The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-05
RELIGIOUS THOUGHT.
Gems Cleaned from the Teachings of
All Denominations.

Gems Cleaned from the Teachings of
All Denominations.
True knowledge comes from the il
Elimination of the soul from within,
not from any light which shines from
without.-Rev. j. K. Smith, Presby-
terrain, Pittsburg.
1t is far better to be thrilled with
the beauty of the flowers, even with
the thorns, than to escape the thorns
by giving up the flowers. 1t is far
better to have the memories and an
ticipations of a great throbbing hui
man heart than the narrow nature of
the field mouse. And these very sor-
rows and struggles and tears and
pains are SO ordered that they bring
with them greater enrichment and
blessed compensation.-Rev DR.. Haw-
kins, Methodist, St. Louis.
HEROES.
The hero is not as rare a specimen
as the awards of the Carnegie medals
would seem to indicate. He is fire.
quently not widely known. His name
does not get into the newspapers. His
praises are unsung. The only thing he
is concerned about is that he may do
his duty. He is dominated by cour-
age that will not falter in the pres
ence Of any danger. He counts no sac
rifice7 too great that others may be
blessed - Rev. Polemus H. Swift,
Methodist, Chicago.
OUR UNE1N1SHE PLANS
Nothing is more beautiful than an
excess of bloom, promise and aspira-
ton in youth. But when the youth
comes to old age the man grown gray
looks back over his past and realizes
that not one-tenth of what he had
planned has been achieved. And in
character we are plans, not cathedrals;
cartoons, not pictures; thumbnail
sketches, not perfect drawings; bum
dies ofa1resolves rather than great
1 L !. ffxr
is automatic and truth and goodness
unconscious because native But 1t is
nothing against a tree that in Its
mbition to do great things it unrolls
more blossoms than it can ripen fruit
1t is nothing against man that his as
pirations outrun his achievements
Rev. DR.. Newell Dwight Hills, Con-
gregationaIist, Brooklyn.
UNIVERSAL PEACE.
The passion for land is the impelI-
ing motive for every war. Wars will
cease when men realize that the earth
belongs to God. Then will come a
cooperative plan of human life! then
will come justice to fellow men. So
cialistic speculation. you say? Yes,
but 1t is the kind that does not crush
the Individual. 1t is the doctrine that
each individual is not alone in the
world. 1t is the principle of love for
one another. It will bring to man the
realization that the land is not his to
speculate with to the detriment of
others The nations are beginning to
realize that there is land enough for
all. Ultimately tribunals will displace
the wars of nations. The powers of
the world will cease to be competitors
and will become co-operators. Uni
versal peace will come, and God will
be judge of the nations-Dr- P. G.
Hirsch, Rabbi, Chicago.
THE SERMON AS A POWER.
The Christian theory of the sermon
is that 1t is a message from God on
the life of a man who is set apart to
live near to God and so to know the
will and mind of God. If it ceases to
be that whatever else 1t may be, it
ceases to be sermon. Belief in God
involves belief in religion, and that in
wolves worship, and that the belief in
the presence of God in his sanctuary
and his voice in the word of the
prea cheers and hearers who forget this,
but If it We're generally forgotten or
disbelieved the religion of Jesus Christ
would quickly cease to be a living
force. I see no reason to believe that
that Is true; therefore I cannot think
that the sermon has lost its place or
it's power. Eliminating the sermon
would be eliminating the life from
public worship. 1t would quickly die
altogether and become a mere FORM
Rev. Henry A. Stimson, Congregation
ist. New York.
MISSION OF RELIGION.
IhaJ Is the spirit OF unSe1nSnneSSs
The religion of Christ is not only to
help men become better, but it is also
to enable them to help other men to
become better. That is the meaning
of the life of Jesus Christ For their
sakes I sanctify myself. that they also
might be truly sanctif1ed." Is not that
the noblest motive that can inspire the
human hearth Is it not the very ideal
of a life of brotherhood? Study the
life of any really great man and see
if unselishness has not been the main
spring of his action toward his fellow
men. Trace out the history of any he
roic deed and see if unselfishness has
not been the sole motive which under
lay it's inception. For the sake of 9TH
ers a man will do far more than he
will ever attempt to do for himself
Take the man without responsibilities,
the man with no one depending upon
him. with no care in life, but care
for himself. To what does such man
amount? What power has he? What
capabilities does he develop? OF what
use is he to the world? Selfish. self
conferred. seeking. only his own inter-
est, he speedily becomes narrow, indif-