Editorial October 10, 1959 Issue

THE STRANGER WITHIN THY GATES

Harold Molter

IN recent years there has been an increasing movement of visitors from one country to another. Their object has been to see what is going on outside their own homelands and thus to enlarge their horizons through study and observation. Often these visitors are entertained in private homes, and they return to their countries with a better understanding of their fellow men.

The ethics of entertaining strangers are set forth in an interesting manner in the Bible as part of the Mosaic law. In Exodus (22:21) we read, "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt."

There is a beautiful experience related in the Old Testament which illustrates the significance of expressing good will to the stranger Three men approached the patriach Abraham as he sat at his tent door "in the heat of the day" (Gen.18:1). Because of the difficulties of travelling and of obtaining food in this region of the world, it was, and to some extent still is, customary to receive and entertain the stranger who comes to one's door.

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