The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-01-30
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

II wish. We might have a few Boxer
prosecutions IN America" said z SPEAK
sr from China The remark was some
what startling, but the point was Wen
taken He meant that the fires OF per
secutiol would both purify and soadL-
~ the forces OF Christianity Bscaus7
religion Is respectable IL IS hke-y g
lose its edge and esrnestuess- The Ide4-
conditions under which infant churcn
AT Jerusalem began It's life were Almost
too serene to last Theyneed 10 oS
welded together. and made from mol
ten metal into tempered steel " me
fires OF persecution The need was met
Immediately after the healing OF Lae
lame man by Peter and John for the
apostles were arrested and arralgneo
before the Sauhedrfn-
It is not altogether a calamity Wnen
man must go 70 Jail for his reHg-oa-
In the first place. II makes hin test MS
own faith. to be sure that he has Z re
Hgion worth going 70 jail for me az
erage persons Christianity Would Dc
priced more highly Il il cost more N
the second place, persecution mas a.
ways been the means OF arresrIng the
attention Of the Indifferent and the nos
tile, and OF leading men seriously 10
think upon beliefs for which others are
willing TO be martyred- Out OF Lne I'M
prfsonmeut Of the apostles flowed many
tangible results Pilgrims PROCESS
born in 4 tfuker's cell al Bedrord u
not the only great fruit OF an lnpr1s-
=
The Challenge OF the Heroic
Sealed beneath the commoaplaceness
OF the average man Is q considerable
spark OF herOism. which responds 20
the challenge OF the heroic We spend
our energies in seeking more conror-
table conditions. but really what We
need. and in our hours OF illumination
desire. i not an easy lot but harder
life II is the people who have had 70
WreStle with rigorous climates and az
= CO n =
tory its greatest figures The church
periods OF persecution have produced
its most shining saints.
In passing. it IS well worth noting
that thanks to the fearless lahors IN
the past OF men and women VINO have
added all things for the truths sake
there is today probably no spot IN the
world except Tibet, where men can
BE- Imprisoned because OF their rellg-
fOJIS convictions Within SIX months
the religious Intolerance Of the Turkish
rule has been broken Now at the very
CenterS Of Mohamme religious
liberty prevails The experience Of Pc
ter and John VINO were arrested on
theological grounds cannot be duphca-
ted The days OF the great refOrmers,
when men went 70 the stake because or
Intellectual convictions. seem 70 nave
passed away The long line Of inprts- |
oued champions Of truth have been the !
liberatOrs OF the present generation
standing With Their Leader
This picture Of Peter and John be /
fere the Sanhedrin as il sat in state I
recalls inevitably that carrier picture 4
Of the same man when the Sauhedrin 4
was once before sitting Then ne COW
cred and Crluged and skuLked On Il@
outskirts Of the scene startled by the
mild words OF q servant maid trying
in vain 10 drive away the chill from
his heart BY fire hudIed by his lead
er'S enemies and even lying and ours
ing in a vain effort 10 separate him
self from relationship with the males
tic Prisoner within An AFFECT, pItIa-
bic figure was that cowardly Peter
Now however. We see him standing
just where his Master had stood He |
i in his right place. face TO face with /
the same foes No more does he need
70 warm himself. for his heart Is aslOE /
with Joy and pride. that he has been
counted worthy 70 stand in the stead |
OF his Master. We pity the heroes and 4
OF faith when really we ought 4
to envy them The most comfortable
men IN al that distinguished Jerusa-
lem assembly that day were the Two
prisoners Peter and John
There was exaltatiOu in the spirit OF
this fearless prisoner His arraigument
gave him a chance 10 preach 70 the
very leaders OF the Jewish nation
They would not for any consideration
come to hear him. but To- they mad
brought him 70 than. where they were
obliged 10 listen TO him Over against
II o
and Imprisonment was this glorious
privilege Of preaching e straight Gospel
to the men who had crucIded Christ
knights Without Fear
4 man who has the fear Of God in
his heart is never afraid OF men II
was straight preaching that Peter did
before the Sanhedril- The sum tuous
robes Of the high priest. and the
phyIacteries of the eminent theoIo-
yians- together with all the conscious
dignity of the court, did not impress
these two humble prisoners They
preached a direct and definite gospel. |
while confronting these eminent ad-
versaries of their Lord They chaI-
-euged the IatIer's position. and avow-
ed themselves disciples OF the Naza-
rene. concerning whom they said
Whom re crucifed-'' Quoting from
the Scriptures in which these men
we're experts. the prisoners. With
splendid audaciCy. declared He IS
the stone which was set at uouEhr OF
you the builders, which was made the
head of the corner"
The picture IS one to ponder. II. con-
-rasr with that of some modern
preachers who are overwhelmed by :
|