The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-09-11
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

1 L.
Pilgr1mages are common in con-
nection with all of the great ethnic
| faiths of Asia. These has a social and
educational significance apart from
| their religious aspect. A Buddhist is
| certain to return to his home, after
/ a journey to all the sacred places con-
| nected with the life of Guatama, with
a broadened horizon and an accretion
of life interests. Somewhat similarly,
| 1T is worth while to consider the edu-
cattonal value Of these Sunday school
footsteps of the apostle Paul. They
have afforded an historical sweep
which enlarges the horizon of every
student who has traced the footsteps
of the restless, pioneering, tent-maker
apostle
The latest news dispatches from
Asia Minor are Illuminated by these
old documents, with their geographical
itineraries. One is lifted above the mar
row conception Of his own neighbor-
hood and land by study of the past
and present of the places trod by the
feet of Paul two thousand years ago.
Reading into these geographical names
our present knowledge, a wide vista of
intellectual activity opens before one.
The traveller who keeps company with.
Paul may suffer lin sympathy with his
great trials, but he will be delivered
from the thra1do ON of many present
petty cares.
Not only is this narrative a fine bit
Of travel record, but it is also an in
tensely human document. Some per-
sons can write about their travels in
way to repel every reader! they
merely recite catalogue Of the places
they visit, and of their travelling sche-'
dule. Others can make the same tour
glow with human interest.
Looking For the Best.
With the heart-break of his separa-
ton from the beloved Ephesian friends.
still bowling him down, Paul took up
his journey toward Jerusalem. The
identical trip may be made today. For
this ancient writing is eorroborated by
it's geographical and historical al
nation had been through the scenes
described. The land and the sea tes-
tify to the book.
In ancient Tyre, where some travel
ers would have found archaeological
ruins, Paul found people. He was ever
looking for kindred spirits. In whatso-
ever place he entered there he sought
for fellow disciples of the Name. That
followed. Travellers more commonly
seek for the worst than for the best.
Hundreds of Americans touch at Yo-
kohama every year, and they see the
tea houses and the geisha girls and
the native thaters, but they never
catch a glimpse of the splendid edu-
cational and philanthropic institutions
which American altruism and Chris
tianity have planted in that city. OF all
the multitude of travellers that pass
through Shanghai there are many who
know the Oh wen
Road, and the sin and degradation of
Foochow Road and the opium divans;
but who leave the city, ignorant of the ,
fact that on its outskirts is st. Johns
university, the greatest educational in
stitution in the empire, and that with 1
in half an hours rickshaw ride from
the Astor House are two great mission
hospitals, a mission press, and native |
churches that embody the greatness
and beauty of the Christian propa-
ganda.
Even nearer home than the Orient |
there are many rural jewellers who go |
to the city for business or pleasure and |
who feel it incumbent upon them to |
learning naught of its better aspects
PauPs example is powerful preaching;
he esta blished relationships as quickly |
as possible with the noblest people and |
forces in every community that he Wis
tied What a boon it would have been
for scores of country and seashore
churches If all the Christian summer
visitors this year had carried their re-
ligious activity with them upon their
holidays.