The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-17
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

01 W LILLIAN i. LAA4A4AE9-
Christmas is but a few days distant.
The occasion is Opportune for taking
broad view of events leading up to this
approaching celebration. The last of
the Hebrew prophets looked forward
more yearningly than any one looks
today across a stretch of four hundred
years. with the vision of eager fafLhs
to the coming Of the King whose birth
day made Christmas. Malachi outlined
fearlessly the preparation required for
the Messiah's advent.
Strange though it may appear, what
those ancient Jews OF Hehemiah's day
lacked to fit them for the presence of
the King is not very different from
what the progressive people Of a new
world in this twentieth century need to
made them ready for the full reign of
the Christmas spirit. This prophecy
the swan song of the last of the long
line Of Hebrew seers-is pointed with
truth for these times.
Russia's Preparation.
The Prince Of Peace often comes
along the path Of war. By this fanil
far. bloody route it appears as if the
gentle Son of Mary is coming to His
own in the present day. For the sound
of Christmas bells is almost drowned
by the shrieks of the wounded, the roar
Of the bomb, and the rattle of the rife
storm in the great empire of Russia.
To the most superficial observer it is
apparent that the terrible sufferings of
Russia are but the birth throes of a.
new national life of liberty and justice.
Similarly. from China come Ominous
rumors, and an occasional quick, dead
~ ana unexpected blow at civilization
from a people brooding over a. sense of
wrongs suffered. Korea is today some
thing else than 1.-The land Of the morn
ing calm" while Macedonia and other
parts of Turkey resOund with echoes
of the endless strife between oppres-
sion and ignorance versus liberty and
light. Behold, He coneth,'' says the
lesson and the daily newspaper uncon-
sciously echoes the cry. In the words
Of the hymn
Each breeze that sweeps the ocean,
Brings tidings from afar,
OF nations in commotion,
Prepared for lions war;
Making Straight the Crooked.
Persistently and pointedly the old
prophet asks, But who can abide the
day of His coming ?" All, there's the
rubl Who really wants the spirit of
Christmas fully to come? Does Wall
street? Does Washington or Ottawa
or the other lesser capitals where poll
ucians traffic? Does the business man
who keeps his religion and his business
in separate compartments of his life
Does the man or woman whose out
ward respeetability cloaks inward cor
rGptlon? Verify, Who shall stand
when he appeareth ?"
Much Of our hay desire for good
ness might vanish were we to stand
face to face with the first consequences
Of Christ's coming. Do we really want
the world to get right? Are we willing
to let God have His way, even though
that way would make sad havoc with
dear customs, fayorite indulgences, and
g-intrenched wrongs? The coming
Of the Messiah is with justice and judg-
ment. He is like a refiner's fire and
like fQller's soap; and He will sit as a
refner and purifier of silver"
This IS exactly what the Christ has
- IN Z :
heavenly place today because the long
expected Messiah has trodden its hills
and cities, and still rules in thousands
OF humble hearts. Wherever He goes
life is refined and purified and made
more precious; while immortality, op-
preston, ignorance and injustice are
driven to cover
Changeless Justice.
This is the day Of the square deal.''
me ethical sense of people is more
Keen than for generations past. The
practical bearing of the lofty truths of
Christianity upon the everyday duties
OF life was never more earnestly en-
phaslzed. Such controversy as that
over tainted money" takes hold of
the popular mind. What means this
but an increase of the spirit Of the
Nazarine among men?
The latest and keenest editorial that
mas appeared in any American neWSpa-
per upon the subject Of current politi-
~5-AAAA-1- AAe-4 VI SDCAd4 exposures IS
not more to the point. more incisive or
more relentless, than these words
penned by Malachi tweuty-four hum
bred years ago Note the applicability
Of this:
And I will come near to you to
judgment, and I will be a swift witt
ness against the sorcerers. and against
the adulterers, and against the false
sWearers. and against thdSe that Or
press the 1'reiins in his wages the
widow, and the fatherless, mo that
turn aside the sojOurner from his right,
and FEAR not me, saith Jehovah OF
hosts"
That Is what Christmas stands for,
"a wei as Tor music and eiffs and Ed