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VOL. XXXVII.
PITTSBORO, CHATHAM COUNTY, N. C, AUGUST 12, 1914.
NO. 1.
IMPORTANT NEWS
THE WORLD OVER
Happenings of This and Other Nations
For Seven Days Are
Given.
THE NEWS jHE SOUTH
What Is Taking Place in the South,
land Will Be Found In
Brief Paragraphs.
Mrs. Woodrow Wilson, wife of the
president of the United States, died at
the white house after a lingering ill
ness of bright's disease. Mrs. Wilson
was the daughter of a Presbyterian
minister and was born at Savannah,
Ga. The burial was at Rome, Ga.,
her girlhood home. The funeral serv
ices at the capitol at Washington, D.
C, were private.
Even the offer of annexation of ter
ritory now under German rule failed
to entice Italy to recognize the alli
ance with Germany and Austria in the
war with the other powers of Europe.
The profound dislike for the Austrians
by the Italians and the reluctance of
the nation to go to war against Eng
land is believed to have influenced the
Italian diplomats in their decision.
It has been estimated that the Ger
man loss in the siege against Liege,
Belgium, was 25,000 killed,' not includ
ing the great numbers wounded and
taken prisoners.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels now
has a plan whereby the colliers of
the navy will be utilized in shipping
the South's cotton abroad.
An appeal has been made to the
women of France (to go into the har
vest fields to take the place of the
men who have taken up arms in the
defense of their country.
A feeling of optimism prevailed in
London when the banks of London re
opened for business.
With the appointment of Warburg
and Delano the federal reserve board
has been completed.
Italy has received an ultimatum
from Germany in which in so many
words the kaiser demands to know just
how the Italian government stands in
the present war crisis.
The French troops have joined those
of Belgium in Belgium.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels has
ordered American warships to guard
the home ports.
All vessels leaving the ports of the
United States without clearance papers
will be boarded and examined for ex
ports classified as contraband of war,
also war supplies.
The United States warship Tennes
see will carry millions of dollars to
European nations to be utilized in
bringing 100,000 American tourists to
the homeland.
The American - Red Cross Societey
has decided to extend services to all
nations in the European war. r
Mrs. Myron T. Herrick, wife of the
American ambassador in Paris, and
many prominent society women of that
city, have offered their services to the
French army as nurses.
Kfg Alhc-t cf B.z'" ba3 czlle
upon his subjects to defend the neu
trality of his country, even though It
means the death of every native Bel
gian. The Germans have captured the city
of Vise, Belgium.
' During an engagement at Semendria,
Servia, the Austrian troops were de
feated with heavy losses by the Ser
vian soldiers.
A large force of Austrian troops, aid
ed by a flotilla of monitors have been
trying to cross River Save into Ser
via, but have been repeatedly repulsed.
Temporary arrangements for han
dling foreign mails have been provid
ed by the United States in the event
of English, German and French liners
plying between American and foreign
ports are withdrawn. The mails will
be transferred to American, Norwegi
an, Swede and Italian steamers.
Savannah, Ga., is considerably trou
bled over the probable congestion at
that port of exports for foreign points
due to the failure" of foreign freight
ers to sail from Savannah.
Roy Stubbs of Eatonton, Ga., wiill
be recommended for the position as
United States attorney in the southern
district of Georgia.
The senators and representatives
from cotton growing states held a
meeting in Washington, D. C, and dis
cussed ways and means of financing
and moving the cotton crop of the
South. '
After a short skirmish with the Rus
sian troops the German troops took
Possession of Zenstochowa, Bendzin
and Kalish fa Russian Poland.
James McKay has been nominated
by President Wilson for the postmas
tership of Tampa, Fla.
The German forces have invaded
France without, so far as it is known,
a declaration of war having been
made.
The Russian troops have crossed into
German territory, having crossed the
border at Schwinden. Another Rus
sian patrol entered Germany near Eich-
enreid. , .
11 is reported that . a French avia
tor has been dropping bombs in the
vicinity of Nuremburg, Bavaria.
The United States officials are do-
insr everything in their power to for
?ify the United States banks in the
event of a European war.
A call has been-issued to the Ger
; Clau subjects In the Southeastern Unit
ed States ti reurn to the mother
country to take up arms.
The Holland Lloyd steamer, Tuba
nia, from South America, which was
captured by the British and taken
to Plymouth, is said to have had a
cargo of $2,300,000 'in gold.
A trainload of French reservists on
their way to France to join the army
passed through Atlanta, Ga, The men
were In high spirits and sang the Mar
sellaise most of the time.
The cotton planters pf the South are
urged to keep cool and hold on to
their cotton. '
The French troops have invaded
Alsace-Lorraine.
The Italian ambassador In London
was cheered by the throngs that pass
ed the embassy In London.
A call for all available ship officers
has been made by the United States.
In a proclamation to the German
people the kaiser said that Germany
will fight it out against the . enemies
of the world.
During the attack on Liege It is re
ported the German army of the Meuse
lost several thousand men. They were
repulsed by the Belgians, whose loss
es are said to have been slight in
comparison with those of the Germans.
Two German cruisers who chased
the Lusitania were attacked and sunk
by English warships, according to the.
wireless messages said to have been1
intercepted by a vessel arriving in the
port at New York.
Sveaborg, Finland, known as the
"Gibraltar of the Baltic," is reported
to have been bombarded by German
warships. It is believed the reasons
of the Germans for bombarding this
port is to' open the way to St. Peters
burg, Russia.
It is feared that American tourists
in Belgium are in danger, as a number
are known to he in the vicinity of
Liege, where the Germans engaged the
Belgian troops. -
Naval censors have been placed at
all wireless stations on the United
States coast. This was the cause of
some anti-neutral messages which
were reported to have been sent from
an American wireless station.
Russian mobs attacked the German
embassy at St. Petersburg.
The senate banking and currency
committee has recommended the ap
pointment of Paul M. Warburg and
Frederic A. Delano as members of
the federal reserve board. These ap
pointments now complete the member
ship of the board.
The New York bankers are plan
ning to tender a loan of about ?50,
000,00 to Southern cotton growers to
relieve the temporary embarrassment
resulting from the war in Europe.
. A German cruiser is reported to
have been captured by the French
fleet and a number of German steam
ers are said to have been captured at
various places by the British warships.
England has declared war on Ger
many. This immediately followed Ger
many's refusal to recognize the neutral
ity of Belgium.
A state of war exists between Ger
many and France and hostilities may
start at any time.
As the result of Germany's refusal
to observe the neutrality of Belgium
and withdraw her troops from Belgium
soil, that country now considers itself
at war with Germany.
The German government has provid
ed a war fund of over one billion dol
lars. England's parliament has voted a
war fund of over $525,000,000.
Had Germany ctserved the zieutrI
lly of Be'gium, she would have been
forced to have sent her troops into
France across the strongly fortified
frontier. However, by passing through
Belgium, it will be comparatively easy
for the German troops to enter France
providing the British do not reach
there in time to head off their prog
ress. Germany and Austria together are
now facing a war with the combined
nations of England, France, Russia,
Belgium and Servia.
Italy still refuses to recognize its
alliance with Germany on the ground
that German's war is a progressive and
not a defensive one.
The effects of war are already being
felt in London, where the price of food
stuffs is reported to have increased
20 per cent.
President Wilson has issued a decla
ration of neutrality on the part of the
United States.
The United States Supreme court
has decided that the assembling of for
eigners in the United States who are
returning to their native country to
take up arms, is not in violation of
neutrality with nations at war. .
' More than a billion dollars in cur
rency will be added to'' the circulating
medium in the United States by an act
of congress which was passed this
week. ,
The city of Limburg, Holland, has
been invaded by German soldiers and
has been placed under martial law.
According to dispatches from Lon
don, the sentiment of the British peo
ple is very strong for war.
A special meeting of the Southern
Cotton Congress to be held in Wash
ington, D. C, August 13 and 14 to
formulate plans for moving the fall
crop of cotton has been decided upon.
A call has been issued for the Swiss
subjects in the United States to return
to Switzerland to take up arms.
President Wilson has planned for the
relief of American tourists in Euro
pean countries and has recommended
to congress an appropriation of $250,
000 for this purpose, with the under
standing that more money will be ap
propriated if needed.
Italy is quietly preparing for war,
In spite of the fact that the Italian
government has announced it . would
not observe the alliance with Germa
ny and Servia, inasmuch as it believes
that Germany forced the war and ia
not on the defense.
A German-warship has begun the
bombardment of Libau.
ENGLAND, BELGIUM,
FRANCE IN UNION
OFFICIAL REPORTS THAT IMPOR
TANT CONJUNCTION IS EF
FECTED. KAISER SENDS A NEW NOTE
Germans Are Active In Luxemburg and
Liege Believed to Remain Secure,
French in Belgium.
Brussels. Belgian official reports,
received by JJrte War Office, record the
important fact that a junction has
been effected by Belgians. British and
French troops across the line of the
German advance through Belgium. The
location of the three armies was not
revealed but it is- understood they will
act together
At Liege, where the Belgian gar
rison has presented a stubborn front
to the German attackers, fighting has
ceased and the Belgian troops and citi
zens have strengthened the city's de
fenses. "Between the forts line of
earthworks have been thrown up by
men who havt worked withou ces
sation night and day.
Reports reached here by way of
London that according to announce
ments in Berlin, Liege had fallen into
the hands of German troops.
The sighting of German cavalry
patrol to the south of Namur is evi
dence of the activity of the German
forces In Luxemburg, showing they
were reconnoitering to discover the
position of the defending armies. The
retirement of German troops out oi
range of the guns of the forts of Liege
was supposed to indicate they were
concentrating and waiting for rein
forcements to renew the aftack.
In the meantime French troops
who have crossed the frontiers oi
Belgium continue to advance meth
odically and their approach strength
ens the position of the Belgian Army.
When a French officer arrived at Na
mur in an antomobile citizens hoisted
him on their shoulders and carried
him through the streets.
It was reported that the greater
part of Luxemburg which hi been
occupied by Germans, had bcr. clear
ed of invaders by the French Army.
In the Belgian Capital, patriotic
sentiment is increasing and men of all
classes are volunteering.
A number of troop trains filled with
French soldiers passed around Brus
sels during the night on the way to
the front.
Two Belgian officers charged with
important missions passed through
the advanced lines of the Germans
uninjured, although they drew the
German fire.
The Belgian aviator, Alfred Lauser,
was arrested on suspicion of being a
epy.
CZAR PRAISES SLAVS.
Says War is Holv One and Prays For
Victory.
St. Petersburg via -London The
Russian emperor with Grand Duke
Nicholas received members of . the
council of the empire and the Duma
In audience at the Winter palace.
Addressing them, the emperor said:
"In these days of alarm and anxiety
through which Russia is passing I
greet you. Germany following Aus
tria, has declared war on Russia.
"The enormous enthusiasm, the pa
triotic sentiments and the love and
loyalty to the throne an enthusiasm
which has swept like a hurricane
through the country guarantee for
me, as for yo, I hope, that Russia,
will bring to a happy conclusion the
war which the Almighty has sent it.
"It also is because of this unanimous
enthusiasm, love and eagerness to
make eery sacrifice, even of life it
self, that I am able to regard the fu
ture with calm firmness. It is not
only the dignity and honor of our
country thatwe are defending, but we
are fighting for brother Slavs, co-religionists,
blood brothers. '
"I am persuad hat all and each
of you will be in your place to assist
me to support the test, and that all,
beginning with myself, will do their
duty. Great is the God of the Rus
sian fatherland." .
French In Togoland.
. London. French troops from Da
homey have entered Northern Togo
land, the German colony on the west
coast of Africa, the Southern portion
of which Great Britain seized.
Mobilizing Austrians.
London. A dispatch to The Times
from Berne,. Switzerland, says forty
thousand Austrian trops have con
centrated near Basel and that German
and French troops also are near the
Swiss frontier. On Important battle
may occur at any moment.
Austrians Passing.
Rome, via London. Forty-eight
trains loaded with Austrian troops
from the Tyrol arrived at Leopold
Shoehe in Baden, northwest of Basel,
Switzerland They were on their
way to Alsace to assist the Germans.
Cruisers Still Going.
Rome, via London. The German
cruisers Goeben and Berslau, which
recently were forced to leave Messina,
Sicily are reported to have succeeded
in passing through the straits of
Otranto in the Adriatic sea. .
F
AW
INVADED ALSACE
avenge disgrace of half cen
tury ago. french are
.. welcome!
MARTIAL LAW ESTABLISHED
French Losses "Not Excessive" But
German Loss Said to Be "Very
Serious."
Paris. The invasion of lower Alsace
Dy a French army under General Jo
seph Jeffre, the French commander-in-chief,
has awakened great enthusiasm
throughout France.
French military authorities, while
reconizing the occupation of Altkirch
and Muelhsusen by French troops is
not of high strategical importance,
believe the successful advance of the
French army far across the German
frontier will have considerable moral
effect. It is reported unofficially that
Kolber, farther , to the north, has
fallen into the hands of the French.
None of these three places was strong
ly fortified and all lie outside the line
of real German defense, being guard
ed as outposts of the strong fortified,
cities. Their German garrisons nu
merically were fairly strong but it was
understood that in case of attack they
merely would endeavor to hinder the
French advance before falling back.
'. Neu Briesack, where they are said
to have retired is east of Kolmar and
is strongly fortified, while Strassburg,
some distance to the norfti, the cen
ter of a great aggregation of German
troops, is strongly fortified and sup
posed to be prepared for a long siege.
Official reports of fighting between
the French and German troops state
that the French losses were "not ex
cessive," while those of the Germans
are declared by the Freach to have
been "very serious." The Alsatian in
habitants are said to have been so
overjoyed at the appearance of the
French Army that they tore up the
frontier posts.
Reports of the arrival of an Aus
trian Army corps on the Swiss fron
tier near Basel "were the object of
close attention by French military au
thorities. It was said that several
more Austrian Army corps were be
ing organized in the Tyrol whence
they later would be sent toward the
French frontier. In view of this the
French Government asked the Austro
Hungarian Ambassador to France,
who remains at his post, to explain the
intentions of Austria-Hungary in re
gard to France.
Before retiring from Mulshausen
German troops are said to have set
fire to numerous buildings, especially
warehouses where food and forage
were stored. The forest of Hard, near
Kolmar, is said to have been razed.,.
Martial law has been established
in Alsace, where it is1 said the Ger
mans announced that any person sus
pected of sympathizing with the
French would be executed.
WIRE SERVICE TO BERLIN.
Washington Inquiries About Ameri
cans Taken As Spies. -
Washington. Secretary Bryan an
nounced that the American govern
ment was in communication with all
its European embassies and legations
and that every effort was being made
to care for Americans on the conti
nent. Communications with Ambas
sador Gerard at Berlin was establish
ed through Copenhagen. Mr. Bryan
Immediately telegraphed Inquiring
about Archer M. Huntington, presi
dent of the American Geographical
Society, and other Americans report
ed arrested as spies.
Official dispatches revealed that
many Americans , had been arrested
or temporarily detained in Germany
and that the first outbreak of hos
tilities and during mobilization per
sons who talked English "were under
espionage.
The state department announced
that an additional $50,000 had been
cabled to Minister Stovall of Switz
erland and that it was estimated 8,000
Americans were in that country. ,
Confiscate Money.
Berlin. Three motor cars carrying
large sums of money were captured
by German people and troops as they
were trying to cross the Russian fron
tier. The empress and princess of the
imperial family personally are par
ticipating in supplying food for Ger
man reservists passing through Ber
lin. They were enthusiastically
cheered by the troops.
Among those who have entered the
German barracks at Doeberitz are a
superior Rusian official. '
Will Congress War Meet.
Washington. Although administra
tion leaders in Congress believe that
regular session can be completed soon
after September 1, some of them fear
possible emergencis that may arise
through he war in Europe will make
it imperative that congress remain in
Washington. Talk about the capitol in
dicates however, that if developments
of the next few weeks indicate no
trouble in prospect for the United
States the signal may be given to
wind up the legislative program and
adjourn for the fall campaign.
NG
Real Causes of Embroglio in Europe
and the Vast Stakes That Are at Issue
-
Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand of Austria and his morga
natic wife at Sarajevo.
The attempts of Austria to prevent the creation of a large. Slav
empire in the Balkans by frustrating the possibility of one; first, In
the annexation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, In 1907, followed by Aus
tria's, active opposition to the acquirement of a seaport by Servia on
the Aegan as a reward of her victories in the recent war with Tur
key. The support of Austria by Germany and Italy In accord with the
agreement of the tripje alliance.
The acute economic competition between Russia and Germany, and
the assumption of the prerogative on the part of Russia as the protector
of the Slav race and the guardian of the Balkan states, which she had
virtually created after her war with Turkey in 1876.
Russia's desire for. supremacy in the near East, with the ultimate
acquisition of Constantinople and free ' passage through the Darda
nelles. Germany's determination to remain the leading economic and po
litical factor on the continent.
The growing competition between England and Germany for eco
nomic supremacy and England's determination to remain master of the
Mediterranean and the Suez canal as a protection for her African pos
sessions, enhanced by the possible strengthening of Austria aid Italy
and the aggressive development of the colonial policy in Germany.
The enmity of France against Germany for the defeat at Sedan in
1870 and the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine, together with the desire
to protect her African possession, Algiers, Tunis and particularly Mo
rocco, In the event of a victory of the triple alliance.
The union of Russia, France and England In the triple entente,
with the obligation of mutual aid In the event of a crisis.
FORGED
TO
ACTION
European Statesmen, In a Way,
Mere Puppets.
Great International Issues Have for
Some Time Been Leading Up
to the ConflicfWhlch Is
Shaking the World. ,
Washington. The roots of the ter
rible European crisis strike deep in
the past. Four elements can be
traced in the process that has brought
about the actual situation, declared a
prominent diplomat. First the Napo
leonic legend appropriated and ex
ploited by Napoleon III, whose ambi
tion It was to become, as his uncle
had been, the arbiter of war or peace
In Europe; the intense desire and
practical need of Russia to expand
toward the open ocean, intensified by.
the aspiration for eastern empire; the
growth of Germany . under the guid
ance of the iron hand and will of Bis
marck; tho need of Great Britain to
preserve inviolable the safety of the
seas around her island capital, on
which her very existence depends, and
which involved practically the suprem
acy of the whole ocean. The first of
the ' movements that immediately led
to the present situation was Napoleon
Ill's aid to the Italian revolt against
Austria, followed by Bismarck's attack
on Austria, and her replacement by
Prussia as the head of the German na
tionalities. Then came the senseless
challenge of Prussia by the French
emperor in the absurd matter of the
Spanish . throne, giving Bismarck an
excuse if not a justification foi the
war with France which left that na
tion mutilated and, for the time be
ing, crushed.
, In the confused and perplexing
years that ensued on this war the
three nations we have mentioned
strove to defend and extend the vital
interests we have indicated, while the
statesmen of France,' with Infinite dif
ficulty, sought to regain a position of
safety, making possible Internal de
velopment and the recovery in some
degree of international prestige. The
newly aroused and tremendously vig
orous national feeling of Germany,
trained and directed by the marvelous
braih of Bismarck, (. and Vter by the
singular genius of .'tne'-present em
peror, wrought miracles- of '.energy and
expansion at home and abroad in all
the fields of industry 'and-'commerce
as well as of military' development.
Against the triple alliance, framed to
aid this progress, there gradually came
about the healing of the ancient ani
mosity between England and France,
the French alliance with Russia and
the understanding', between Russia,
France and Great Britain which con
stitutes today the somewhat indefinite
but powerful combination known as
the triple entente.
It is easy to denounce these group
ings of the six powers, professedly
formed for mutual defense, and to de
clare that they have precipitated the
war. But it is not easy to deny that
they have been inspired if - not com
pelled by the play of great interna
tional forces, of which the statesmen
of Europe have been the more or less
unconscious agents. And it is to be
recalled, dark as the prospect now is,
that In these later years the members
of the two groups have in actual fact
been able to avert a general war un
der conditions that nearly all of them
believed made war certain. Certainly
the desire for continued peace, the
dread of the necessary consequences
of war, have-not been lessened by the
startling demonstration of the influ
ence for disaster that the near ap
proach of war exerted. With the great
body of financial business throughout
the world practically paralyzed, with
the machinery of credit, internal and
external, . ungeared and thrown into
the most distressing disorder and con
fusion, with millions on millions of
values vanishing under the menace of
war;, what , must be the result of a
general conflict?
To Care for Soldiers' Families.
Berlin. The families of all soldiers
of the reserve called to the colors are
to be supported by the state.
SERVIA ONGE GREAT
Time When Little Country Was
Mistress of the World.
Conquests of Alexander the Great Re
. called by the Sad Fate Which
Now Seems to Awftit
the Land.
Washington. The American reader
of the breathless war dispatches from
eastern Europe can hardly realize that
the little country of Servia, now over
run by the legions of Austria, was
once mistress of the world; that it
was from the hills into which the
Serbs are now falling back to make
a life-stand against the Austrian ad
vance there on.ee -marched forth an
army that conquered the whole civi
lized world.
Yet such is the fact; from the rug
ged mountain range that runs between
the meadows of the Danube and the
shores of the Mediterranean there
sprung forth a hardy race of warriors
that conquered the world in an all-too-bewildering
short time.
It was in the year 340 before Christ.
King Philip of Macedon, that ancient
ruler who held sway over the land
now called Servia, had welded into a
marvelously wonderful mass the union
of the keen-witted, imaginative, light
footed Greeks and the sturdy, tough
hided Thracian. To his son, Alexan
der the Great, he delivered a fighting
force of 30,000 fighting men, who com
bined all the best qualities of both
races qualities necessary to subdue
the world of that time.
The young Servian, Alexander, start
ed forth, when but a few years more
than twenty-one, with these 30,000
husky Servians Macedonians as they
were then known at his back. He
crossed the Hellespont Into Asia,
fought the battle of Granicus and sub
dued Asia Minor. Thence, after con
quering by a few brief battles, the
whole coast of the eastern Mediterra
nean, he halted a year to turn off and
conquer the hoary-headed country of
Egypt. He not only conquered it, this
young Servian, but he persuaded the
big men of the district that he was
the son of the ruling god. That was
the way the Servians of that day in
troduced themselves into a country.
Thence the young Servian started
forth into Asia. At Arbela he over
threw the ' century-old empire of the
Persian-Chaldean rulers. He was about
twenty-seven years old at that time
quite a feat for a youth.
. From the conquest of this ancient
nation he marched forth to the con
quest of Cathay, now China, and ad
vanced Into the interior of the present
domain of Thibet.
From his far eastern conquest the
young Servian turned back and direct
ed his energies toward India. Into
that country he headed these faithful
Servians for, - throughout the whole
of his triumphant course, his 30,000
native soldiers had been his mainstay.
Into the heart of hoary India they
plunged, these war-worn but still fresh
and. eager Servians. They seized the
land, manned it, and planted a Mace
donian government there. - They were
farther from home than a Washington
man would be In New Zealand, but it'
didn't bother them. They were used
to conquering worlds.
Back from the conquering of the
whole vast Asiatic realm came this
young Servian, even then but thirty
years of age. He met his death soon
after he reached the coast of theMed
iterranean, and among the Servian
generals of his army the whole civi
lized world was divided up. Ptolemy
ruled Egypt; Lysander governed the
whole country now known as the Bal
kans; Seleucus took possession of all
Asia Minor in short, the Servian sol
diers of his staff divided up the world
among themselves. '
And they were citizens of the little
Servia that Austria is overcoming to
day! The Aland Islands.
London. The Aland islands' form an
archipelago in the Gulf of Bothnia.
They have belonged to Russia since
1809, when they were taken from Sweden.
iNItTffinONAL
SlDifSOIOOL
Lesson
(By E. O. SELLERS, Director of Evening
Department, The Moody Bible Institute,
Chicago.)
LESSON FOR AUGUST 16
THE WICKED HUSBANDMAN.
LESSON TEXT Matt. 11:33-48.
GOLDEN TEXT "The stone which the
builders rejected, the same was made the
head of the corner." Matt. 21:42 R. V.
Tuesday morning of this his last
week (Mark 11:20) the disciples saw
the fig tree withered away from the
roots. Passing on they enter the
temple where Christ's authority Is
challenged. Following his disconcert
ing reply (21:23-27) Jesus taught
three parables of warning of which
this lesson Is the second.
I. The parable, w. 33-39. It Is a
story of God's long suffering goodness
and Luke (20:9) tells us that it was
addressed to the people. We need to
keep in mind the previous parable of
the two sons (vv. 28-32) in order to
understand perfectly the method he
employed In answering the chief ,
priests. In the first he states a case
and appeals to them for a verdict.
Without hesitation they replied and by
so doing condemned themselves. In
this parable he states a case and asks
for a reply, v. 40. This they gave and
in so doing declared a righteous, judg
ment which must fall' upon -their mo
tives. In both parables Jesus em
ploys the figure of a vineyard. In
the Old Testament this stands for
Israel, P& 80:8-11, Isa, 5:1.
Kingdom Committed to Us.
. In this case it stands for the King
dom of God which is no longer identi
fied with Israel but taken away from
it and given to the Gentiles (v. 43).
The Lord was dealing with the re
sponsible rulers of Israel, those fa
miliar with the prophetic writings.
His reference to the digging and care
done all that could, have been done,
Isa. 5:4. Being fully equipped, he
places it first of ,all in the care of
Israel, verse 43. . Today it is in charge
bandman did not own the vineyard, it
was only entrusted to his care. So
In a sense, God has committed the
kingdom to us, does his work through,
us, and of a right expects an account
ing by us, see Matt. 25:14, 15; Mark
13:34; Luke 19:12.
In these parables we can trace the
whole history of Israel according to
Isaiah. The fruits he looked for from
the vineyard "let out to the husband
man" were those of judgment and of
righteousness. Their response had
ever been that of persecuting the
prophets, ill treatment of those that
were sent, and a selfish appropriation
of the blessings he had given. These
servants sent to get an accounting
were God-commissioned and God-inspired,
hence it is small wonder that
such people would accord a like treat
ment of the king when he - came.
This is still the way the world uses
godly men, II Tim. 3:12. It reveals
the. world's natural hatred to God,
John 15:18, 19; Rom. 8:7.
Appeal to Hearers.
II. The application, vv. 40-46. Jesus
then appeals to his hearers as to
what should be done to the husband
man, v. 40. They declared, "he will
miserably destroy those miserable
men and will let out the vineyard to
other husbandmen, which shall render
him the fruits in their seasons." At
this Jesus reminds them of their
Scriptures and what they taught con
cerning the fact of the stone rejected
by the builders becoming the head of
the corner.
The master's question (v. 40) sug
gests the one found in Heb. 10:28,
29. Historically, God did "miserably
destroy these miserable men." That
happened at the destruction of Jerusa
lem, one of the most appalling sieges
recorded in military history. It was
then that the doom pronounced by
Jesus was executed when he said,
'The Kingdom of God shall be taken
away from you, and shall be given to
a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof," see Acts 15:14; I Pet. 2:9;
Rev. 5:9. In these words Jesus for
mally and authoritatively passed sen
tence upon the nation and rejected it
from a place of service. It is signifi
cant to observe the alternative of fall
ing upon the stone and being broken
or of having the stone fall upon and
crushing all to dust. In the erection
of the temple one is the keystone of
the whole. On that stone the build
ers were now "falling" and being,
"broken," Isa.., 8:15. -Soon in their
corporate capacity, as ones entrusted
with a vineyard, the stone 6hould
"fall upon 'them" in the destruction
of the city, and Individually and per
sonally as unbelievers, in a more aw
ful sense.
Once again In this lesson we face
the fact that the chosen people were
rejected because of their unfrultful
ness, that is, they had failed to fulfil
the purpose for which they were
created. The sin of these rulers was
that of their failure to administer
the affairs of the people in the in
terests of God's kingdom. The fail
ure of the people was that they sub
mitted to such false rulers. The su
preme value of this lesson Is In the
revelation of the wonderful power and
wisdom of God. This is shown by his
compelling these men to find a verdict
that passed sentence upon themselves.
f a. .
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