the other was determined by their
power in Palestine. The capture OF
Jerusalem gave the Assyrians free
access to Egypt. The winning of
Megiddo gave to the Egyptian Pha-
raoh all of Asia west of the EuphrateS.
Sayce tells us that "Babylonian con-
quest introduced into Canaan the gov
ernment and law, the writing and lit
erature, of the Babylonian ciViliza-
ton" The whole eastern world from
the Nile to the Euphrates was knit
H.. 3 N,x,V N& az
tercourse, and all were in contact
with the great nations of Africa and
Asia. Though a small land. the coun-
try that the ISraeliteS were called
upon to conquer was the very center
of the world of its day. No other
place could have been chosen for the
home of the Hebrew people which
would have more advantages for re-
ceiving impressions and passing them
on to other nations. 1t was stra-
the forces of civilization and reli-
gion were destined to revolve. Its
physical characteristics made the con-
quest slow, but it insured their isoia-
tion so that their religious life could
be developed. 1t gave them security
from their enemies and stability as
nation as long as they obeyed Gods
commands and kept His covenant.
International Mission.
Mazzini has well said that nation
aIity is sacred. Every people has it's
special mission. which will CO. oper-
ate toward fulfilment Of the general
mission of humanity" Paul in his
mastery address upon Mars HUI
pointed out that every nation was
divinely established and its bounda--
ries fixed so that it might carry out
its God-given mission. Moses toid
Israel in Deuteronomy how Jehovah
planned to establish them in the
Promised Land, SO that they would
reveal through their observance OF
His commands character that would
impress other nations. Wnlle IN the
beginning of their conquest they had
to use force to possess the land, yet
the prophet Isaiah points to a period
in the latter times when lsrael WouId
be re-established in Jerusalem ana pe
the power that would bring in
day of peace. While at the moment
the champions of Zionism appear to
be doubtful about the fulhlment OF
their dreams, which they hoped would
be realized through the conquest OF
the Turk by Gen. Allenby and the
mandatory given to Great Britain.
many of the students of the Scrip
lures, especially those who look for
the second coming OF the Lord. see
the fulflllment of Isaiahs prophecy
coming in the last days or the king
dom OF Israel, which are not the last
days of the gospel age. They expect
that this prophecy will be fulfilled at
the coming Of the Christ as King of
Kings and Lord of Lords to set up HIS
kingdom among men. Israel VIII then
become the center Of the worlds life,
Zion is to be redeemed and her con
yerts saved by His Righteousness. in
that purified land transgressors and
sinners viii be destroyed and the ma
tions OF the earth will be attracted to
Jerusalem. .
One of the outcomes of that day Of
spiritual conquest Isaiah predicted
would be a world without war. While
I'VE fought a war against war and
sought to make democracy safe in
this world, we read in the press the
statement of Lloyd George that de-
mocracy is imperiIed. While America
is without doubt ready to carry out
the words of cur late President Hard
ing "to remind the world anew that
we are ready for our part in further
ing peace and adding to stability in
world affairs we face the fact that
the nations. whose expenditures were
$3.50. .000.oe0 per day" in the world