The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-05
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Simplified spelling is a topic of wide
interest," but it Is of far less import
ance than simplihed life This latter
has come to be one of the great prob
lens of the day A certain prophet
hnancier has attracted international
attention by his ringing summons TO
the western world to return to agr1cul-
ture, and thus to the simple life A
still better way to reach this desirable
goal is implied in the oldest complete
piece of literature in the world, which
Is to form the basis of the study of
millions during the ensuing twelve
months
This programme is by grasp of the
fundamental facts of life Let per-
son get a symmetrical conception OF
his existence and his end, and he viii
be ready to slough off. without a pang,
the trivialities which cucumber civil
ization- It Is because men put their
second things first that they find them
selves enmeshed in the intricacies of
an artificial mode of existence. The
powerful people have ever been the
plain people who cared supremacy for
the things that endure Even in our
own hurried, distracted times, there
are many who see this One such was
a physician, who said to worried bust
ness man, on the verge of nervous
prostration, MY friend, what you
really need is to get acquainted with
Cod
This old, old book of Genesis, which
was shaping mems ideals and conduct
a thousand years before HerodOtus
1.-THE father of history" was born, be-
gins with an affirmation of the incom-
prehensible fact of God I'm the be-
ginning, Godd." That is the foundation
of the sublime and simple life. There
you have the basis of all the creeds
of civilization 1t is the biggest truth
that the mind of man ever tries to
CfRrfSt1C
human nature is its ability to reach up
after q knowledge of the divine.
The men loafing about corner stores
may not see this; ability to tell the
latest vulgar story may appear to them
more manly than an apprehension of
the sublimities of religion. But that
fact merely indicates that many men
are not yet as fully developed as some
men were when this old book was
penned. Mans interest in the super
natural, and his reverence for God, are
the highest known facts concerning
humanity. The religious experiences
of single soul have formed the theme
of many OF the greatest novels; which
is arts tribute to the supremacy of
religion. Indeed, there are occasions
when everybody rises to measure of
this conception: even the meanest and
coarsest spirit. in the hour of advers-
ity. involuntarily turns to God.
There is still a greater truth than
the foregoing, and 1t is worthy of the
Mans interest in God is not so vital or
important a truth as Gods interest in
man This is the theme of the Book
of Genesis God cares for the man
has made When weary of twiddling
the little branches of doctrines, mans
spirit may rest against this great cen
trail trunk of the tree of religion: God
is. and God is solicitous of mans truest
welfare The Creator is also Father
The First Fact of All.
The elemental fact of divine. per-
eonal Creator is mans final resort For
the person capable of grasping the sig
nifcaIfce of great truths, there is com
fort and illumination in the simple di-
rectneSs of the first chapter of Gene
sis with its affirmation of the exist
creative power and the governm ent of
God. The polytheism and pantheism
of all other accounts of creation, with
their vulgarities and superstition Gas
witness the japanese belief in the dis
honoring of the sun-goddess by her
brother), cause the Genesis narrative
to shine in solitary sDlendor.
Every few months some yellow BIZ
Ologist PUSHES into print with the as
sertion that he has caused a wiggIe in
a bottle of jelly that is nothing less
than the creation of new life. The
world used to prick up its ears at these |
statements; it does not do
so now, for it has learned that many |
OF these modern scientists, who so cav
alierly ask US to accept their jelly in
stead of our fathers Genesis, are just |
as human as the vain and foolish men |
whose characters are so faithfully de- |
Iineated in this oldest book.
This is not the place to go into a |
discussion of all the theories of crea- |
ton, and of the authorship and struc- |
ture of the volume which treats there |
of. The bcokishly inclined will find |
ample facilities for studying this fas- |
subject After all has been |
said, it is amazing to find what little |
real difference has been made. Into |
these elastic pages of inspiration there |
IS room to fit countless theories. 1t is ]