The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-27
By GEORGE LEWIS BAILEs

an understanding of the laws, Gus.
toms and morals Of his day.
Amos lDeed righteousness. He was
stern man. He believed too much
ease and luxury weakened the race and
would bring on destruction to the ma
ton. He loved the out-of-doors. He
believed that hardship was tonic need
ed to put iron in the soul
IL he lived today, Amos would doubt
less stand for universal military train
I ing. Not training for murder or de-
welcoming the lust to kill, but military
training for the sake of discipline: for
the sake of developing a sense of re-
sponsibility; for physical development;
for obedience !; for cooperation, team
play. Doubtless Amos would say, If
he were living today:
military training does not imply
that those who receive it shall become
professional soldiers. But in a free
democracy every human being Is q
potential soldier. He or she may be
called upon any time to sacrifice for
tune or life for the common good. And
lperhapsA The most important thing in
military training Is the fact that the
youth has his budding egotism properly
pruned. He is made to feel that there
| is something in the world more import
ant than his own private interest.
Amos would doubtless draw lesson
for the youth of the land from the
ldemoraIizing scandals of charges and
examinations filling the air from the
capitals and seats of government at
| home and abroad.
r. Amos would raise the question
whether the world is going forward or
backward. He would answer his own
question by emphasizing the fact that
there can be no real going forward, no
genuine progress, without growing
appreciation of human values.
Amos would thunder against lease
| in Zion," sketicism and indulgence, re-
ninding men and women that loyalty
and unselfishness and service alone can
save a nation or human soul.
Hosea
Hosea lived at the same time with
Amos and Isaiah. He was less tall and
less rugged in physical appearance than
Amos. The style and manner Of his
written message is correspondingly diff
| ferent.
The concluding twelve hooks of the
Old Testament are called the minor
prophesies. The Jews considered these
twelve as one book. Hosea, though not
| the first in point, of time, is placed first
in the group. His message related more
particularly to the Kingdom of Israel,
| though he mentions Judah and includes
her in his challenge.
The burden of Hosea's writing is the
wickedness of the Jewish nation in for
saking the God who had saved them
/ from slavery, given them water from
the rock, bread from the heaven, and
the law from the mountain top.
Doubtless if Hosea lived today, he
would draw stinging Indictment
against men for betraying public trust
and working crookedness in high places.
But he would sound also note of hope.
He would remind men that there are
still multiplied thousands of men and
women who are loyal, who are honest,
I who love their fellow creatures, and
who delight in rendering unselfish serv-
Ice for them and for the public good.
Hosea would doubtless catch the at
tention Of the busy sssvorld with his
kindly, wise way of reminding people
that men are in the world at best only
a few days; that only God and his
Kingdom are eternal. He would plead
with men to seek first the kingdom. x
4 Hosea would warn his fellow men to
put spif4tnaf values first. He would
magnify loyalty, love and unselfish
service. = He would say:
HE who serves best his fellown1en,
Is serving God in the hottest way he
can"