The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-09-03
RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
Gems Cleaned From the Teachings of
All Denominations.

The treatment of woman is the index
of civilization. Where she is respected
and treated with courtesy in girlhood,
with fidelity in wifehood and with re-
verence in motherhood there civilization
reaches its highest expression.-Rev. J.
L. Levy, Hebrew, Pittsburg.
CENSURE BOODLING.
In a country governed by the Suf-
frages of the people, everything de-
ponds upon an honest vote and an
honest count. Corruption and bribery
to some extent exist in our elections in
city, state and nation. Fortunately, as
need to do is to censure as severely the
man who buys the vote as the man
who sells it.-Rev. Stephen W. Dana,
Presbyterian, Philadelphia
FAITH IN HUMANITY.
We must have faith in our own mis-
sion in the work we are called to do.
We must have faith in humanity, faith
in the possibilities OF an imperfect race,
which has been in the process of train
ing all these centuries and which IS
still very imperfect, but capable OF
growth and development We must also
have faith in the existence, wisdom,
power and love of God.-Rev. U. S.
KriebeI, Lutheran, Pennsburg, Pa
FOUR BAD CITIZENS.
There are four kinds of people who
are unpatriotic-frst, the impossible
optirnist who never sees anything but
the stars and stripes and never hears
anything but the American eagles
scream; second. the constitutional pes
simist who is like the farmer who on
here, but it is probably raining some
where;" third, the business men, intent
on business only and arguing that it
is cheaper to pay the price OF bad gov
eminent than to take time to help
make good government; fourth, the pi-
GUS coward who looks upon politics as
something too dirty for him to touch
Rev. j. Calvin Meade. Presbyterian,
THE WAGE QUESTION.
The wage question is surely by far
the most absorbing question of the
day. Among all the important issues
that confront us as an American peo-
pie the one regarding the regulation
of the wages of the laboring class is
the most important am bold to
make the statement, because it has
to do with the largest number of men.
Were it only a question in which the
rich were involved it would not be so
great; were it a question in which the
middle class alone are interested it
would not be so important; were it a |
question in which the poor only were
involved it would not be SO para |
But when it involves all OF
these three classes and takes in di- |
rectly or indirectly the entire country
it becomes a matter of moment and |
mportance.-Rev- F. NJ. Gordon, |
Christian, Knoxville, Pa.
EMPTY PEWS.
The preacher charges the empty |
pews and deserted prayer meetings to |
4 goddess science, corrupt political life /
and absorbing commercialism. He is /
wrong. yet not far wrong. Science is /
not goddess Multitudes are in politi-
caI life who are as thoroughly Christ
an as Bismarck and Gladstone, and /
0ur merchant princes by the thous-
lnds are rich toward God" and are
eaders in benevolent work. Political |
life and the strenuousness of trade are
0y no means the causes of the decline
Of faith. 1t is simply the neglect of
he emotional and religious element
n our nature. The idle and worthless
Ire as often guilty of this neglect as
he busy and energetic. Whatever our
business or trade, the temptation is
o throw our whole energy into that
md overlook the lessinsistent but es-
'ential duty to care for the spiritual
powers. 1t becomes US to see to it
hat all young persons under our in
iuence have abundant and frequent
opportunity to know and appreciate
hese eternal verities, and are carefully
guarded against the perils that we see
nd cannot understand for themselves
Rev. E. 2: Jeffers. Baptist. York. Pa
NATIONAL EVILS.
II our country is to maintain the plSce
now occupies, certain great evils must