The Topeka state journal., 1906-02-17


BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
k@@1THE stirring of a city-that
vast lethargic, incompre-
hensible, miscellaneous mass
which is the twentieth CEN
tury's biggest problems
rare and wonderful sight. The
man who can accomplish the feat is
one to be reckOned with. In this old
and ever-dramatic story of one crowd
ed day In the early ministry Of Jesus,
when the entire city of Capernaum
came rhrOnging to the door OF the
house where he sOiourned, we have a
prototype of the remarkable religious
demonstrations which have been Of
late created by evangelists on this con
Gnent,
No close observer of the times can
have been unaware of the unusual ma
ture OF the recent missions in such
great cities as Toronto, Philadelphia.
Boston. Seattle, Los Angeles Buffalo,
Louisville and many others. All strata
Of society IN these places have been at
least awakened to interest. Unpara1-
leled demonstrations. in halls and
churches and theatres and on the
Streets have been recorded- 1t may
reverently be said that certain great
evangellsts. like their Master, are shak-
ing metropolitan centres to their heart
How TO Spend a Sabbath.
The lesson incident links itself i'm
medietely to the one studied a week
ago ne LOQL ll5lELLlElAs EELEIs All
drew James and j JOhn, had gone with
Jesus into the city of Capernaum,
which was his residence, so far as he
may be said to have had one during
his public ministry. When the Sab
bath came, it brought the question of
What shall we do tOday2" 1t was the
custom OF all of them, as of every good
Jew, to attend the synagogue on the
Sabbath. Jesus was greater than the
synagogue; and he, if anybody, could
made with hands; yet he placed him
self sQuarely on record as favoring reg
ular Church-going- All who want to
keep the Lords day in the Lords way
VIII not fOrsake the assembling of
themselves together for public wor-
ship.
No mere passive critical attendant
upon synagOge services was Jesus. He
took part in meeting. AS was the
privilege or all male Jews above GER
tain age, he read and expOunded the
Scripture. But what a differencet One
of the ills Of the days religion was
that the law was Overlaid, almost to
ObsCurity, with interpretations and in
terpretatons OF interpretations. Like
every other. this synagogue,-o which,
by the way, the probable ruins may
still be seen-resOunded with echoes.
When Jesus stood up it heard a voice.
The scribes had been wont to begin,
eft hath been said; y Jesus declared. Il
say unto YOU"
So rare is a clear, Strong voice of
conviction amid the babble of uncer-
tain sound which fills the earth that
hearing it, men instantly stop to
listen. The intent company OF
WOrshipers in that Capernaum syna-
gogue as they sat eager-eyed listen
ing to the stranger, were amazed at his
teachings. for he taught as one that
had authority, and not as the scribes
His word rang strongly with the per
sonal note Of experience and convic-
ton. The sermons that men get up
out of books seldom bear fruit; but
those which they speak forth from the
depths Of their own life work wonders
The authority which Jesus displayed
on this occasion he has deputed to al
ministers whom the Spirit has anOint-
ed, so that, like him, they may speak
with power,
The Devil in Church
1t Is no new fashion for the devil tx
90 to church. In Capernaum syna-
gOgue was q man possessed of a de
mon. lncongruOus as it may appear
most persons experience viii cOrrob
crate the statement that in the mos
sacred places. and on the hOliest Occa,
sions, the spirit of evil makes himsel
felt 1t would be sublime were eacl
sabbath congregation made up only o.
the pure in heart but the man witt
the unclean spirit is usually present
Well &c is for the preachers peace o
mind that he little dreams of wha
IS passing through mems thoughts a
they sit, apparently attentive, unde
the words OF the sermon.