est councils, while we vote in the local assembly of almost every church in Christendom, except the Catholic; and that, while some were rejected as delegates by the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal church in 1888, that body submitted the question to a vote of 2,000,000 Methodists, and 62 per cent of those 'present and voting' declared in favor of completed equality within the household of faith." They have only to ask for what they want, as these daughters of Zelophehad have done.

"The cities of refuge" were eminently a type of the Gospel "refuge," and of the six appointed, one fell to the tribe of Manasseh. It bore the significant name of Golan -meaning joy, life, light; happiness, which most fully expresses the nature of a religious life, the citadel of our hope, the spirit-life, not dead forms and meaningless ceremonies.

"Brother Jonathan," as Americans are sometimes playfully called, is a more appropriate relation to the British than we have been accustomed to think or the humorous originator from New England imagined. David, the representative of empire, was brother-in-law to Jonathan who cheerfully handed over his supposed right in monarchy to David, becoming ever after his fast friend even unto death. This episode preserved in the Israelite name as the son of the first royal house and brothers-in-law to the great king of the Hebrews, we cheerfully accept.

SAXONS UNDER THE X.

Multitudinousness, special protection, and blessings are implied in empire, also the capacity to rule-Republic. The covenant to Abraham on the ground of Friendship with God was unconditional, as was that to Noah, and afterward to David in his indestructible throne. Unbelief and

unworthiness may cause delay and loss to the unfaithful, but nevertheless the covenant was sure and must have complete accomplishment. The acorn contains the oak, so the heirship of the world was in Abraham, then in Isaac, then in Jacob (Gen. 28: 13, 14). Having been reaffirmed to Jacob it was distributed between his twelve sons, but by far the most valuable part was bequeathed to Joseph and to his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh (Gen. 48:15, 20). These sons of Joseph were born of Asenath, a daughter of the priest, a Gentile by birth. They were born in Egypt and from these circumstances might have been disowned but for their grandfather. Jacob, according to the divine arrangement, fully acknowledged them, saying, "As Reuben and Simeon they shall be mine.' Thus they were adopted into the Hebrew family, making them joint heirs with his own sons. This is important, as the birthright promises belonged to Joseph, their father (1 Chron. 5:2). That double portion to him appears in the fact of his having two sons, each of which received a full portion. Although Manasseh was the elder, the right-hand blessing fell to the lot of Ephraim (Gen. 48: 15, 22) which, as we have seen, refers to the keeping of the stone (49: 24) and the Royal House. It can hardly refer to anything else. Ephraim now represents ten tribes and Manasseh only one, hence the adage, "The ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh" (Deut. 33: 17).

The law of primogeniture, as given by Moses, has, no doubt, reappeared in the laws of England. Although by special arrangement the double portion or special blessing did not always fall on the eldest son. Abraham was not the eldest son of Terah, nor Isaac of Abraham, nor Jacob of Isaac, nor Joseph of Jacob, nor Ephraim of Joseph, nor Saul of Kish, nor Solomon of David. Yet they each re

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ceived the birthright blessings and some of them through the mediation of the mother, which is supposed in these latter days to be very unparliamentary.

The blessing according to the divine purpose having been given to Joseph instead of Reuben (1 Chron. 5: 2), the same was conferred by Jacob on Joseph's sons, "God before whom Abraham and Isaac did walk-bless the lads." After these tribes were located in Palestine only a few years sufficed to record their idolatry and captivity and hence we must look for some place where God did more fully bless the "lads," and as the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh became more conspicuous than the others in the captivity in Assyria and in Central Europe in "the last days," we may well look for the fulfillment of these promises in England and America. "And let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac." The name of Israel was accepted about the time of their going into Egypt. "Ye are my friends," our Lord says of his Hebrew disciples, in like manner as Abraham was called "the friend of God." Afterward the name Isaac (Saxon) is applied to them while in the wilderness, thus following the precise order as here given (Gen. 48: 16).

"And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth." The last thousand years has witnessed the marvelous development of the Saxon race, for they have literally "increased as the fishes" (see margin) until every nation has felt their power and one fourth of the earth's domain is theirs. Our prolific British mother has literally swarmed out, colony after colony, and still the Islands are "too small by reason of the inhabitants." Our territory is literally in the midst of the earth, as a place of great natural advantages, in latitude, climate, soil, and "by the water

courses" (Isa. 44: 4). Palestine surely was not the place of our greatest development.

Just as this point in the blessing is reached, Joseph observes that his father's arms are crossed (R. V.), having his right hand on the head of Ephraim and his left hand on Manasseh's; thus, in a figure presenting over them the sign of the cross, or what is commonly known as St. Andrew's Cross. Above the heads of these adopted sons is this simple and expressive symbol of our present faith. We have adopted it as the central letter of our SaXon name, and as a type of our church relation. We have emblazoned our triple crosses on the imperial banner - "the Union Jack." The "stripes" on the American banner stand for precisely the same idea in its spiritual significance the Christ crucified-by whose stripes we are healed. “In Hoc signo vinces" by this sign conquer, was first seen and realized by Constantine, the great Hebrew commander, which loses none of its charm or power in these latter days, in the conquest of the heathen. As there were twelve sons of Jacob, and Ephraim was given a place before Manasseh (Gen. 48: 20) this arrangement tacitly left the thirteenth sonship for him. To this day thirteen has become a

favorite number in the tribe of Manasseh.

"Not so my father, for this is the first-born, put thy right hand upon his head; And his father refused and said I know it my son, I know it." This refusal must certainly be emphatic, not only because twice repeated but on account of Joseph's high standing at the court of Pharaoh, and implies a distinction between the tribes in the latter days; all of which is now seen in the monarchy of England and the republic of America.

"He (Manasseh) also shall become a people and he also shall be great." What can this mean but to become a

great people? Both in our Declaration of Independence and in our Constitution, we have called ourselves the people, and in regard to territory, wealth, influence, and power among the nations we have a right to be called great. What more could "Brother Jonathan" desire?

"But truly his younger brother shall be greater than he." How greater? Simply because Ephraim- England represents several while Manasseh stands for a single tribe. Both being statistically nearly equal, the Patriarch could say truly, "God make thee as Ephraim and Manasseh. The ten thousands of Ephraim and the thousands of Manasseh are exactly equal and he is only greater because he has a larger following from the other tribes. The scores of colonies now formally established by the English people are a marked feature of the British Isles. As this blessing is said to come while under the cross we may expect that others will be added, as the kingdom takes this world ultimately. Starting with four grand divisions, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, the last five hundred years has witnessed many accessions with "more to follow," and with only one exception none have conquered a freedom from the Mother country. Thus the vision of Jacob for the "last days," ie., the Gospel day, has become a part of the providential phenonena in the Hebrew race for this nineteenth century, and they are not yet ended.

ISRAEL'S REPUBLICS.

They

Palestine is the Mother Country of Republics. have developed along the line of Israel's march westward. The early colonization of Greece, before the Hebrew monarchy was established, has no doubt contributed to this result in that country. The theocratic government was over all the tribes in the days of the Judges. The twelve