Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-06-30

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Independence Sunday finds us COM
mencing a six months course OF lessons
in the life and writings of Paul, as re-
corded in the Acts and Epistles. Next
to Jesus Christ, America owes its free
dom to the outstanding interpreter OF
our Lord American independence had
its birth In the manger of Bethlehem.
Our existing form of government could
never have existed except for the IN
fluence Of the teachings of the apostle
to the Gentiles, whose life, labor ard
literature brought into Europe the
ideals and principles that were destined
to find expression in the first republican
constitution of the new world. Inc
doctrines of liberty, equality and JUS
tice that Paul taught fired the colonlStS:,
developed their love for freedom and
prompted them to cast of the Ties
which bound them to the mother land
and establish our country through their
Declaration of independence ana the
Revolutionary War,
We have just completed SIX months
study in the life of Christ and our
studies in Paul'S career and character
are a continuation Of what Jesus pc
gan to do and teach. The secret OF the
in human history is due to the fact,
which the great apostle has told u.s.
that Christ dwelt in him and that ne
lived in Him. Our knowledge OF the
life of the apostle Is limited to lew
hints, recorded in the New Testament,
and most of our conceptions are naSed
upon these hints, CLEANED from ms ao-
dresses and letters. The passages Sc
lected from three different poi tons OF
the Scriptures for our lesson indicate
something of the early life OF Saul, later
called Paul, whose life, labors ana inter-
ature nodded the history OF our coun-
try. civilization and Christianity more
than any other human individual.
Religious Education.
Deuteronomy has been called the
Magma Charta of Jewish religious edit
cation. The Jewish people have I'M
pressed the world with their success
in teaching their faith to their children.
Their methods had divine approval and
the results can be seen in the Jews
love of religion and the home, where
he first was taught by his mother to
reverence Jehovah and honor His WORD.
The passage assigned from Deuteron-
onnv is one of four that the orthodox
Hebrews always wore in their phylac-
terieS, that they fastened by strap
either on the wrists or on their fore-
heads. The custom was based upon
literal Interpretation of the words
spoken by Moses preceding the nations
entrance into the promised land. Ihey
were accustomed to write the passage
assigned for our lesson and place the
same within a small case that they nailed
to their door posts. 1t Is found today
in the homes of the children OF Israel,
for the "meZuzah" contains the Israel
itiSh creed, which every Jewish child
learns early in life The religious train
ing impaired to their children has made
the Jews a great nation.
Americas future depends upon the
religious education of its rising gene
ration. Sauls mother and father were
his first teachers. No parent can dele
gate to others the importation of re-
ligiouS instruction to his child. They
may assist. just as the synagogue
teachers helped train Saul, but religious
teaching must commence in the home.
The religious convictions planted in
the mind of young Saul helped TO
mold his career and develop his
character He never got away from the
teachings of the "mezuzah." contained
in the section assigned us from Deuter-
onomy. They contain fundamental
principles that are essential to the de-
yelopment of God-fearing men and
nations. 1t teaches the sovereignty
of Jehovah, as the one true and only
living God His worship and service
demands and requires the use of every
faculty In sincere devotion. 1t sums up
our duty to God in one word. love,
which is devoted to Him with every
strand of affection and intellect and
will" The great teachings Of the
sacred writings were impaired to the
plastic mind by careful teaching so that
by accurate acquisition he became a
master Of Gods message to Israel and
followed the example Of his parents by
living a life that practiced daily the
precepts of the Scriptures in obedience
to Gods commands.
Hebrew Ancestry.
Saul was proud, and he had a right
to be, of his Hebrew ancestry. His
greatness grew out Of his heritage. Like
a tree whose branches are half hidden.
the Apostle recognized that he had
been born TO be missionary in home
where there was given TO him not only
the religious start but the physical,
mental and moral foundations for his
life's work. He was of real ISraelitish
stock He was borne Of the tribe OF
Benjamin, that gave the nation Of
stock He was born of the tribe of
Benjamin. that gave the nation its
first King. This small and noble
tribe always stood close to the line of
Judah rulers and gave to the world
our Lord and Savior. His father whose
name is not known to us, was a Hebrew
of the Hebrews and a strict Pharisee
who brought up Saul, whom he HAD
dedicated to Jehovah in accordance with
his ancient religion, in the strict faith
of his sect. Saul's home training and
religious instruction was ceremonially
and spiritually the best In Israel, far
surprising the materialistic teachings
of the Sadducees
Nothing is spoken OF directly con-
corning Sauls mother, but the refer
ence he makes To the mother and
grandmother OF Timothy may contain
hint OF his own home and recall
the memories of the noble mother and
aged grandmother who helped TO mold
his career and character. He inherited
certain tendencies that proved to be
help and also a hindrance in his work
Blood told in Saul's life. The hidden
forces of his ancestry played a prom
inent part IN making the apostle great.
but the most potent influences in our
lives and his are those of the first 10
years, for they mold our character
and shape our destiny.
Environment, Education, Citizenship.
Three great streams of influence
flowed into the life OF Saul during his
early years-Hebrew, Greek and Roman.
HIS father was engaged in all probable