The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-05-29
BY WILLIAM t. ELLIS,

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
''Show me" is the slangy expression
Of the spirit of these times, The
worlds attitude today toward all things
is skeptical. 1t accepts only the man
or enterprise that has made good"
1t wants a demonstration that will con-
vince It's own Judgment. Mere empty
profession in religion or in business is
treated with scant patience BeIleI
that is barren is given no heed. Our
own day stands rather squarely on the
platform laid by James, that the faltn
which is alive must produce. All eyes
look for this practical expression or
their profession.
The Sunday schools of the world are
this week studying a fragment OF the
intensely practical letter written by
James. There is an intrinsic approprl-
ateness in the interruption or the MS
torical studies from the Book OF Acts
in order that this letter of James may
be considered in connection with the
letter which he wrote as president OF
the council at Jerusalem to the Gentle
Christians at Antioch and throughout
strain in this epistle has led many to
question it's right to a place in the
Canon. It was not until the council
of Laodicea, about 364. that 1t was
formally and finally admitted: During
the early centuries. however, 1t was al
ways printed as Immediately following
the Book of Acts, being more clearly
related thereto than the letters OF
APOSTLE Paul. 1t was Jerome's tranSla-
ton which disturbed this order and
made it likely that henceforth the &C.
clestine arrangement of books Will De
followed always.
There are several Jameses in the New
Testament, and the question arises as
to the identity of this one. 1t Is gem
erally agreed that he is not one of the
two Jameses who belonged to the coll
lege of apostles, but rather the brother
of Jesus himself He is commonly CALI
ed James the Just, and there are many
interesting extra-scriptural traditions
concerning him. We know that he was
presiding over the council at Jerusa-
lem, thus having a primacy over Peter
and John and Paul, during the hrst
council He was a Jew of the stricter
sort and his letter is written as Jew
to Jews. Possibly it was meant to re-
call the church from an overidealiza-
ton of the teachings of Paul; for all
who have been inclined to spiritualize
the latter's words have found fault with
thse writings of James. Luther, his
whole being concentrated on the great
truth that 1.-The just shall live by faith, )"
did not like James's apparently dis
paraging remarks concerning faith, and
thus he called this book IAN epistle OF
straw" Later he is thought to have
revised this judgment, and certainly his
followers and the church that bears his
name have come to correcter inter-
probation of the Importance of James's
teachings and of their place in the
Canon.
mo Religion to Speak Off,
One of those busting persons who
talk as freely about the innermost
sanctities of the spirit as they do about
the crops or the weather, had ap-
preached a profoundly religious man
with some casual inquiry concerning
fha "a af hic COirit haUa M
ligion to speak Of" dryly replied the
latter, knowing that his interrogation
would probably not catch this double
ended sentence. There are many who
have a deep sympathy with the man
who had no religion to speak off,
They feel that the housetops are not
the places for an oral confession of
faith, The creed that counts in the
market place is the creed that express
es itself not in pious phrases, but in a
square deal.
In all charity it may be questioned
whether the persons who are most
prone to talk about religion are those
who best realize it. The deeply re-
found reverence. He will speak his
faith, of course, upon proper occa-
sion; but he does not wear either his
soul or his heart upon his sleeve.
With all spiritual emotions there may
be found great diffidence, A wo-
man does not talk of her love for
her children: she shows it. James
makes center shot at the talkative
saint when he writes: IF a man say
--stressing the word ''say''-"he hath
faith but have not works, can that
faith save him?"
The Faith That Is Dead One.
Pious admonitions fill no empty
stomachs. The common religious sal
utation of the early Christian was
Peace" James declares that the
Christian who cries Peace" to q
hungry or naked person in need,
withholding food and raiment from
him. has by no means expressed his re-
ligion. Warm words are no substf-
tute for warm clothes. A lachrymose
pity which is ever pluming itself on
its own sympathy is no point of mer-
IL unless it has done it's utmost to
ameliorate the conditions over which
it weeps. However high and far a
mans spirit may soar, his feet must
remain squarely planted on earth. In
this material world even spirituality
must be shown in material ways.
James declares unequivocally that
faith without works is dead. In the
colIoquial speech of today-and
James's letters are extremely COLO
quial-he would declare that the re-
ligion which is not busy about help
fuiness is "a dead one" The world