The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-12-11
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The Cherry Mine disaster has stirred
a continent The Imagination of the
FULLEST has been caught by tnat pic
ture of the men down in the blackness
waiting. waiting, waiting for the END
What heroism was that which kept
them from frantic and futile endeavor,
in grim resolution? And their last
MESA ges-ah, there's the revealing.
Scrawled on odd bits of paper in the
darkness, what were these last mes
cages to loved ones about? God mostly'
When a man is face to face with death'
the depths of his nature rise to the
surface, and the real man stands forth.
The end tests all. 1t proves that man.
IT, his truest self, is inextinguishably
re ligious.
The letters that have been brought
up from the Cherry mine have given
the world a glimpse into that death-
chamber. Here, in the lesson, we eaten
u fleeing view of another underground
dungeon, where man awaited deatn.
This is the Mamertime Prison, IN
Rome-stilI shown to traveiers-and
Ike occupant is Paul the aged. the
gray-haired hero of many battieflelds,
end a greater force in human history
than lustful, pride-crazed Nero on the
throne. This is PauPs second Roman
irnprisonment No more does he have
his own hired house. The walls OF per
;ecution have been opened upon MS
head, and he will not leave this dun
eeon until he goes forth to his death.
When 1 visited the Mamertlme
Prison, one of the best-authenticated
If Rome's many historical spots. the
guide a quiet, reverent fellow, told the
story of how the spring of water IN the
dungeon, which is still flowing sprang
.niraculously into existence to satisfy
the prisoners thirst. That is only a
legend, of course; but in a higher, truer
sense there has been flowing from
that underground prison cell a stream
If living water that has meant refresh-
-71ent and life to uncounted parched
souls Behold, twenty-five million
17-embers of the sunday school are par.
t. king of it today These last words OF
Paul flowed from the Mamertime
Prison.
A Bequest to the Dearest.
This is a last letter, great hearts
farewell AS the Cherry Mine missives
we're indited to the fated man 8 dear
est. so the letter was written to the
enc Paul loved best, his young friend
Timothy. his spiritual child. How the
aged warriors heart warmed to the
youth whom he had reared in the
faith. There was none of ages cynlc-
ism about Paul. and no lamenting of
the good old days." or the croaking
That young people aren't what they
used to be- Paul had warm faith in
Timothy. and looked to him to carry
u
St ems to have tried to embody his
,-wn life and ideals in the younger.
Happy is the fading life which sees its
i overs blossom again in child, friend
or disciple. The best bequest anybody
an make is to pass on to another his
ighest ideals. visions. task.
Paul loved the work above his best |
friend. To the last his thought was of |
his mission. The duty to which God |
as called a man takes precedence of
to- 1afIl
md majestic about Paul's clarion call |
"a his disciple to take up his labors !
for the church he loved. 1t suggests I
that dramatic scene, ten years ago, in |
The city of Paoting-fu, China, when |
the princely Horace Tracy Pitkin knew |
hat he must die at the hands of the |
Boxer hordes. He |
called to him a trusted native Christ |
an, and bade him bear this message to |
Mrs. Pitkin and their boy in America |
hat when little Horace is twenty-five |
years old, 1 want him to return to |
china, to take my place" That was
he Pauline spirit, which has carried |
hristianity to world-conquest.
Paul and the Preachers.
In the light that is reflected from |
the External City, many things stand |
nut clearly Then we see what is worth |
while If only we could regulate our |
W
u hich we have at the latter end! Paul |
=aw essentials as he penned his last
words to his beloved Timothy. And !
ere we find him stressing, with all the !
loquence and force at his command,
he place and power of preaching |
Preach the word; be instant in season, |
tut of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort. |
with all long-suffering and teaching.
That is better than a socialized |
-cheme of government. The need of
\ oh fOr tho sod
government regulation as it is for
ew grip on the ancient verities of the |
= Gospel. Society needs preaching more
han it needs law making. The pulpit
ras a larger part to play than the
in shilling the present I'M
rest. The world sorely needs to come
under the dominion of the teaching of
Christ. More of the old-fashioned
gospel of mans responsibility, first to |
Cod and then to his neighbor. is what
preacher, Gods sent man, has the an
wer to all our questionings in his |
The Time of Itching Ears.
If a present-day ministers meeting !
we're to have an address from the |
postIe Paul, he would perhaps talk |
10 them somewhat in this strain, being |
don't forget that you are preachers. |
Cod called you to preach. That is |
vcur business; attending afternoon |
teas, gossiping around book-rooms on |
Monday morning, pulling wires for
q lection to the next conference, or to |
a better church, cultivating the report !
FRS for the sake of newspaper puffery, |
elitorializing in your pu1pits upon the |
Says sensations-all this is aside from |
he mark. Preach the Gospel. If you |
haven't a gospel to preach. scrape ac-
luaintance with your own manhood |
md quit the ministry; or else get a |
Don't be a photograph or |
a manikin. Preach patiently. pleading |
=. fearlessly, personally. Make your |
1wn chances to deliver the Evange1 |
That is what the world needs, more |
han it needs anything else. 1 solemn |
X charge you, by your vows, and as |
on will one day answer to God, preach |
cis pure word
Most enthusiasts are carried away by |
heir own interest; they think all |