Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1923-06-23

Our quarters studies with the ex-
ception OF the Easter lesson have
been a series Of surveys Of the Great
Men and Women of the Old Tesla
ment." Our lessons have taught us
that God has used a great variety OF
personalities in His work. The nine
men and two women whose careers
and characters we have considered
have differed widely in their capa-
bilities and culture. Probably no bet
ter guide for a review of the lives OF
the outstanding heroes. whose efforts.
supported by many unnamed heroes,
have made the history of the Jewish
people the greatest in the expression
of the power Of faith, can be found
than that recorded in Hebrews
Our first lesson presented the his
torio foundation for the Christian
faith in tho resurrection OF Jesus
Christ, which is the basic principle
Of Christianity. The triumph Of the
Lord over death calls for men to
express their faith in Him by a life
OF self-surrender. In the epistle to
the Hebrews the writer gives us a
magnificent exposition Of the faith
of the great heroes that was demon.
strated by their loyalty to their moral
convictions. Religion under both the
Old Testament and tho New Is the
same. All the heroes whose careers
we have studied have proved beyond
greatness has been their faith. which
they revealed by their loyalty to their
convictions of truth and duty.
The eleven Old Testament per-
sonalities and Jesus established the
reality Of their faith by their lives.
haf -
! ness by demonstrative arguments.
| but they had intuitions and persua-
sions arising in their souls which
were absolutely authoritative with
them. and they were gloriously loyal
ests of this physical order-comfort,
prosperity. health. life--that they
might be absolutely loyal to the be-
hests of the spiritual order" The
writer to the Hebrews represents
Jesus. not as the object Of faith.
emplar OF the life Of faith"
A recent writer has given to the
| American public his list of the seven
great men Of America. He has chosen
them from the various fields of HUI
men endeavor and given his reason
| Tor considering them as the greatest
! In their line. In every one of these
seven thcre existed a personal faith
as the foundation OF their greatness
as with those heroes Of the Old Testa-
ment. which lifted them above the
Not all possess the same distin-
guished marks of greatness
Abraham headed the list Of our
studies. He had vision of a glorious
[ future. He was the friend of God
who listened to His Masters Voice
forth in the way Of duty. looking for
Gods blessing. He earned the right
to be called the Father Of the Faith
fui by leaving the rich fertile plains
| or Mesopotamia and going to the un-
known land which God had promised
! Christianity find in his loyalty to his
convictions the commencement OF
their faith. He believed God. and
1t was reckoned unto him for right
| eousness."
Joseph proved his faith by his
sity as a slave and prisoner. He
was faithful to every task, unselfish
In his efforts to be helpful to others
devoted as a son. and when raised
TO the premiership of Egypt he ex-
tended the hand Of forgiveness 70 his
| brothers who had betrayed him into
| slavery. seeing by his faith the provi.
/, dence OF God that made their hatred
F.. TO be a means through which he was
brought to his place of eminence and
power: BY faith Joseph. when he
| died, made mention of the departing
| OF the children OF Israel: and gave
! commandment concerning his bones
Moses revealed his unselfshness BY
ms devotion to the despised Hebrews
He revealed his courage when he re.
sponded to the call of God, havins
been prepared. by his forty years ir
the courts of Egypt and his fort,
years in the deserts solitude, to un.
dertake the leadership Of the mos,
| influential and greatest national
| emancipation recorded in history. "Hf
| brought to this great enterprise en-