12
A NATION THAT "GOT RELIGION."
The International Sunday School Lesson For July 15
Is "Hezekiah, The Faithful King."
II Chronicles 30
————-——— •
By WILLIAM T. EIXIS ,
V ✓
What Is the power that most
strongly binds a people, or even na
tions, together? Other countries
frankly express their amazement at
the closer relations now being estab
lished between Canada and the United
States, and between Great Britain and
the United States. They seem unable
to explain the phenomena. Small
wonder, for they look no deeper than
the selfish concerns of statecraft,
whereas the strongest cord in this
new international tie is religion. Just
as religion is the greatest unifying
factor in each of these nations itself.
Our new fellowship is on the firmest
foundation. It never occurs to the
man who is engrossed in concerns of
high politics that such an inconspicu
ous factor as the International Sun
day School Movement, or Christian
Endeavor, or the Young Men's Chris
tian Association, or the Laymen's Mis
sionary Movement might be consider
able forces in this new state of mind.
Such, none the less, is the case. The
law that Hezekiah observed still holds
good to-day. When the old Hebrew
king wanted to draw all his people
together, and even the alienated
northern kingdom also, he sounded
the appeal to a common past In re
ligious life. It was faith in Jehovah,
a faith often dim apd ignored or de
serted, but still the one common her
itage of the people, that made the
Jews a nation. That note was still
the and strongest appeal.
There are immense possibilities of
human welfare in the truth that the
two most powerful nations in the
world are fundamentally Christian.
StlrrlnK the Deep Spring*
Petty divisions and local abuses off
many sorts tended to separate the
Jews of Hezekiah's time into groups
and mutually antagonistic communi
ties. This was especially true with
respect to the great division between
the northern and southern kingdoms.
The king might have taken up these
one by one, and tried to patch them
up. But he knew a better way. He
realized that there was a deep, hid
den sentiment in the hearts of all
Jews, of loyalty to the God of their
fathers. Likewise he understood that
neglect of religion was the funda
mental failure of the time.
All religious visions, and most per
sonal and national calamities, are
due to an inadequate loyalty to God.
The cure for all the ills of the church
is simply a deeper devotion to the
church's Lord. The blight of denomi
national rivalry will disappear from
North America as soon as Christians
learn to love Christ more than they
love their own way and their own
past. All the little ponds and eddies
along the shore are submerged when
the tide comes in. The floods of Goa
will submerge the differences and
disagreements between Christians.
There is a profound truth here, in
dicated by the lesson story, that needs
close pondering. When the disciples
of Christ find themselves engrossed
in devotion to Him they will be in
realization of practical Christian un- ,
ity. The greatest Christian union I
I THE BIG FIRE SALE CONTINUES
I To-morrow we will offer greater sacrifices than ever in Men's Furnishings and Shoes for the
I entire family. But a slight impression has been made on our stupendous stock by the tremendous
I selling since this great sale started, and we are placing reserve stocks on sale daily.
I Prices are no object. This is your opportunity— grasp it
I Men's Furnishings [ H 3ts io° Misses'and Children's Shoes I
I 9 p,- ece J; n ' lerwear ' a |J co J ors 23c mK Overalls,upto sLso,'at!!.'.'!!!!! 7.7.7.7.'. 69c one lot of isses ' and Children's Shoes .... 39c 1
B 64c 2-Pieee Underwear, all colors 39c One lot of Misses and Children's Shoes t . .j t#J ~..x . M . 69c I
I 75c Union Suits .. 49 c Meil's SIIOOS Up to $1.50 Misses' and Children's Shoes .> . 79c I
I 79c Underwear, all colors 59c Up to $3.00 Scout and Work Shoes $1.79 U P to SL7S Misses ' and Children's Shoes 98c I
I $1.25 Union Suits, all colors, 79c Up to $3.50 Scout and Work Shoes $1.98 Up to $2.25 Misses'and Children's Shoes . r .51.24 I
Up to $1.50 Dress Shirs (soiled) 39c Up to $4.50 Scout and Work Shoes $2.49 U P to $ 3 - 00 Misses ' and Children's Shoes ~ . $1.49 I
15c Dress Shirts 49c Up to $3.00 Dress Shoes $1.79 * i • § rji
Ip to $1.50 Dress Shirts 79c Up to $3.50 Dress Shoes $1.99 LitCllGS ftilOßS
Work Shirts at. 39c, 49c and 59c Up to $4.50 Dress Shoes $2.49 One lot of Ladies' Shoes and Oxfords ........... ~ 39c
Collars ... .. .. 5c Up to $6.00 Dress Shoes $2.99 One lot of Ladies' Pumps and Oxfords ........... 69c
Up to 50c Suspenders 9c Up to $7.00 Men's Oxfords $2.49 One lot of Ladies' Pumps and Oxfords ............ 89c
10c Work Hose 7c $3.00 Ball Band Canvas Rubber Sole Shoes $1.99 One lot of Ladies' Pumps and Oxfords .......,. 98c
15c Dress Hose 8c 9 One lot of Ladies' Pumps and Oxfords $1.24
25c Dress Hose, (silk and Lisle), 18c OOyS alloeS Up to $2.00 Ladies' Shoes .'. r ... .... . 98c
25c Belts , 17c Up to $1.50 Little Gents' Dress Shoes 93c Up to $2.50 Ladies' Shoes . . .$1.24 I
25c Neckwear .. ... 17c Up to $2.50 Youths' Dress and Scout Shoes $1.49 Up to $3.00 Ladies' Shoes' t ...51.49
50c Neckwear . 3sc Up to $3.00 Youths'- Dress and Scout Shoes $1.79 Up to $3.50 Ladies' Shoes' $1.98
Men's Trousers ....... 79c to $1.79 Up to $3.00 Boys' Dress and Scout Shoes $1.49 Up to $7.00 Ladies' Shoes ... . ..... f .,-.52.49
Up to 81.00 Caps ... 5c Up to $3.50 Boys' Dress and Scout Shoes $1.98 500 Pairs Shoes to be Sacrificed at ...... $1.69
Up to 82.50 Straw Hats 29c Up to $5.00 Boys' Dress and Scout Shoes $2.49 1,000 Pairs Oxfords and Pumps to be Sacrificed at. .98c
ENTIRE STOCK, INCLUDING RUBBER GOODS, TO BE SOLD AT THESE SACRIFICE PRICES
|I?1S S| ELI GOLDSTEIN, 323 BROAD STREET |3 I ™RSSS|
[ADDED FOR SALE PURPOSES.) FORMERLY AT BROAD ST.—l7 Years. Opposite Broad Street Market AN ENTIRE NEW STOCK. |
FRIDAY EVENING,
meeting ever held did not have Chris
tian unlan as its object; it was the
World's Missionary Conference, at
Edinburg. In the face of a world
service, all the divided branches of
Christendom realized their unity. Only
a very narrow-minded person can re
tain sectarian prejudices on the mis
sion field. Both church and natioc
rise to a higher unity and loyalty In
the face of the call to return to the
first love.
A "Reform" For the Preachers
Thanksgiving Day Is a great na
tional asset, a powerful promoter of
patriotism. As Hezekiah called to
the City of David for a national reli
gious festival, a Thanksgiving Day
and a feast of remembrance, the na
tional Passover, he urged appropriate
preparation. Deep experiences call
for earnest self-examination. The
war has set millions to looking into
their own hearts for the meaning of
things. Holy communion before ac
tion is a solemn battlefield experience.
As a first step in this great Jewish
celebration, Hezekiah called for the
purification of the Levites and the
priests. Repentance must begin at
the house of God. The world will
never be purified by a spotted church.
The wise king, when he had called
the religious leaders of the people to
gether, pointed out that the punish
ment of Jehovah had fallen upon the
nation because of its religious declen
sions and the lrreligion of those who
should have been the first In fidelity
to Jehovah. So the first step In the
preparation of the Passover was me
sanctlflcation of the Levites.
One cannot resist the temptation to
speculate upon what would be the
result if the ministers of religion in
our own land were to have squarely
put up to them the responsibility for
moral and poetical conditions In the
nations. Suplßise our spiritual pre
paredness for war were even equal
to our military preparedness. Imagine
all preachers off in a "retreat" for
the purpose of searching their own
hearts -with respect to the state ot
the country. Would one man see that
his failure to preach clearly the eth
ical teachings of the gospel had been
responsible for the gradual decay of
the moral fiber of that churchmember
who is now a condemned grafter?
Would the vote-buying in certain
communities rise up to condemn the
ministers who had either winked at
it, or failed to blister with the con
demnation of Jehovah the traitors
who had shared in it? The lust for
vanities and fashion, the weakening
of sacred home ties, the neglect of
the family altar, decline of church
going—would these appear at the
door of the ministers of the Most
High who had failed to make reli
gion attractive, or to satisfy the soul
needs of their people? Delicate and
dangerous as is this subject, it is
only an obvious and logical deduction
from the inspired story of how Heze
klah began to prepare for his great
Passover by calling the priestly class
to self-examination and repentance.
Rallying to Jerunalem
Despite all their defects, there was
something sublime about the Crusades
of the Middle Ages. They were a
magnificent conception. The rock
bottom fact was a concern for the
city and tomb of the Crucified. Some
think akin to this medieval passion
for the places associated with the
earthly life of our Lord has swept
across Christendom since Turkey en
tered the world struggle. The garri
soning of the City of David by thei
army which has been hounding the
Jews and slaying the Christians has
stirred the hearts of the West, As
the British troops have moved up
ward from Suez through lower Pal
estine. the interest of people hasi
manifestly quickened. We do care
for the city over which Christ wept
and where He was crucified. The
Holy City is still the home of sacred
memories.
In Jerusalem is still, as In Heze
kiah's time, memory, unity and In
spiration. I cannot escape the con
viction, after having all over
the Bible lands and the ancient world,
that this strangely-persisting city IS
to have a new place in the plan of
God. The city which He loved is
still to be the rallying point of His
people everywhere. In the reunion of
Christendom after war's fever is over
there will be a peculiar place for the
City of Zion. Hezekiah was observ
ing the divine order when he sum
moned all Jews up to Jerusalem.
Touching a People's Hearts
From North and South came the
Jews to the great Passover. They
brought offerings so lavishly that the
forde of priests was inadequate to
handle them; real religion always ex
presses Itself in giving. There cannot
be a revival of religion In a niggardly
church; or, if there is, it will be by
driving out the spirit of meanness.
Christianity costs a man nothing to
get, but it costs him his all to keep.
Closed purses, closed hearts. It is
the open hand that God fills with
blessing. In ftiis national revival
there was a feast of generosity.
Small wonder the people were glad;
1 there is no gladness in life for stingy
| souls. It is when we give that we
I get. Several days were not long
[ enough for the keeping of his feast,
,so another seven days was added. It
' was like a great family reunion—a re
j union with the heavenly Father first,
and then with the brethren. Old dls
j agreements were forgotten; at the
j house of God the hearts of the people
, were touched. So we read that "The
I Lord harkened to Hezekiah. and
: healed the people."
, Of course reform followed the re
i vlval. Any religious stir in a com
j munity that does not eventuate in
new righteousness, may be put down
as mere hysteria. The whole nation
; turned to idol-smashinf,* The former
, filthiness was put away. The best
| cure for all national ills is a revival
| of religion.
WARNED AGAINST FEW
j Amsterdam. Netherlands, July 14.
The Berlin Tageblatt, in a !inanclal
power being concentrated in the
j hands of a few through the growth
jof "multiple directorships." German
i hankers, it says, are rapidly accumu
j lating directorships in all" the con
i cerns in which their banks are in
! terested. Thus, the number of di
| rectorships held by Louis Hagen, a
Cologne millionaire, is now SC; Karl
I Furstenberg, of Berlin, has 55; Herr
I von Schwabach has 42; Baron Simon
1 von Oppenheim and two or three
' others have 40 each; while there is a
! large group of bankers and industrial
i leaders who boast between thirty and
forty each.
HARRISBtTRG tSSSI TELEGKXPH
PRISON LABOR IS
TO BE SOLUTION
Will Improve he Highway
Conditions in Pennsylvania
in Behalf of Officials
Men who study highways believe
that part of the labor problem has
been solved through the signing by
the Governor of the Sproul bill pro
viding that prison labor may be
used by the department in the con
struction of roads. The bill also pro
vides that the money paid prisoners
for their services shall be retained
for them till the end of their terms
or paid when due to their depend
ent families. Only a few Pennsylva
nia counties have ever used prison
labor on roads. Cambria county was
one of the first, the men being used
on a county road. Berks county in
tended using its prisoners this year,
but the Solicitor found no enabling
act. Under the terms of the Sproul
law all able-bodied inmates of peni
tentiaries, jails and reformatories
may be employed by the Highway
Department; and the number of men
thus rendered available will total
several thousand. The William Penn
Highway Association to-day notified
the Highway Department that in
several counties along that thor
oughfare prison boards were ready
to co-operate with the State at once.
The Sproul bill provides that
within fifteen days after requested to
do so by the Highway Department'
the wardens of Jails or peniten
tiaries, or the sheriffs, where the
sheriffs are In charge of jails, must
furnish the names of all. prisoners
under sentence who have more than
thirty days of their sentence to
serve. The Highway Department
may then, with the approval of the
Governor, requisition not less than
five prisoners from any institution.
The department may erect camps or
barracks, but the prisoners will re
main under the authority of the
wardens, sheriffs or their represent
atives. It is the duty of the wardens
or sheriffs to see that the prisoners
are well housed, fed and guarded,
Jj I
x SAVE THE FRUIT CROP
I IS
I X ■ Stewardufr.ritv. /
f|- ~j]
Sold la convenient bats and carton*
Raspberry Jam—welcome
on every occasion
A Franklin Sagar for every cue
1 CruiliUd, Dainty Lumps, Pow
dared. Confectioners. Brown
and to furnish transportation to the I
scene of their labors.
The Highway Department must
compensate the various counties or
sheriffs for all additional expense
occasioned through the employment
of prisoners, but no official or his
representative may receive more
than SI,OOO for his services. There
is no limit to the amount that may
be paid counties for additional ex
pense incurred.
Prisoners will t>e paid not less
than forty cents nor more than sixty
cents a day for their service, the
amount to go either to dependent
families of the prisoners, or to the
prisoners themselves when their
terms expire.
Jail prisoners may not be employ
ed outside of the counties in which
they are serving their sentences.
Prisoners from one institution may
not mingle with those from another.
No prisoners shall be employed In
the open air In Inclement weather.
The State Board of Health and De
partment of State Police are in
structed to co-operate with the
highway department In enforcing
the new law.
The State Highway Department
will have in the neighborhood of
$16,000,000 for new road construc
tion in 1917 and 1918. In some sec
tions of the State day labor demands
and gets $3 a day. This is pro
hibitory, so far as the department is
concerned. But the Sproul law, re
leasing as it does several thousand
able-bodied men who are now kept
in idleness, will partially solve one
of the department's problems.
Nine Fishermen Blown
to Bits by German Mine
Towed in From Sea
Galway, Ireland, July 13. Nine
were_ blown^to
fileces a few days ago while examin
ng a German "barrel mine," which
they had found at sea and towed
ashore.
Irish fishermen have made lately a
great many lucky hauls of barrels
Absolutely No Pain
My latest Improved ipjlt A
'JI jtR MB f a nee a, laclnllag as oirygea- flaV
EXAMINATION S. ™
FREE jTSXSS rS£l.*ffSvs
alloy DM
■ten Mend %X_T Gold crowna and
SSduET" Jr a \7 W4. wort IS.HIB
" Ofloe open dally StSO
/%\\ BK r crown.. .55.00
V F to fl P. m.| Mon, Wed.
(Over fIM link)
containing petrol, tallow, oils and
similar treasures, supposedly from
torpedoed ships. This time they saw
a promising looking; barrel afloat some
distance from land, with a conveni
ent handle on each side, and they
promptly towed it ashore, rolling; it
up on the beach for examination.
Four men were in the boat, and six
more grathered around while the prize
was on the beach. One man, Joseph
O'Flaherty, had a suspicion of dan
ger, and warned the others, but they
paid no attention to him, and he hid
himself behind a rock.
One of the fishermen removed a
couple of screws from the head of the
barrel, and then begran to pull out a
piece of cord. The explosion which
followed was heard miles away, and
shook houses four miles distant.
After a time O'Flaherty, who had
been wounded in the head with a piece
of stone, stood up, but not a trace
of the men or the mine was to be
seen. There was only a great hole
in the beach. Searchers found a por
tion of the fishermen's boat nearly a
mile away. A small boy, whose at
tention was attracted to the group of
men on tne shore was running toward
them Just r.s trie mine exploded. One
of his arms was afterwards found
near his home, but there was no other
trace of him.
Warns South Africa
Against New Propaganda
Capetown, South Africa, July 14.
A grave warning against propaganda
aiming at the political, independence
of South Africa has ,lust been isued
broadcast by General Botha. His
i statement follows:
"Members of the South African
party must not allow themselves to
be misled by false and misleading
propaganda for independence. The
proposal is now being mado merely
to win votes at the provincial council
elections by an appeal to entiment,
1 and not to the sound sense of the
■ people.
> "The proposal is wholly impractica
ble, and is moreover very dangerous,
J for in the present war conditions it
1 can only lead to bitterness, division,
t race hatred and even civil war.
s "There is in South Africa a strong
JULY 13, 1917/
English population whose motherland
la now engaged i n a life and death
struggle. It la not surprising that
they regard this movement as trea
sonable and disloyal. It Is unjust and
dishonorable to make such an at
tempt at this moment, and the dls
honor Is all the greater as thj pro
posal is only Intended to catch votes
for a particular party.
"My warning is Intended very ear
nestly, because I foresee n this move
ment nothing but ruin for South Af
rica and disastrous consequences for
the South African people. I appeal
above all to our pioneers and the
fathers of our people to follow the
safe way of honor, along which a
great future awaits us."
TRUE PREPAREDNESS
A motorist. Journeying through the
Rumpus Ridge region of Arkansas,
came upon two men wallowing In the
How Long Must I Suffer
From the Pangs of Rheumatism?
Is there no real relief in sight?
Doubtless like other sufferers, you
have often asked yourself this ques
tion, which continues to remain un
arswered.
Science has proven that your
Rheumatism Is caused by a germ in
ycur blood, and the only way to
teach it is by a remedy which elimi
nates and removes these little pain
demons from your blood. This ex
plains why liniments and lotions can
King Oscar
5c Cigars
have long been famous for
their high quality, regularity
and mellowness. They have
a reputation to sustain
and they sustain their repu
tation.
John C. Herman & Co.
Makers
dust of the blr road and belaboring
each other right zealously. As tha
traveler brought his car to a bait to
keep from running over the com
batants, they arose and whacked &
portion of the dust from their gar
ments. Then, stepping from the
track, they produced pipes from their
pockets, ana one offered his tobacco
to the other in the most amicable
way.
"Pardon me, gentlemen," said the
motorist, "but what were you fighting
about?"
"Aw. that wasn't fightln, preslsely,"
replied £ne of the men. "My name la
Gap Johnson, and three or four of mv
oldest girls are beginning to wall
their eyes and talk about love. This
yur gent is Bung Shaddock, the best
'rough-and-tumble' scrapper on the
Ridge. I ain't so soople as I used to
be, and I'm just practising up with
him against tha time when I'll have to
fight a passel of sons-in-law."—Kan
sas City Star.
do no permanent good, for they
cannot possibly reach theae germa
which Infest your blood by tho mil
lions.
S. S. S. has been successfully used
for Rheumatism for more than fifty
years. Try It to-day, and you will
find yourself at last on the right
track to get rid of your Rheumatism.
You can get valuable advice about
the treatment of your Individual case
by writing to the Chief Medical Ad
viser, Swift Specific Co., Dept. N214,
Atlanta, Ga.