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CLIPPINGS FROM THE ANCIENT PRESS
Almost A Tragedy.
The story of Abraham and Isaac as it might habe been
published in the Press.
(From the Bethel Gazette).
Mount Moriah (Special).—A shepherd living
at the foot of Mount Moriah related a very thrill
ing story to the Gazette correspondent yesterday.
The simple old man was very much affected at
what he had seen, for it was almost a tragedy,
and it was the most exciting incident that had
ever come under his notice.
At the time of the midday meal the old shepherd
had led his flock to the shady side of the mountain,
and was there refreshing himself before turning
toward home. His attention was attracted to
a little company of men coming up from the south.
The leader was an old man, who afterwards gave
his name as Abraham. He was accompanied by
his son, a. handsome youth, who rode upon a small
donkey, and by two servants. At the foot of the
mountain the old man left the donkey in charge
of the two servants, and with his son began to
climb toward the summit. The boy. who was called
Isaac, carried an armful of wood, while the old
man had a long knife in his girdle and a. blazing
torch in his hand. There was such a strange expres
sion upon his face as he passed the shepherd that
he concluded to watch him to see what he was
going to ‘do.
The top of the mountain having been reached,
the boy laid down his wood and the old man, hav
ing arranged his torch so that it would not go
out, proceeded to build an altar out of loose stones.
When this had been finished the wood carried by
the lad was arranged ready to consume some sort
of an offering.
Seeing nothing that might be used for a sacri
fice the shepherd began to wonder, and then he was
horrified io see the old man tdke hold of his boy,
bind him hand and foot, and lay him upon the
wood.
The lad began to cry and the father, in a broken
voice, soothed him as best he could. While he
talked he drew the knife from his girdle, placed
his knee upon the boy’s chest, laid his hand upon
his neck, and, lifting the deadly knife, was about
to plunge it into the body, when a startling in
terference took place.
An authoritative voice called out, seemingly from
the upper air, 11 Abraham! Abraham!” The hand
with the knife was stayed, and the old man, upon
whose face, which was as pale as death, great drops
of sweat were to be seen, answered, “Here am I.”
The voice called again, “Lay not thy hand upon
the lad, neither do thou anything unto him; for
now I know that thou searest God, seeing thou
hast not withheld thy son, thine only son, from
me.”
With trembling fingers, and pausing now and
then to caress the boy, the old man untied the
cords that bound him to the altar. Attracted
by a noise behind him, Abraham turned, and saw
a ram from the flock of the shepherd caught in the
bushes by his horns. It was but the work of a
few moments for him to take the ram out, slaugh
ter him, and offer him up in the place of his
son.
As they were preparing to leave, the shepherd
beard the same voice that had stopped the sacri
fice, calling from the skies. “By myself I have
sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done
this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine
only son, I will bless thee, and multiply thy seed
as the stars of heaven, and as the sand which is
upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the
gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the
nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast
obeyed my voice.”
Thrilled by the unusual scene the shepherd in
tercepted the old man as he started down the
mountain with his son and asked for an explana-
The Golden Age for December 13, 1906.
By ALEX W. BEALER
tion. He learned that Abraham is a native of
Ur of the Chaldeas, and that God had called him
away from there to make his home in Haran.
From there he moved to Bethel. In his old age
God had heard his prayer, and given him a son.
This boy he had been ordered to sacrifice, and in
obedience to the command which had come to him
from God, he had brought him to the mountain.
The old man informed the shepherd that he feared
but one 'thing, and that was to disobey God. He
really intended to kill the hoy, for God had told
him to do so. He had promised to make of him
a great nation, and when he had ordered him to
be sacrificed he could not understand it. lie
expected some interference to take place to save
the life that was so dear to him, but when it did
not come he was in an agony, and he had come to
(lie conclusion that God would raise him from the
dead, as lie believed He would keep the promise
he 11 ad made to him.
When the shepherd asked for an explanation
of the unusual blessing that he had heard pronounc
ed upon the father and his son, Abraham told him
that the meaning of these words was that the God
he worshipped and feared to disobey, had prom
ised to bless the world through that son, and that
one of the steps in that blessing was to give to
the descendants of the boy all the land of Palestine,
lie did not say bow the gift was to be made, but
he believes that in some mysterious way God will
give all of this country to him and his people just
as he saved the young man from death.
Tim shepherd spent some time talking to the
old man who had a strong faith in the God he
worshipped, and then, as they came down the moun
tain. the father and son joined the seiwants and the
little company proceeded on their journey hack
to Bethel.
The incident has become known in. Bethel, as
Abraham lives only about ten miles from the town,
and he is well known as a man who fears his
God. Many of our people, who have been wor
shipping gods of wood and stone, are beginning to
inquire after the Gbd of Abraham, for he has pros
pered wonderfully. Everything he touches seems
to flourish. While other flocks are poor or sick,
his are strong, sleek and fat, and his exemplary
life has called forth favorable comments from all
who have met him. This incident has stirred the
public heart as nothing else has done for years,
and many are turning to the God of Abraham and
his son, Isaac.
As Others See Us.
(Continued from page 2.)
needed more room for his work. I see now how
be might fill double the space in his dormitory and
treble the space in the infirmary than is now pos
sible. It would be a real joy to me if I could in
any way assist him toward the accomplishment of
his beautiful plan for a building adequate for all
the needs of this great Institutional Church, the
work of which can never be measured by the stan
dards of men.”
Admitted as a Member of the Tabernacle.
“We understand that you were to be admitted
as a member of the Tabernacle congregation; is that
true?” was the next question.
“I was baptized yesterday. December 2,” re
plied Mrs. Henley, “and was admitted by Dr.
Broughton to membership on the same day; I can
not express what that means to me—here is where
my English characteristics triumph, and I cannot
express what I feel.”
Future Work.
“Have you any definite plans for future work?”
“I am simply here to serve wherever I may,
and to fall into line with Dr. Broughton’s wishes.
I am interested in the outlying mission stations,
and all departments of the work, and hope to do
some work in each, but have no definite plans,”
said Mrs. Henley.
View of Prohibition.
“We would like to hear your opinion of the
bill for state prohibition which you know is pend
ing in Georgia at this time; of course, you have
pronounced views on this subject.”
“As a member of the British Woman’s Temper
ance Association, I am naturally deeply in favor
ot any movement for the advancement of the
cause of temperance. From what I have heard
and observed in this state the passage of this pro
hibition bill seems to be a most imperative social
necessity. I notice the action taken by the Baptist
ministers at one of their recent mootings, and I
fully indorse the motion made by Dr. Broughton.
I sincerely hope the prohibition bill may become a
law and that I shall be here to help celebrate its
passage. ”
Mrs. Henley’s Opinion on the Race Problem.
“While we are exceedingly grateful for this in
terview, Mrs. Henley, we would like to know if
there has been any one thing outside of your church
work that has impressed you here in the South.”
“Yes, there has been,” said the lady; “you know
we, in England, feel very close to you of the South,
we have always felt so, and are in sympathy with
many of your problems and your dilTiciibties. But
do you know we have very little real idea of the
race problem as it confronts you people here. I
confess we have thought the negro was a much
imposed on Southern menial without the faintest
Consideration shown him, either by press, people
or government. I have been amazed at the excel
lent institutions for his education and improve
ment; I have been surprised at the consideration
shown him in domestic service and in every
mechanical work in which he is engaged. I shall
have to completely change my opinions on this
question before I leave Georgia, or I shall not be
just to the people of the state and, I judge, of the
entire South. I believe now you people will solve
this great question for yourselves, and that you
will dispose of it in the wisest possible man
ner.”
Appreciation of Personal Courtesies.
In concluding her most interesting talk, Mrs.
Henley said she felt a great wish to express her
appreciation of the extreme courtesy that had been
shown her by the members of the Tabernacle dor
mitory staff, as well as by the inmates of that in
stitution, and by the staff of the infirmary. She said
she had never received more cordial and affectionate
attention, and she repeated her sense of personal
obligation not only to Dr. Broughton, but to all
those workers in his church who had come within
her personal sphere.
After a meeting with Mrs. Henley, and a knowl
edge of the great work she has done and is still
doing in the spiritual and practical field, it is safe
to say that our state and indeed our country must
feel a sense of personal help in the visit of this
■brilliant woman whom we can no longer consider a
“stranger within our gates.”
Which One?
When the late Senator Wolcott first went to
Colorado he and his brother opened a law office at
Idaho Springs under the film name of “Ed Wolcott
& Bro.” Lather the partnership was dissolved.
The future senator packed his few assets, including
the sign that had hung outside of his office, upon
a burro and started for Georgetown, a mining town
farther up in the hills. Upon his arrival he was
greeted by a crowd of miners who critically survey
ed him and his outfit. One of them, looking first
at the sign that hung over the pack, then at Wol
cott, and finally at the donkey, ventured:
“Say, stranger, which of you is Ed?”
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