The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-14

AN FRANCISCO IS we'll aware
that the Good Samaritan is
still doing business AS death
less as the wandering Jew, and
more ubiquitous, this character
who typifies practical neigh
norlfness, is still extending balm and
healing and succor to the world s
needy ones. He IS the man Of catholic
spirit who recognizes no lines when
need exists, and who finds in every
man who calls for his help a true
neighbor. He incarnates the principle
that anybody must help everybody who
Sc down. Just as when the news OF
San Erancisco's great calamity first
burst upon the nation, ali classes OF
people, without respect to creed, con-
dft1on or location or wealth, gave
quickly and generously OF their sub
Btaucs to the brothers bereaved on the
Pacific coast.
THIS popular parable has passed into
Ahe parlance Of the plain people The
good Samaritan e. 8 familiar story to
everybody. The man who may not
know whether the book Of The Reveia-
zion is IN the Old or the New Tesla
naent. yet knows. in outline. this story
,of the good-heartsd traveller who gave
b Iiet to q man in trouble. In truth,
shs sufrff Of the present day Is becom-
Ing 20 be more and more In accord
with the teaching of the great parable
IN no age OF the worlds history was
there 80 much practical helpfuiness
put forth by men IN behalf Of men as
u me case today.
A Clubbing Lawyer
behold how great matter a little
IRE kindleth;" even the "snaartness' OF
q quibbling ecclesiastical lawyer may
f4snz forth such a profound and far
reaching story as that of the Good
Samaritan. This glib doctor OF the law
was Of the party who had put niue we
from the
north country. In sel1-aSsured fash
ion he set about to trap the Master. AS
a. too often the case In the courts to-
day, ne tried to raise a technical polnl
Just the sort Of petdfogglng ana
binding of big issues by minor legal-
ssns. as the president of the United
states hiss Of late publicly rebuked
This lawyer was not trying TO discover
the truth, but to defeat an adversary.
His question as to what he should DC
to inherit eternal life was disingenuous
While the words were still warm on MS
Iirs he knew that they were mockery
For IN his heart he believed he knew
more Of the law than this country RAP
from Galilee. When Jesus answered MIN
Iov asking him another duesuon-asklns
tire question which was common on tht
Inns OF the experts in Old Testamen
zf71dv How 'readest thou2" the lavyyel
answered glibly enough he posseSSe,
far more truth than he practieed.
:
more stead fastness to the light he al
ready. possessed. He was in the position
Of The average person today. We do no
need to know more, but we need NOR
Tesoiute purpose to impel US to I'VE VI
70 the level Of what we do know. NO
new light. but new loyalty, is the great
er need Of the times. Men are judged
not by the truth which they do no
know, but by that truth which. know
ing, .ley fail to practice.
But YOU cannot do anything with
ouibbllng lawyer. AS well try to teacl
calculus to a grasshopper, as the BIZ
principles OF right and wrong to a cross
roads shyster. This man had no highe
ambition than to make out a case 70
himself He was Of the sort such a
an1est every court room today. who see
a Isop-hole in the law, rather than I
know the main purport Of the law Itself
when Jesus had answered him with
pointed, This DO, and thou shalt live,
he tried to wTiggle out by asking, ''Wh
4s my neighbour" This has been a prett
question for discussion many time
among the ecclesiastics; and no end G
4lair-splitting arguments have been ad
wanced upon it. The lawyer though
that in It he had found a poser 70
Jesus
The Point of the Story.
Jesus answered the lawyer by tellin
b. story. The point is not as clear t
those who read it today as to those VII
heard Il two thousand years ago, a
though the application IS obvious. Locs
conditions l. minated It, and made tn
Dc-lparisOn which Jesus drew DARN