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Show METHODIST The surprise visit of the Rev. John v Hancher, D n. L L. D, of Now York ity, secretary of the hoard of education of the Methodist Episcopal church, was a great treat to the min-ister min-ister and members of tho congregation. congrega-tion. Rev. Christian R Carver's notes on his sermon which he had prepared but did not deliver, are as follows. Jephthah's oath, Judges fl::53; "I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back." Saddest in Old Testament history is the tragic fate that followed Josph-thah. Josph-thah. The record of his career and that of his daughter forms a drama full of pathos His life was a prolonged pro-longed tragedy. Driven from home In youth because of the sin of his fath er refused his rightful inheritance because of his parent's shame; stung by the keen sense of iniquity, Jeph-thah Jeph-thah became a fugitive and an exile, leading a wild and reckless life as the .captain of a band of forebooters. In the heights of his wild glory, calamity ca-lamity overtook his father's household, house-hold, and in their peril his brothers sent a delegation to wait on Jeph-thab, Jeph-thab, and he was ceremoniously installed in-stalled as head of the state with .ill the pomp and power of a great priuce, a great warrior, and a great conquer or, as well as a great judge Here he came to the help of those who had sent him out into exile and who bad robbed him of his birtb right. This act seems to stamp him as the superior of his own brethren Also the fact that he was willing lo have a fair and impartial examination of the issues Involved in the dispute ; between his brethren and his en-i en-i emies, indicates a high cubical prin-' prin-' clple of peace. This truth must have chagrined his brethren, for they had not thus dealt with Jephthah when ! they had deprived him of his bltn-right bltn-right Of him we can say with Pop:-; "Self love forsook the paths it once pursued. And found the private in the public good." Here is a fondling with a shameful mystery clouding his early life, sud-j sud-j denly master of the situation lhat enables en-ables him either to wreak personal satisfaction or to forget the petty personal per-sonal wrongs in the great privilege of coming to his country's help What a I lesson for this very hour in our na. I tion's histors. In Jephthah we hav a bandit chief, humiliated and ex . pelled bv the people of his native I land who buries all selfish spirit and Irepaya the long remembered injuries I by bringing victory to his troubled na-I na-I tion. A leader s vision of his own fortunes lost in the broader vision ot ! his country's safetv. At the height of his glory his cup of I Joy was turned to wormwood From I his high pedestal of honor and re- nown, the mighty prince fell head I long, his well of human svmpathy was drained drv; his hour of triumph was turned to sorrow, the bright home where he should hate spent his remaining re-maining years in peace and honor became be-came a scene of sadness and our I hero's whole life now becomes one ot 1 remorse. Now whal was the matter? I God had done great things for leph- (hah. had delivered him from his life I of lawlessness, placed him on a iiigli and honorable estate in his nati-, el land; filled him with His spirit and crowned him w ith victory and made him hero in his homeland. The ppo-1 pie wilh gratitude awaited his return as their national savior, his daughter was in the home to greet him and ; gladder, his return; but he had sworn an oath to sacrifice, "whatsoever com-meth com-meth forth of the doors of my houses o meet me, when I return In peace from the, children of Ammon. shall surelv be the Lord's, and 1 will offer 1 It up for a buried offering" How often an individual's whole life is mared by a sin of a moment "Men buy a minute of mirth to wail a ! week." Midweek prayer and praise service at p. m Wednesday. Our fourth quarterly conference will be held August 1ft. The Rev. John W Haneher. D D , L. L. D. of New York t'ity, secretary f the board of education of t h . letn-Odist letn-Odist Episcopal church, preached at the First Methodist church Sunday morning. : oo |