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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?” 7