The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-26

is not very much praise to give man
to say he is harmless. We have right
to ask that in addition to the fact that
he does not do harm to anyone he shall
possess the wisdom and the strength TO
do good to his neighbor; that together
with innocence, together with purity OF
motive shall be joined the wisdom and
strength to make that purity effective,
that motive translated into substantial
result.
Finally, in the quotation from the
collect, we ask that we may be made
ready both in body and in soul that we
may cheerfully accomplish these things
that we are commanded to do; ready
both in body and in soul; that we shall
fit ourselves physically and mentally
fit ourselves by the way in which we
work with the weapons necessary Tor
dealing with this life no less than with
the higher, spiritual weapons; NJ our
selves thus to do the work commanded,
and, moreover, do it cheerfully.
Small is our use for the men who
individually help any OF US and shows
that he does it grudgingly We had
rather not be helped than be helped
in that way. A favor extended in
manner which shows that the man is
sorry that he has to grant 1t IS robbed
sometimes of all and sometimes of
more than all it's benefit. So, in serv-
ing the Lord, if we serve Him, if we
serve the cause of decencz. the cause
of righteousness in way that i'm
presses others with. the fact that we
are sad in doing it, our service is
robbed of an immense proportion of its
efficacy.
I'VE have a right to ask a cheerful
heart, right to ask buoyant spirit
among those to whom is granted the
Lords work in this world. The chance
to do work, the duty to do work, is
not a penalty, it is a privilege. Life
is so constituted that the man or the
1.orr -
sibility is thereby deprived of the
deepest happiness that can come to
mankind, because each and every one
of US. if he or she is fit to live in the
world. must be conscious that such re-
sponsibility rests on him or on her
the responsibility of duty toward those
dependent on US; toward our families.
toward our friends, toward our fellow
citizens; the responsibility of duty to
wife and child. to the state, to the
church. Not only can no man shirk
some or all of those responsibilities.
but he will welcome thrice over the
fortune that puts them upon him to
carry
In closing I want to call your atten-
ton to something that is especially my
business for the time being. and that is
your business all the time. or else you
are unfit to be citizens of this republic.
In the seventh hymn which we sung, in
the last line, you all joined in singing
! God Save the States Do you intend
merely to sing that, or to try to do it?
# you intend merely to sing it your
part in doing it will be but small The
state will be saved, if the Lord puts it
into the heart of the average man so to
shape his life that the state shall be
worth saving, and only on those terms
I'VE need civic Righteousness. The
| best constitution that the wit of man
has ever devised: the best institutions
that the ablest statesmen in the world
ever have reduced to practice by law or
by custom shall be of no avail if they
are not vivified by the spirit which
makes a state great by making it hon
est just and brave in the first place.
| Il do not ask you as practical believ-
ers in applied Christianity to take part
one way or the other in matters that
are merely political There are plenty of
questions about which honest men can
and do differ very greatly and very in
tensely. about which the triumphs of
either side may be compatible with the
welfare of the state-a lesser degree of
welfare or a greater degree of welfare
but compatible with the welfare of the