The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1910-05-10
BY WILLIAM T. ELIAS

BY WILLIAM L. ELLIS.
Il came as q surprise recently to a
certain reader Of the daily dispatches.
to learn that the most conspicuous
derided politician in Washington is a
close and constant reader of the re-
1&lous stories OF the famous Canadian
author. He did not know that this
politician had any such side to his
nature at all. The common people
are often thus surprised to discover
by fuller knowledge, that public off,
cials are not the monsters that parti-
san opponents have represented them
as being. Likewise, they learn that
reformers are not wild-eyed fanatics.
For 1t is the bad habit Of the world
to speak III of the good.
That fact underlies the present Sun
day School Lesson. Jesus had healed
a man who was blind and dumb, SO
that he both saw and talked. Surely
everybody should rejoice owe such a
merciful action. Not SO. Even as it
has often been true in China that the
mission hospitals are accused Of steal
ing little children; or as in Bait more
today many cOlored persons refuse to
pass the Johns Hopkins Hospital lest
it should put the black drop on
them; SO this kindly ministry Of the
beneficent Teacher was attributed to
the devil. The Pharisees SO charged
openly. They could not understand
the miracle. but flouting all reason
they declared. This man doth not
east out devils. but by B~eelzubub. the
prince of DEVILS So there is prece-
dent for everybody whose good is evil
spoken of to take to heart as comforts:
Jesus all along had to endure this
sort OF Misrepresentation and SIAN
der.
The Common People See Straight.
Tho ,ltriolC fact which has MANY
modern analogies, was that the plain,
unlettered peasants understood the
meaning of the ministry of Jesus bet
ter than did their ecclesiastical lead
ers. They cried, rs this the son or
David 2 Simple hearts can some
sophisticated minds. The views which
men "on the inside at Washington
entertain concerning the most talked
about American of the day are radi-
cally different from those of the
masses of the people, Yet the latter
are prcha blv right. They have q
genius for getting at the heart OF q
man purposes.
Books and articles, which the
masses never read. are written in crit
icism of Jesus; but the multitudes
undisturbed by details and difficulties
understand Christ. They know him
for his life and his owe They catns
the CLINT of his kindly eye while t. :
ScholasticS are studying the color OF
his hair, They feel the uplift Of his
helpful hand. while the critics are
concerned only with its ~callousness.
They are inspired by h sympathetic
throh of his loving heart, while tAt
schoo1men bubble over his scholar
ship. In Z broad, general fashion, Coo
has given the ommon people an al
hnity for the noblest They have {
charity and an understanding Whicf
- .yrnG{ar than naIanfCNF b0ASfef
skill.
Fighting the Best.
A good man on the strong, side is :
pitiable and tragic spectacle. Their
is something about the attitude Of n
old Pharisees of Christ's time tina
even excites our compassion. They
were so sure that they had the las
word Of truth. and that their e~cclesi
astical organization was the most i'm
portant thing on earth, that they sim
ply could not conceive OF the possi'
bilitv of this ReVolutionist's being
right. In like M there are many
sincerely piOus men connected Will
the religious boards and societies O.
our time who sincerely believe tina
the kingdom of heaven IS incorporated
in the organization which they serve
and so they go to amazing lengths tt
conserve this institution. That IS one
reason why we have in this month o.
May. 1910. Sc much d~espicable eccle'
siastical politics; and so much con
temptible striving to stay the progress
of new methods, bigger ideas, broad
er ~urpoSe
There are many reasons why on'
should strive for humble Open-mlnd'
edness; and the most important, per.
haps, is the fear of being found II
opposition TO the truth. No allegiance
is important, except allegiance tf
God and his truth. What matter i
old notions must be given p The
truth is all-important. The wise
"a bbi's advice to beware lest one
should be found fighting God is ever
applicable. History has frequently
repeated the experience of the Pharl
sees who arrayed themselvs agalnS
the best 1eader of their day, who has
indeed Incarnate Truth.
The Patience of the Strong.
The weak and the wicked and TIT
unwise are fussy, hurried, and excited
The strong and the true may be pa
49, @I-1- = ~1 n j 70 re