Article August 14, 1902 Issue

Our New By-law

BY FRANCES MACK MANN

The average mortal is lazy when he comes to working out from the animal to the spiritual nature. His thought echoes Felix's when he said, "Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." The active mentality leads and does the work.

Isreal's children were at first God-governed. Each one talked with the Judge of the whole earth. After a few centuries we read, "And the Children of Isreal did evil in the sight of the Lord." They had turned from the Principle of Being. A personal sense had crept in between them and God, and they wanted a judge to rule over them and help them to shoulder the responsibility of decision. Justice was at first a simple matter. A decision at law was regarded by Moses as the result of "Inquiring of God." The judge was chosen according to his moral fitness, his ability to hear God's voice. This form of government existed for about four hundred and fifty years.

Gradually the spiritual consciousness of the nation became more and more darkened as it leaned upon personal help. The heathen tribes about them had a king, the Israelites desired to become like them, and clamored for a king. This form of government was given to them, and after a period of five hundred years nearly all spiritual light seems to have disappeared, and Jerusalem was captured by the enemy. The reason for Isreal's captivity was the indolence of the individual as to spiritual attainment. Each one would not ask God for help, but wanted some one else to make the appeal for him.

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