The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-12
az wILLIAM T. ELLIs.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The immigration question. which Is
one Of the big subjects before the
United States and Canada, affords a
modern analogy for this ancient story
of a people journeying to the land of
their desire. All that Canaan meant 20
the Jews, this new world means to the
million and half immigrants who
entered its portals last year. This
burning immigration question, which is
so commonly considered In most
superficial fashion, and not at all as IL
its component parts were human De-
ings with hope-fHed hearts, will take
on a fresh importance and significance
If it is remem bered that to the stream
of pilgrims journeying hither, over
coming difficulties almost as great as
those met by the Israelites, this lana
is a very Canaan, and the gift of GOD.
Watch. tn e faces of the arrivals at
Ellis Island, and it will be easy to read
what an ephocal, climaterIc event the
arrival in America is to these seekers
after prosperity and liberty. Even SO
must the Israelites have looked as they
at last faced the Jordan. There was
awe in their faces, and wonder, and
fear, and hope, and excitement. This
was browning point in their expert
ence. 1t was this day that the patri-
archs had foreseen by faith. This was
the privilege that Moses missed. What
a day of days it was, to be told and re-
ations. In time it would become q
distinction to have been of the number
of "crossers."
Getting Ready for Great Event.
AS a youth prepares himself for his
first call upon the business man from
whom he hopes for a position, as
bride makes ready for her wedding, as
a theological student prepares his first
sermon-as every person of parts hts
himself for a critical experfence-so
ff7o oali fn M Ike
ready for the long deferred entrance
into the promised land. There should
be special preparation for special
blessings. The old custom of getting
ready for the Sabbath by making Sat
urday night a time of serious readins
and meditation was one that con-
tributed to depth of life and character.
For the same reason many churches
have special services preparatory to
the celebration of the Lords supper.
Similarly. Joshua exhorted, "Sanctify
yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord viii
do wonders among you.
God, who alone brings all his plans to
pass, is never precipitate. He is at
greatest pains to teach the Importance
of preparation. If those leisurely old
OrientalS needed that lesson, how much
more so do We panicky moderns, with
our ceaSelesS and frantic, running NTH
err and thither? A criticism with a wide
reach has been made concerning Brit
ish and American men in foreign trade,
as compared with the Germans. The
latter prepare themselves for those
special posts. They study the customs
of the land, and they master the native
language. Thus it comes to pass that
they often outstrip their competitors.
Anything that is worth doing, be it en-
tering a new country and new life,
or standing behind counter some
where, is worth learning how to do We'll
A Man Sure of Himself.
A swing, an immediateness and GER
titude that are inspiring marked JOSH
ua's course after he was called to the
leadership of Israel. In modern slang
he would be called a man ION the job.
There was none of the hesftancy, fear
fu1ness, and looking-over-the-sh
ness about him which mark not a few
men who would like to be considered
leaders simply because they shrewdly
keep themselves in front of the process
sion. Joshua was not nursing an hon
orable position for himself. Nor was he
merely marking time and lodging risks
for his regulations sake. He was doing
the work. God had called him, and he
did not stop to listen for other voices.
God send many such leaders in our own
day!
ing upon this big, fearless, practical ana
Ievel-headed man, heartened him with
the message, This day will begin to
magnify thee in the sight of all Israel,
that they may know that, as was with
Moses, so 1 will be with thee" The
truth runs both ways: those whom Goa
uses are mighty: those who are mighty
God uses. He is still as greatly in need
of men who can measure up to his
standard as he was in Joshua's day.
Obstacles in the Way.
President Roosevelt does not send
sac. 900 man to superintend the dredging
of some back country creek, but TO
take charge of the digging Of the PAN
anna canal SO 1t was not 10 an easy
task that Joshua was called. Canaan
was full of powerful enemies, and no
one knew this better than the leader
who 40 years before had penetrated into
the land as a spy.
Retween two types of character, the
blind pessimist who cannot see any
hopeful outcome Of a new undertaking,
and the equally blind optimist who dis
regards actual conditions, STANDS the
really wise man, who values all facts
at their true worth, and, while fully
aware of difficulties, goes right on, as
sured of his power to overcome them-
Canaans without the hostile Canann-
ties Hittites, Invites. PerizZites, Ger
,eashitas, Amorites and Jebusites would
not be worth a strong peoples winning
Soft conditions soften the soul fiber.
There's a reason says the familiar
advertisement; there is always a rea-
sop Our assurance OF success given to
Joshua in his campaign to conquer
Canaan was that the glory of Jehovah
was at stake. By the driving out OF
the idolaters the honor of the Lord CT
all the earth" would be indicated.
These heather regarded him as only
a national deity, like their own gods;
fI,ey should know that 1.-The living Cod
was among this host.
Where the Deep Waters Roll.
There's one more river to cross" ran
the plantation melody. There generally
Is Before every promised land rolls a
There is more catarrh in this section of
the country than all other diseases put to-