Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-09-27
By VII. Z. GILROY. ID. d.

Editor Of The Congregationalist
The review OF the quarters les
sons Is suggested in the form OF
an estimate OF the characters stu
died during the period. 1t IS as
character studies that these lessons
have been significant, though they
have had TO do with character not
only in its inner aspect, with but
its outward expressions In the great
tasks which the characters that we
have been studying accomplished.
First we have Abraham. the
great pioneer. manifesting virtues
that have not always been chara--
t~eristic OF the pioneer. The pioneer
with all his courage and endurance
and determination has often been
q fighting man, grasping. and eager
In his ambition. Tut Abraham with
all the virtues OF the pioneer had
a largeness of spirit and magma
nimity that had made him very
truly the father Of the faithful.
The Greatness OF Jacob
Jacob comes before US as a man
deprived OF the foremost place.
who was bound to achieve II and
TO get il by hook or by crook. AS q
matter C fact he used both hook
and crook. and his life appears in
many respects as unlovely. But he
had in him. with all his trickery.
elements upon which something
could really be built. and in this
respect he differed from his more
llkeable brother. ESau. The essence
Of the lesson concerning Jacob was
that even a character like Jacob
could be transformed and could
have brought into his life some
real holiness and integrity OF pur-
pose.
Moses stands before us as a ON
manding figure. great in his moral
strength, courageous in his leader
ship nj OF the worlds grea.
masterful characters. a rebel
against injustice and wrong but an
upbuilder of the foundations or a
true society in law and righteous
ness.
Three women appear In our les
son studies; in fact, one should say
four. for one cannot consider the
character and career Of Samuel
without thinking Of his mother
Hannah. deborah. the Judge Of
Israel. stands as a sort OF female
Moses. a married woman with q
call TO tasks that went beyond her
own home and household, yet q
woman who appears in the leader
ship Of the nation with her real
strength in her womanly courage
and virtues.
In Ruth with her devotion to her
mother-in-law. Naomi, we have a
picture OF perslstency and devotion
that car attach TO love and gentle
ness. The story OF this Moabitess
Is interesting In itself. but 1t comes
to have great significance when we
realize that she was an ~ancestress
OF David. and therefore or Jesus
himself. giving to the man OF
Nazareth an inter-racial origin and
significance that is not always re-
cognized.
4A@- 0~AA3 VI Cd4l4lS4 Is AGAINST a
BACKGROUND Of evil conditions in
Israel - drunkenness. RIGHTEOUSNESS.
and corruption. Samuel displays
the qualities that one would ex-
pect from one who had been de-
voted In his mothers prayers to the
service OF religion.
The story Of the first king OF
Israel is one Of the worlds great
rragedies-a man with a marvellous
natural endowment and with great
opportunity. throwing all away
through lack CT self-controi and
dying a hopeless suicide after he
had lost q battle IN contrast to
Saul was his son Jonathan. OF
whose friendship with David one
lesson has taken account.
That the outward prosperity or .
nation does not always mean real
strength or greatness Is a lesson
that w could find in the life OF
many peoples. Amos. the herds
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