Morris tribune., 1906-01-20
CHURCH COLUMN.
By j. c. shetland.

AnObuef PROOF Inat lnlS ID IHe Sld
OF harmony" is the general interest
ID our sacred scriptures. The present
Pope has done more to heal the
breach between Catholic end Protest
ant than any of his predecessors by
his circular letter commencing the
reading Of the Gospel In history
he will be the greatest of the Popes
Think of the libraries wri ten, tne
struggles of centuries, the blood aud
agony and tears that might have been
saved if the Pope of Luther's time
had given the same advice. Now
schools of the great American repub-
bic, line up with those of the little
Swiss republic. Say with the Ger
mans "Whatever we would have APP
pear in the life OF the nation we must
first put into the schools" and ut
ahe Bible into the schools of the
United States. Why the whole Bible?
Because it is inseparable; the old
testament is the platform and the
preparation; the new testament is the
oratorio OF the Messiah with Heaven
and Earth and He'll as andience
Because forty men of many tongues,
in many lands. of every variety of
endowment and every shade of in
telligence, of every rank in life; king,
warrior, statesman, shepherd, physi-
elan, fisherman, philosopher; wrote
this book. They were separated thru
long periods extending over 1900
years. They wrote as spontaneously
as when General Sherman wrote his
memoirs" or Wallace wrote "Ben
Hur.' They wrote poetry. biography,
history, prophecy, law. These many
books came together forming one
book, as perfect as the union of parts
in theorem in geometry, in their
absolute perfection of testimony to
Jesus as "the lamb of God who
saketh away the sin of the world"
Why is it an inspired book? Because
it inspires its readers; makes them
victors over sin and heroic workers
with Him.
The ''world of scholars" says Jesus
is his own interpreter. His words
are OF common things like finding
lost sheep and sowing grain; yet
every subject gains an ETHEREAL beau
ty, his parallels are like diamonds
set in pearls, and opposers are 50
crushed that mo man dare ask him
any more questions" He cid not
argue but stated first principles from
which jurists make no appeal. He
said rye shall know the truth and the
truth shall make you Free" Set the
wheels of thought turning, made the
Hebrews think more in three years
shan they had in six centuries, made
nations who study His words excel in
arts, sciences, Inventions, ships. !
Madagascar has had this translat ed
gospel fifty years and is transformed.
Japan has had it forty-six years and
rs revolutionzed. Nations without
His words run down to- semi barbar |
ism. Translated now into almost all
languages Of earth His words prove
spirit and life everywhere. His ten
derness TO criminal, to bereaved, to
disciples, to His Mother, to enemies, !
to the doomed Jerusalem; His faith
fulness that feared no one, tore the
mask from ''whited sepulchres," and
portrayed the horrors of He'll; His
calm assurance that he was "the
door, the way, the resurrection, the
son, "has but one explanation. As
we study Guido's aurora" by the
mirror instead of the fresco far above
MS, SO we study Our Farther by the
revelation of love in Jesus Christ.
As when the King of England was
crowned the dukes laid their coronets
before him, so the scholarship, the
the leaders of the world
bring their trophies to His feet In
fidelity even, will not tolerate an
stack upon Him.
All over christendom bible classes
are studying Him. That at Topeka,
Kansas has been at work four years.
There are 125 in the class. Each
pays for her own books, must love to
study, must use leisure time, must
make Him the teacher. They have
received books from outsiders till
They have one of the most complete
Of reference libraries. They have
MANY piot,1rac Of palaet;ro n r,,ho,