Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1905-03-16
whrN THE WATERS FAIL

y curious phenomenon is being wit
messed in America in these days. Con-
tr,iry TO precedent and common belief.
IL . time Of marked material prosper
ny. iEt people are Experiencing an
awakening of interest in spiritual
things that is generally accepted as
the foictoken of "A great revival. There
Is no more pronounced characteristic of
the religious life of today Than "A wide
spread eageiness for d spiritual re-
licshing. The news from Wales is the
most eagerly discussed subject among
Christians. From every quartz, comes
wore that men and women are hunger
ing and thirsting for The satisfaction
OF the deeper needs of the spirit.
1t would appear that other springs
have ceased to satisfy. The world is
weary of the things which it's prosper
lily has enabled it to buy. Hearts are
empty. though Golfers are full. The
deep movings of the popular mind.
which are working out in grave
poll i,al and economic changes. are
one with this thirst which mere things
have been unable to assuage. There
Is a welcome coincidence in the fact
that al this psychological moment the
churches should be sci to studying
these present Sunday school lessons
which deal wholly with the satisfaction
- Nf't'N 'tNNAas's ~ ots'pt,tN " tltc
past five weeks have comprised two
lessons on thirst. one on hunger, and
two on healing.
When Occasion Was Ripe.
There Is something of the journalis-
Me in the way Jesus was accustomed
I" seize upon present occasion to at
tract attention and to drive His
teachings home He was a keen stu
dent of the instant and OF the oNpor-
tjIniJV Tins TJc nI1jnt1v n,udn His
way to he great national festival of
the Feast OF Iabernacles at Jerusa-
iem. not announcing His purpose in
advance. so that when He arrived at
the height of the celebration, the con-
cnntrated populace of The country was
asking itself: will He come up to the
~feast?" Then He openly appeared and
began to teach regardless of opposition.
Assuming a conspicuous position
from the first. He remained unmoved
by the hostility that logged Him
hourly. waiting for a chance to strike.
There was no fear about this Man; His
outrage has been the wonder of the
i,ges: and it has been impaired to His
disciples. so that only a few days ago
ii famous university president. in the
ripeness of his power and usefulness,
hen called upon to enter the oper-
nting room that was expected to be
his death chamber. displayed a forth
"H[ 'hko w NV "a as
surance that evoked the admiration of
the continent.
On the last. the great day of the
fcast-either the day when the priest
for the last time led the procession
up from the pool of Sloan. bearing
' golden pitcher of water. to be SOL
EMMY poured out in connection with
the sacrifice: or else on the day when
this ceremony was omitted. thus add
ing still greater Significance and
umeliness TO His wOrds-"Jesus stood
and cried. saying II any man thirst,
let him come unto Me and drink The
electric effect OF these astounding
words upon the multitude may be inn
sgined. They We're a deliberate effort
to direct attention from the priestly
ceremony and symbol to n living Per-
sonality. who dared claim to he a
fountain for the assuaging of all the
real thirsts of humanity.
What the Thirsty World Wants.
The distinguished editor of one of the
leading Episcopal weeklies declared
two weeks & that the revival for to-
day is a revival of individual personal
experience Of Jesus Christ-which,
by he way. is the most striking char
acteristic of the revival across the sea,
This is an alert present day theolog-
word, IF n man thirst. let him come
unto Me and drink" The invitation
is not TO join a party or a church. or to
accept II clSed, or to unite in a certain
enterprise: it is an invitation to as
sumo personal relations with the Saw
our Himself. After all. men can be
satisfied only by a personality.
The state of the mind Of Christianity
today with respect to many things. and
especially Interpretation of the Scrip
lures. Is in a condition OF fiux: There
Is no positive message being sounded
here. But 1t IL not to q school Of criti-
eism that men should be invited. but
rather to the appealing Christ Himself
who gives to every sincere inquirer q
personal experience Of himself that IL
the highest proof OF supernatural re-
tlgion. On this plane the greatest the
'ologian stands no higher than the
trembling young girl whose first public
confession, Il do love Jesus with all my
heart" was the spark that seems tC
have started the quick spreading fires
Of the Welsh revival. The church hal
no volume OF Christian evidences t.
equal the testimony Of the twenty cen.
turies-long lin of men. women anc
children who declare in clear and un.
~equivOcal n that In the persona
Christ they have found satisfaction fol
their deepest %longings, and joy and
lpeace passing all power OF tongue t.
relate. This intimate relation witt
Jesus, and love for Him. have been thu
sources Of all the ihartyrdoms anC
missionary heroisms that illumine thu
puges Of the church's history.
A Man as . Spring.
What Jesus protested to he. every
man really IL. though to an Infinitely
less degree, Of course. The worlds
fountains are men and women. Every.
one 10 a well, either Of refreshmen'
or corruption. We eve touch an.
other life: be It but for an instant
without giving him a drink Of ourself
Out of the innermost parts OF our be.
ing-and not from our surface seeming
as WE might deslreLfow streams o
which 0ur fellows partake. Some mel
are bitter springs: we leave them witt
"A a taste in the mouth: they hav,
given us no pleasure, certainly: ant