Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-04-28

thoven. Shakspere and hoard them In a
napkin" Ii knowledge be not applied q,
applicable to sacred use, ii II remain un-
translated into moral character. then,
this is the Lords point ii is good for
nothing Every tree that brinxeth no,
forth good fruit is hewn down and cast
into the fire. by the fruits ye shall know
them. Greatness; So runs the estimate
OF the Teacher dos not consist primarily
in becoming an eruditc theoiogian, patch
ing bits of history and eSpericnc" on
garment of philosophy, not in becoming
Skillful surgeon. possessing an arru-
rate eye and steady hand; not in be
coming a succs ssful merchant who's
prudence has secured him wealth and
luxury. Greatness doth not yet appear.
Greatness comes in just at the moment
when the theologian saves men, the
surgeon mends bodies. the merchant
turns philanthropist. just then when pos
session is transformed into use. Great =
ness is giving not having. using not
keeping, serving not boarding whose
ever would become great among you sha II
BE- your servant"
But there is still more in the ptnetra
ting ideal of our Lord. Let us recall the
setting of the words. ''Ye know that they
which are accounted to rule over the
, Gentiles, lord it over them, and their
great ones exercise authority over tn I'M.
But ii is not so among you But Whoso.rer
would become great among you shall b"
your servant. and whatsoever would b
first among you shall be slave of all. For
verify the Son of Man came not to b.
served but to serve and give himself
ransom for many" Note the words
Lord 1t over them" DcspOtism dog
matism, authority. Herein sticks a fur
ther notion which invites careful atten-
tiOn. Greatness. so we have seen. is nOt
possession but service. Service however
seems to be of two kinds. one fictitious
the other real. To use power, knowledge.
or money politically is only apparently
F.! service 1t is really selfishness But to
use power, knowledge or money lovingly
is really service. such use alone is un-
selfish. In word true greatness is not
Il despotic, but a loving use of power.
| think you will gee what mean. Money,
! for instance, may buy mans vote: 1t
cannot change his real preferences. Dog
matisnl may post its rules, it cannot
/ change a mans genuine opinions Au-
| thorty, whether in scientific or theOlOgl-
cal symbol may publish its dicta; it can
not change d mans private views. We
! may lord it over q person, make him
cringe, cover. yield: we cannot with such
tools, control his inner life. To put 4
man by force into heaven does not make
a saint out of him. necessarily. To thrust
| i,.n h.l Il ,pt IT,.
| devil out Of him. We may lord it over
! the body; we cannot touch the soul, the
depths of personality. You have lord
ship let us say. Now here is man who
has wronged you. Crush him, you say.
Jesus says Wha, good does that do?
You haven't changed him. Win him over.
Or here is one who persscutes you. End
| him, you say. Jesus says: What good
does that do? You end, maybe the body.
| but after that you can do no more You
don't end him. Win him over. Or here
is ore who hates you. Hate back, you
say. Jesus says: What good does that
do? You don't get your man. Love him.
You see, force DOESN'T change the man.
| doesn't win the victory. What we are
after is the mans love, to get hold OF him
so that he may find his real life and help
others to find theirs. Despoiism wasn't
! made to serve. Love alone serves Great
hess is not service merely. 1t Is loving
service.
think this ideal, realized in Jesus, not
completely attained by US as yet, ought
constantly to be proclaimed before our
students. 1t should be clearly taught
that the aim Is never to lord 1t over men,
whether an individual or a group: that
every time we use our possessions des-
politically, we tend distinctly to become
less, to sink in the scale. It's manly
thing to box, q noble exercise for the
healthy lad. But the boy who wants to
pick up quarrel just because he has the
power to fight will become the man who
seeks to stir up strife among men and
nationsand thus be the cause OF dread
full lapse into barbarism. Such instincts
exist and should be directed. If boy
longs to win another boys affection per-
manently the weapon is not glove. but
love.
say all this. young gentlemen, in the
light of one who was the most powerful
man in history. Jesus Christ. the Lord.
Don't you remember what he said when
Peter had his sword out for revenge: Put
back that sword, Peter They that take
the sword shall perish with the sword.
DO you think | can't ask my Father and
he shall give me more than twelve legiOns
Of angels When 1t comes to power
what Car OF all the Russias, what
Caesar, what Napoleon had it in such
store as ne? Think who he was. A man
born to rule. lnstinctively the old Ro-
man centurion recognized the superior.
Say the word. Lord, understand this
thing. l. too. am man set under au.
thority, having under myself soldiers.
And | say to this one, Go. and he goath.
And to another one, Come, and he cometh.
And to this one, Do this, and he doath it.
know ruler. Say the word only, Lord,
and my boy shall be healed. Think who
he was. 4 mar expected to rule. His
friends expected it; his family hoped for
it: his countrymen lOnged for it. Recall
Syria's opportunity, the bridge between
east and west. Palestine sheltered and
protected. a body of determined. conse-
Grated men,-nO Boer to-day more patri-
otic. more devoted than the Jew then
soldiers of native blOod,-no hirelings. an
intrenched position and peerless leader.
No wonder the crowd wanted to make
him king. The crowds instinct was COR
rect. He would have made a glorious
king But what did this man choose.
this man of power. Strong Son of
God born to rule, what did this regal
soul chose at the critical moment?
Jesus therefore perceivirg that tn
were about to make him king. withdrew
again into the mountain place alone"
The great soul of Jesus, the kirgly soul
Of Jesus. the man OF power, who at
word could call legions of angels to his
aid. could send armies to victory,
could give Israel dominion and honor
and glory and power-this regal, mighty.
loving soul withdrew into the mountain
alone. Cowardice. weakness. littlenes:"
God forbid. Bravery. strength, great
ness Jesus was not MOhammed. He had