The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-21
Alas for the rarity
OF Christian charity. ="

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
ALAS for the rarity
OF Christian charity"
He cold disdain. naughty
seI1shness and real cruelty
of modern society" are COM
mented upon by all students
of present-day conditions The
mE merciless directness with
which a grand dame can cut and
"snube and humiliate another woman
makes one wonder whittier the gentle
Womanhood Of his youth has flown;
certainly not into society This,
after all, Is but the flower OF general
tendency; the superior is slow to
show tenderness to the inferior; the
good set themselves up as above the
bad. merit. unless watched and re-
strained, quickly runs into priggishness
ana pharisaism.
Here is story Of a gentleman"
who was not gentle, and of the Cen
tleman who was The incident oc-
CURED in one of the most sumptuous
residences of one of the towns that
dotted the western shore OF the Sea
OF Galilee. In all that region the new
Teacher had made a great name for
himself: he was the celebrity of the
hour Opinion was divided about him,
except that all agreed that he was the
center OF the days interest. So. with
the ages-old vanity of wealth and so
named Simon kept desiring the priv
Iege of entertaining this lion"
Simon had no special desire to
honor the Guest; he merely sought to
lend added distinction to his own
name and home With the inexcus-
able selhshness OF the proud. who
forget the sensitiveness of other per-
sons feelings, he neglected to pay to
his guest all the attentions due to one
coming in that capacity. Evidently
Simon thought that by the invitation
he was comforting prestige upon this
simple Nazarene; for a distinctly pa
tronizing note is discernible IN his
words and attitude.
a Social Break
The rich Pharisee was probably pur-
ring contentedly during the satisfac-
tory progress of the feast. as he noticed
the crowds about his house. and the
Interested looks and comments Of the
unlimited people, who. in the familiar,
easy fashion of the time and place,
moved in and out of the room, circulat-
ing among the couches on which the
guests reclined at dinner
Suddenly, Simon's face darkeued.
Among these spectators appeared a no
torious woman of the town, a. disreputa-
BILE character. who moved directly
toward the DISTINGUISHED Teacher. She
had no eyes for the elegant furnishings
or the elaborate viands or other special
adOrnments of the occasion; her gaze
was fixed on Jesus. Beneath her robe she
carefully carried some object. AS she
stood behind the feet of Jesus she drew
1t forth a beautiful alabaster cruise,
and seemed about to pour its contents
upon his feet At that instant her emo
tons overcame her, and she was seized
with paroxysm Of weeping. ana her
torrential tears streamed down upon
the feet OF the Master.
Confused by this unintentional dis
courtesy. and eager to atone for a., the
woman dropped on her knees, and swift
ly let down her luxuriant hair, which
she used as a towel to wipe the moisture
from the Guests feet though, While
doing so, she could not refrain from i'm
petuously kissing them, the kissing of
the feet being a common method of
making obeisance to superior.
All this was an unprecedented aside,
the beauty and symbolism Of which
were apparent only to Jesus The wo-
man, stilI with tear-dimrned eyes, then
proceeded to anoint the feet with the
precious ointment, which was her first
purpose In coming. As the fragrance
Of the gracious Offering filed the house,
1t did not sweeten the thoughts of the
host and of the other onlookers, who
had gazed open-eyed at this strange
interruption of the feast's progress.
A Heated Host Humbled.
Censorious Simon was not pleased
with any of the actors in this by-play.
III
meant more than the moral law. A
social contretemps was the most Sc
riOus of offenses. His religiosity and
his aristocratic traditions combined in
revolt against the incident In the
wa rmth Of his indignation ne was not
above a feeling of contempt for his
Guest. since it was inconceivabl to
him that any man might have other
and higher standards than his own.
Preserving an outward calmness, he
yet reasoned within himself This
Rabbi cannot be what he pretends
woman who has touched him is a
sinner"
Imagine simon's surprise to have
his unspoken thought directly an
swered.
simon. have somewhat to say
unto thee"
Teacher. say on
"a certain lender had two debtors:
the one owed five hundred shillings.
the other fifty. When they had not
Herewith to pay he forgave them
both. Which of them therefore viii
Simon answered and said. He. [
suppose, to whom he forgave the most
And he said unto him. Thou has
rightly judged"
And turning to the woman. he said
unto Simon, Seest thou this woman
7 entered into thy house. thou gavest
me no water for my fee but she hath
Wetted my feet with her tears. and
wiped them with her hair. Thou
gavest me no kiss. but she since the
time came in. hath not ceased to kiss
my feet My head with oil thou dfdsf
not anoint: but she hath anointed NV
feet with ointment. Wherefore I saw
In every CLINE its cOIors