The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-11-16

son for November IL is, Gideon anC
His Three Hundred Judges z: 9-2S
BIZ WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
One who travels much, or has occas-
ion to be about hotels. becomes familiar
with a certain button worn by travel
ing men-a blue field on which is {
white pitcher with torch flaming from
It's top. These men are drummers who
belong to a society called "Gideon's
Band" they are commonly designated
as "Gideons." Perhaps it is because
they know themselves to be in
minority, and up against formidable
proposition, that they have taken the
name of the old Jewish hero who, with
his handful of followers, won a famous
victory. Incidentally, these drummers
try to squelch foul stories bring about
decent treatment of the girl servants at
hotels, and promote genuine helpfulnesS
among the members of the travelling
fraternity. Primarily, their design is to
lead a Christian life and to lead other
men into a Christian life. But not all
the Gideons wear badges; not by a
great deal.
There is a pessimistic strain in most
people which makes them ready to be-
Neve that the world is going to the
bow-wows. Or, as the ancient tale OF
the melancholy and self-oentered Scot
has IL, II am afraid there are not many
good people left in the world, except
me and my wife, Jane-and sometimes
have my doubts about Jane" Society
is passing through an iconoclastfc and
cynical period, wherein this scepticism
as to the prevalence of virtue is wide
spread. Probably Sunday school teach
ers not a few. as they teach this lesson,
will lament that there are no Gideons
today.
Some Up-to-Date Gideons.
Which is a foolish hlunder, betraying
lack of observation. The woods and
the open are full of Gideons. The world
has not had such numbers of them for
many a long year. This is the day of
the fearless, clivalrous servants of
great ideals and of hopes that lately
seemed forlorn. The spirit of strong
manhood is in the air. High hearts
and fearless are exceedingly common.
Men are realizing their royalty as never
before. The recent reply of Emperor
Francis Joseph to his physicians, Who
urged him to surrender to his illness
and lay aside his tasks, was thrillingly
contemporaneous: Let me alone.
know my duty. An emperor should die
standing"
Instead of whimpering over evil times
and great foes. and praying for a Gid
cons band the wiser way is to discern
the truth that there is a GiGeon'S band
today, scattered all over Christendom,
and in every populous community strong
enough to win great victories. 1t has
been my lot of late weeks to travel con-
siderably in Canada and the United
States. The number of strong, self
spending, courageous and broad-vision-
ed Christian men whom I have met has
been one of the rewards for the tolls Of
travel. They bear many denomination
al names; and most of them are bust
ness men who have proved themselves
IN ufe's hurly-burly. Tested, they have
rung true. Are these not Gods Gid
cons, and the present-day hope of
Christian faith and social service?
An Old Hero Story.
One of the great tales of all litera-
ture is that which this week engrosses
the Sunday schools Of the world. Gid
con is one of the heroes of childhood
whose iustre does not grow dim when
ed upon him. He lived in dark day,
among a weakened people. The
Jews had turned from the plainly
marked path OF safety and prosper
ity, and for their fdolatry they had
been delivered into the hands of the
trans-Jordanic people of indian, who
harried them into dens and caves and
fortified cities.
When things fall into such a bad
case as this, there is usually a man
sent as a deliverer; forever the races
hope is in a man. This time it was
Gideon, son of Joash, the Abiezrite,
who heard the call. A cautious man
was Gideon; he wanted to make sure
his sacrificia1 Offering was lighted by
fire from the end of the angels staff |
Then he overthrow the altar of Baal, |
and erected in its stead an altar to |
Jehovah creating great stir by this
bold deed. This made marked man |
Gideon thereupon lifted up his STAN |
dard. when the Midianites and Amale- |
kites has assembled for fresh foray
upon Israel, and he summoned the |
people TO him.
The Test of the Fleece.
Like a wise general making sure Of |
his reserves, Gideon halted his pro-
ceedings long enough to prove that |
God was really with him. This he did |
by the famous test of the fleece. He |
put fleece of wool on the threshing !
floor over night, ana IL was saturated |
with dew In the morning, while the
moor was dry. The next night he ask
ed that the fleece be dry and the floor |
wet; and this, too, was granted him.
Then the opposing forces encamped |
over against each other. Gideon's |
army was very large-too large for |
Jehovah to get the credit of its vic
tory. Therefore the leader was In
to release all who were
scared. Still the remaining ten thou
sand were too many for the purpose
God had In view, so he winnowed out |
the fittest and wariest-those who