The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-20
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
IM~1YNICS and satirists have not
WA failed to point out the in
congruity of strife for pre-
eminence among church peo-
lEA pie. They sneer, with reas-
on, at the office seeking in
religious organizations, and at the
pride of places among the prominent.
The evil is no new one. Sad though
it is to behold it. we find the same
scramble for high position in modern
general conferences and general as
semblies that bred rivalries in the
breasts of the little group of men who
constituted the apostalate. This les
son is the rebuke of Jesus to the self
seeking of two of his favorite dis
The worst of it was that this selfish
scheme OF the two disciples and their
mother was intruded into the sanctu-
ary of a great and hallowed soul crisis.
The noblest spirit that ever abode in
human breast was approaching his life
ordeal. His soul was rent with strug-
gle. The intolerable loneliness Of the
conflict so pressed upon him that he
cried aloud to the best friends he had
on earth for the fellowship of sym
pathy. Sensitive souls do not easily
lift the curtain OF their inmost being
to even a close friend: yet Jesus be-
gan TO tell his intimates of the awful
fate to which he was steadfastly press
ing on.
A Leaders Lonely Sorrow.
What visions those clear eyes saw
as they fronted toward the capital of
the race! 1t was to Jerusalem, the
place of joyous pilgrimages, his city,
the city of his fathers, the city that
had long prayed for his appearing, to
which he was now going. Yet he saw
the shrewd hate of the ecclesiastic
whom he had antagonized waiting to
do him to foul death.
All this did Jesus unfold to his
friends-the gross betrayal of their
truest by the priests and scribes and
pharisees; the sham trial; the cruel
scourgings, the mob's mockery. the
horrors of the cross-the full bitter
ness that his soul was then tasting he
revealed to those from whom he had
the most reason to expect sympathy.
The Man of Sorrows wanted the pres
sure of friendly hand, the under
standing glance of an eye that felt
with hirn-but It was denied him!
The lonely Lord was not understood
by his nearest and dearest. That was
one Of his crosses. BY that bitterness
he purchased the right to be the COM
pretending companion of every lone
" and sorrowing spirit since. He who
trod the wine press alone is now the
Companion of the Sorrowful Way for
all who are called to suffer apart from
mems knowledge. That he was ac-
uuainted with grief to which all about
him were blind makes him the sharer
of every similar sorrow.
Politics in Religion.
While the Leader tried to make
plain to them the deep things of his
ed wholly in their own petty plans for
preferment. They even yet knew less
about religion as an experience than
as an organization. To them the places
and power bulked above the ministry.
Almost as hideous as the intrusion of
the ambition of James and John upon
that sacred hour OF their Master is
the way in which modern disciples
plot and plan and bargain and con-
trive for the places of honor in organ
lied Christianity, while the tragedy of
the Lords passion for a needy world
is being enacted daily. How can men
remain under the dominance of their
petty schemes when the great world
calls and the great God commands!
This comes from caring more for
churches than for the Church.; and
from caring more for the Church than
for Christ Men somehow identify
of the kingdom; for what they hon
estly believe to be ''the work. or ''the
cause" they dare do violence to new
truth and to fullest efficiency-as If
God had any cause other than truth
and the worlds uplift. A passion for
truth and God, and a noble disregard
for place and self, are crying needs in
the Christian world today. Rampant
ambition puts and keeps incompetents
in the most responsible places, so that
strong men often turn in repugnance
from the type of men who sometimes
represent, or misrepresent, the great
est enterprise God ever committed to
mortal men. While we are studying
the crude, blind and selfish ambition
of the apostles of old, let US register
a resolve to do all IN our power to keep
out Of Official position, in the local
denomination, and especially in the
IL Ill w-To rNr1rr
and ambitious men who care for the
honors and emoluments of office above
the opportunities to spend themselves
In tireless ministry for the Redeemer.
A Woman's Modelling.
Woman in politics is at present a
ture may hold we know this one in
stance OF a mothers meddling with
things which did not concern her.
Zebedee's wife wanted the highest
places in the new kingdom for her
sons John and James. So she tried
her woman's wiles upon the Leader,
even as has been done countless times
since, in Washington, Ottawa, London,
Berlin, and wherever else ambition
may find ladder
It was mild rebuke which she and
they get: Eye know not what We ask"
Nor did they. They thought not of
their fitness, but of their honors. They
wanted not opportunity to serve but
to be served. They missed the whole
spirit of the teachings and purpose of
Jesus. Woman's wit fell far short this
time. It is when she obeys her higher
impulses that woman is at her best;
conspiring, scheming and plotting are
contrary to her noblest nature. 1t
was mistaken zeal for her sons well
fare, but mistaken zeal none the less,
which prompted this irruption of self
ishness into the solemn thoughts of
the Master.
So often is love misguided. Par
ents plan second best things for their
children. They are more keen for
them to "get on than to get up.
Worldly prosperity is more commonly
coveted than spiritual strength. The
character making influences of self
denial, subordination and industry are
disregarded in the pursuit Of an easy
lot for the beloved children. There