The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1905-02-17
WHEN MEN flND LEVEL

ss-ta NJ @kas
kipling's Ship That Found Herself
came to that knowledge in the storm
Trouble tests: it is the acid which
proves whether ones metal be gold OF
brass. Before the presence oil a rea'
sorrow ali artificial distinctions anon
men flee away. The king at his som
bier is no longer u king. but only ar
ansuished father.
h nohleman who figures centrally
IN the story which is today's SUNDAY
school lesson moved in another world
from Jesus. He WAS in Society
Jesus vas beyond the pale, with the
other poor people. The humble rabbi
would doubtless not have peer a well
come guest at this high oficiars resi-
dence. Between the two WAS an in
supesable social barrier; and it would
have been an insult to the nobleman
TO ask which one OF the two MAS the
greater.
!'ut when trouble came, and when he
was face to face with AN elemental
grief-such Il passion as moved in the
breast of a father in the stone age
the noblenan was forced to take his
place as = supplianl at the feet of
Jesus. Then the men found then re-
spective levels, and it was the great
one who was looking upward. For all
his hope for the health of his son lay
in the compassion of this wonder work
ing Teacher. Men get along pretty
well in the serene days without relis-
ion. and they even affect to look down
upon he preacher; but When death
comes knocking at the door of their
homes they send for the man of God
IN a hurry. As the epigrammatist has
put it, Some men hav To be thrown
flat on their backs before they will
lock up to heaven
The Really Great Question.
The president of the United States,
VINO is famous as a preacher. has re-
Gently pointed out that the real living
issues are not those which concern
the tariff, the trusts. international
treaties. and like questions of state
craft; but thai they are rather those
problems which concern the home, the
family and the moral character OF The
Individual. If a mans wife is lying at
the point of death he cares little
whether a high or low tariff is in ef-
feet. The conduct of a first born son.
who is inclined to be wild. the progress
of an only daughter at school, the cum
ning ways of Il new child or grand
child-these are matters of greater mo-
ment TO a man than any of the bust
ness deals to which he devotes his
days.
What did Herod's chief steward care
about his title or position or honors,
while his boy suffered? The one pro-
foundry interesting subject in all the
world 10 him was the sons health.
Nothing else counted in his sight just
then. N il was in this intensely
human attitude that he approached
Jesus for succor. The Master would
not have cared about any question of
title or property: but he could not re-
slst the appeal of a needy spirit. For
1t is as such that men have access to
God; not as kings and lords and aris-
tocrats. and plutocrats, but simply as
living souls craving help.
The Briefest Biography.
Peter condensed the biography of
Jesus into five words-"Who went
about doing good Service was His
life mission. He could not resist an
appeal to help people. This father
found the softest side Of the Master
When he came supplicating assistance.
We are nearer to God in our need than
in our self sufticiency. The publican's
prayer for help is heard while the
pharisee's boast of self suficiency is
wasted. The best possible credentials
for approaching God is a consciousness
of necessity and helplessness.
So great was this fathers sense of
urgent need that he same up from the
city OF Capernaum, Where his home
was, to the town of Cana, when he
found Jesus was there. The story of
the first miracle at Cana. when the
water was made wine. was undoubted-
ly familiar to him, and he knew that
only such supernatural power as was
then displayed could save the little one
who lay at the point of death. He did
not wait Tor Jesus to come to Caper-
naum: he fulfilled the first condition
of a miracle by doing everything in his
W power to bring about the desired
result. Official etiquette might have
required that he send a servant with
a message TO the Healer to come down:
put parental love could not wait upon
the ways of ceremony. Indeed, in his |
lnsistent request that Jesus should
come down to Capernaum at once, we
see the selfishness Of sorrow; he had
not thought of the possible WEAKNESS
of Jesus, 1r anything else than his
own great need, which he believed the
Master could supply. Patients show ,
small! consideration for doctors.
The Worlds Great Need.
The story is altogether a lesson IN
eaitti. hat is why it is told. With
all his shortcomings the nobleman real
ly believed in Christ. He had thai
genius for faith which is the deepest
quality of rare spirits. The cynicism
OF ancient Rome. which likewise cursas
our own time. had not touched him. or
else It's Veneer had been swept way
~ lf.e torrent Of his grief. The noble
man displayed that Which the Son of
- ~ VIII Seek IN the earth
when he returns again-faith.
1t must be granted that much of the
culture OF u day runs to a shallow
cyhiclsnl. The average man of the
world is inclined to scott at piety. at
honor, at innocence. at virtue. He does
not believe in people: he does no be-
in himself. He thinks he is wiser
man he was in his trustful boyhood
and counts himself vastly super-
lor TO the humble folk Who still hold to
old fashioned God and to the old
fashioned virtues. Yet he will admit
that he finds little in life to eniov:
his unbelief gives him no happiness:
ms World-weariness has turned to
ashes an the sweet fruits that he puts
10 ms lips. Pity him., and all like him,