The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-25
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

Home Missions" IL enron. A''A-9'
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
This great western continent mas
ever been given to overmuch poastiui-
ness; yet II really has a reason LOT III
telligent pride in the place wnlcn pop
Mar education has held in Its history
TIE carly settlers came to these shores
seeking intellectual and religious Ho-
erty- They reverenced education AS
the old saying has it, They planted
a church on every hilltop ana
school house in the valley. Inc gen
ius of the new world, that suotie'
elusive spirit which makes this ike
unto no other land that now is or ever
has been, may be understood only as
one stands uncovered in the presence
of the unpretentious school mouse
which has ever been found on the ma
TONS expanding frontier.
Between patriotism and home mis-
sions. that is no very great dinerence;
Both are nation-building purposes ana
passions.
An era of idealism seems to be
dawning in the land. The reVoi1
against the sordid selfshness of ma,
terial power is both widespread ana
genuine. People perceive that the ma
tional ideals are menacing w nence'
now, is to come the strength for TINS
new and militant patriotism? FROM
the church and from the schools. Po1-
tics may be debauched; the Judlcla'
ermine may not always be Kept spot
less; public journals may lend tnem-
selves to private ends; but religion
and education stand true and uncor-
rupted. BY their faithful adherence
to the Hottest conceptions of natlona'
duty and destiny; a race OF strong,
true patriots is assured. Because Oh
their steadfastness 1t has continued
true in this land that the good have
outnumbered the bad. whenever the
issue has been fairly Joined, to rout the
plunderers. The strongest citadels OF
patriotism are the church and the
school house.
Illiteracy cannot coexist with pure
type of aggressive Christianity.
On the occasion Of the semi-centen-
NAL of the United Presbyterian denom-
ination. Rev. ]. T. McCrory made
striking address upon the civic re-
sponsibility of the church. With cour-
ageous faithfulness he pointed out the
failure of a merely emotional or
spiritual" evangelism to remedy
social or political conditions. He clted
the case of Philadelphia. Within three
years the two foremost evangelists on
this continent have conducted great
and expensive and world-famous re-
vivaI Campaigns" in Philadelphia
Practically all the churches were unit
ed and the newspapers gave nearly ana
sympathetic support. Yet one as
cernfble influence, DR.. McCrory points
out. has resulted upon the civic or po-
Iitical life of the city Undoubtedly
good was accomplished. but it did not
go deep enough or reach high enough.
The mission of the church is to trans
form society as well as individuals. IL
should set up new civic and social
standards A reign of justice, order,
decency and benevolence should follow
everywhere the preaching of the gos-
pei even as 1t has followed 1t on many
notable occasions in home mission
work.
Every true preacher is a teacher,
and every true teacher is a preacher.
The only assurance of a safe, clean
society lies in Christian education;
and the only basis for a Christian
education is the Bible: Home
mission schools postulate this.
They may not boast so many chairs"
as other institutions, nor so extensive
equipment, but they do stand stead
tasty for instruction IN the book
which creates character. There is
manifest a tendency In the school
systems of the land to reinstall the
liberalism" cast out a few years ago.
The best educators are perceiving
that apart altogether from the Bibles
proved place as literature. that 1t is
the one satisfactory basis for moral
instruction. Heather nations, like
Japan, are finding that modern educa-
ton system with full provision made
for ethics and morals. is yet futile to
create character. AS we cherish the
moral welfare of the oncoming gen.
erations of citizens. II IS important
that the tested source of spirit
Acorded a place in every school.
An open Bible means also an open
school book in every branch of know
ledge.
The historian of the future. as he
writes the romantic annals of North
America, will give large place in his
pages to the pioneer missionary. This
preacher. pastor, teacher and pub
licist, laid a shaping hand upon the
new nations. His personality helped
determine the commCnity's character.
He never dreamed of greatness, but
his children's children are giving him
a place In their halls, of fame
The missionary is a man with
mission. BY that definition the school
teacher must be accorded high rank
among missionaries. The teacher
must turn his back upon all hope of
wealth. Fame will not be his. The
direct recognition of his work which
the world accords to many a man is
denied him. He lives FOR the little
Persons will never know what