Evening star., 1939-07-15

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But foolish young Rehoboam, abet-
ted by his boon companions, took
the opposite course from King John,
and with bluster that he thought
was strength, declared that he would
be more severe upon them than his
father had been.
Led by Jeroboam, the people Of
the 10 northern tribes raised the
cry, ITO your tents, o Israeli" The
revolt was on, with whirlwind force.
We can imagine the scene. The
Jews have ever been hysterical
demonstrators" The excited multi
tude milled about, some shouting
one thing, and some another, but
all opposed to Rehoboam. A pas
sion for liberation from old burdens
moved them, as well as dreams of a
newer. better kingdom. I saw SINH
lar outbursts in Russia and in Tur-
key and in Egypt
That poor weakling, Rehoboam.
saw himself in personal danger.
Instead of remaining to assert his
kingliness, and to avert the disaster
that was upon him, he leaped into
a chariot and made a frantic escape
to Jerusalem. What contrast this
ignominious flight was to his pomp-
adorned royal procession up to
Schechem His pride had become
panic, and his master motive the
saving of his own miserable life.
The Cement of a Nation.
"Stand-patters," rather than Glib
erals are a nations menace. Be-
cause of personal advantage. they
want to continue old ways, many of
which the common mind has de-
cided to get rid I have attended
meetings of wealthy men that were
more poisonously class conscious
than anything I ever heard from
Union Square soap boxes. They had
hearkened to the intolerant voice of
privilege and were deaf to the warn
ings of the wise. One could push
very far the analogy between foolish
Rehoboam and many of the wealthy
of our time.
Amidst the misery and blood Of
the Russian revolution-I was one
of the few newspapermen covering
on the spot that historic upheaval-
I learned that whenever the masses
want to seize power in any govern
ment, they can do so, needing only
a Jeroboam to lead them.
Also I learned that widespread and
long suffered wrongs on the part of
the people are what make revolu-
tions possible. When, as with us, the
great bulk of the population endure
no expressions, and enjoy security,
liberty and prosperity, all wild talk
of revolution may be dismissed. The
cement of a nation-indeed, its very
foundation stones-is the prevalence
of justice, freedom, Righteousness
and brotherliness. We may read
that Interpretation into the old
Scripture, Happy is the nation
whose God is the Lord" For the
fruits of godliness are all the bene-
fits that civilization at its highest
seeks to attain.
There is nothing desirable in any
of the political panaceas which have
been so much discussed of late-the
"isms" which haunt the dreams of
the timid and mathematician
may not be found, in better form,
in the simple and sincere practice
of Christianity. Rehoboam was a
renegade from religion before he
was anything worse.
The Poor Young Rich Man.
Poor Rehoboam had not had a
fair chance In life. Not his was
Jeroboam's opportunity to excel in
industry in fair competition with
his fellows. He was brought up in
idleness, luxury and vanity, amidst
the enervating influences of
harem- dominated palace. His COM
panions were rich young toadies, as
irresponsible as himself We find
the Rehoboam type in almost every
days newspaper. He is seen regu-
larly in the night clubs and gilded
resorts. Self-indulged, self-willed,
self-centered, he is fit to rule neither
himself nor those over whom cir
cumstances have given him au-
thority. Let us be glad that our sons
were not born to riches and ener-
vation.
OF necessity, this lesson upon
Rehoboams folly raises the vast and
fundamental issue of the character
of the training that youth is to have
for the rule of democracy. AS Solo
mons son should have been reared
in caution, teachableness and a pub
lie mind, because of his expected
ascent to the throne, so our boys
and young men, and young women,
too, should be given a SOLDERING sense
of responsibility for their new tasks
in world that is in state of flux
In all history there were never such