The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-09

oner-the Plot" Act 22:3O-23:35,
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Sometimes the public is startled 10
find how base politics reaches up into
high places; and the criminal schemes
of INSCRIPTIONS financiers penetrate
even into exalted courts OF justice.
Were they to recall history, peop!e
is no new thing. Palace and temple
have through the centuries otten
echoed to the soft tread of the apet-
ted murderer and thief. The alliance
between priest and mob, judge and
ruffian, is not so unusual as to startIe
the world. Two thousand years ago
we find enacted a scene not greatly
cissimilar from some modern IN
its hero is the apostle Paul, whose
fortunes the Sunday schools OF the
world are now following.
After rescuing Paul from fanati-
ca Jewish mob, the Roman colonel,
in order to find out more certainly
what the trouble was all about, called
the Jewish Sanhedrin together that an
examination might be made Into the
cause. Paul is the same undismayed
gentleman in the presence or these
great eccIesiastics that he had been
In front of the bowling rabble. 1t IS
of interest that the narrative points
out how he faced them. and looked
hard at the council" as one version
has It, He was the least embarrassed
man present, for even lowly virtue
never has reason to blush in the
presence Of exalted wickedness. He
began his address by what would seem
a perfectly simple and harmless re-
mark: Brethren. I have lived before
God in all good conscience until this
day" The man who can say that mas
been a success, no matter what his
worldly state may be. Yet this as
sertion on the part Of the prisoner
made the Jewish officials furious. and
the high priest so far forgot his Of
flee as to command the persons near
est Paul to smite him on the mouth.
Justice was far from Jerusalem that
day.
Paul was no "mollycoddle," as the
modern phrase has it, and his high
spirit instantly flashed the retort o!
q just and fearless man: GOD shall
ymite thee. thou whited wall: and sit
Test thou to judge me according to
the law, and commandest me TO pc
smitten contrary to the law The
milk-and-sugar type of Christianity
gets small encouragement from this
Virile apostle. Yet Paul was quick TO
apologize when he realized that II
was no ordinary Jewish official but
the high priest himself, who had so
violated justice. Paul practiced what
he preached about respecting author
ity. Even a bad official must receive
the honor due his office. This whole
trial broke up in another row and
sion by setting the Pharisees and
Saddusees at each other over the
question of the resurrection. once
morethe Roman cohorts had to come
on the double quick to rescue the
prisoner and to quiet the uproar.
A Vision and Promise.
"a man is immortal until his work
is DONE" runs the proverb. Fear OF
death is needless and unworthy. 1t
should have no place in the bosom OF
q strong man; although such may
be forgiven for fearing that he may
not be able to finish his task, or that
he may die, like a certain great finan-
cier, in the midst of his plans.
Paul was sleeping sweetly In the
castle prison that night, the quietest
spirit within its walls. despite his
bruises and the turbulent experiences
of the day. Once more he was Wis
tied by the familiar figure of the
Christ, who had appeared to him on
"Be of good cheer: for as thou hast
testified concerning Me at Jerusalem,
SO must thou bear witness also at
Rome" was the encouraging message
of the Master. Alongside of that di- |
vine Will, all the Vaccinations of the |
Jews and the Romans were of no
avail Paul was sustained by the |
promise that he should go on to his
desired goal. Can we wonder that he
met the morrow with a smiling and |
serene countenance? Pity the souls |
that have no vision. Well does the |
old Book say. ''Where there is no
vision, the people perish" The
teachers of our own time are pointing
put that one of the needs of our day |
Is this high sense of a sustaining
purpose and of a divine call The
crusader spirit alone can accomplish
lofty aims. Present-day society needs
10 duty which made the Pilgrims
and the Puritans nation builders.
An Unholy Vow.
Mary Wilkins tells a human story
IF a man who sat on the steps of his
church for years because he had
lowed that II certain minister were
appointed over the congregation. he
nan 20 in. So through summer heat
md winter cold the man spent his
sabbath mornings on the steps of the
.hurch. Because he had been foolish
,biiged to continue so indefinitely.
every political campaign reveals
ron of these rash and absurd
,ledges. Among foolish vows that
we're also Ubiquitous. this one OF the
ortv Jews who bound themselves
either to eat nor drink until they
lad killed Paul takes the front rank.
4 was an unwise VOW and an un-
Mosaic VOW, even though ostensibly
nede in the interest of the law of
Noses. Inc S1dA AAANOAAS@SS
his never appealed to the forty. or
cir colleagues, for somehow bigotry
nd passion seemed always to lack
sense of humor.
Low Politics in High Places.
Once a man begins to follow policy
afher than principle. or ambition
ather than truth. he sets out on a
vay whose end cannot foresee. A
raSic life story was revealed in
,enn sylvania a few weeks ago by the
,aIdIiI1 confession of a twenty-year-
III suicide. At the age of ten he J
eRan to steal money from his
ethar He increased his thefts
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