The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-23
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

Invitation. Matt. l1:%o-Su'
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
80 DISIEARTENED minister
recently aroused a passing
interest bv declaring that
WA New York is the graveyard
of preacFerA." He meant
that the Strong men who
have gone thither, determined to move
the metropolis have been sWalioWed up
the man. Which is present day COM
mentary upon the arraignment by Jes-
us of the GaIilean cities wherein he
himself had taught and wrought
The city is the days moral and
religious problem. A fleeing glimpse
into the 'sxvhite slave traffic of New
York. the d.abolical vending of CO.
caine among Philadelphia children,
the wholesale graft in Pittsburs, re-
veals to the ordinary person some
what of the potency of the forces OF
evil at work IN a large city. Vice is
most active IN the eenters OF neasiesS
and spirituality make least headWay
there. The city has resisted the
preacher from the days of Capernaum
until now.
The City as a Battlefield
Because even Jesus did not find the
cities easy 70 move is no reason why
the fight should be abandoned. He
has given to the church. of today pow
ers and agencies and allies and adj
vantages which he himself did not pos
sess. The old fashion of abandoning
the sections of the city where the
struggle has gone hardest is being
changed by many denominations. Half
York have lately determined to stick.
and to adapt their ministry to new
conditions and needs The Presby-
ferIans have consolidated two failing
with seven days a week service to the
neighborhood.
The city must be given the old gos-
pei, in contenlporanecus form. Dowie
had a great conception, and proved
the willingness of people to follow a
leader with big ideas, when he and his
Restoration Host invaded New York.
The test broke Dowie, but he came
the name of religion than any other
Christian movement before or since.
The machine made city campaigns"
of the revivs lists have at least this
point Of merit: they are aimed at the
arousal of the entire community.
For the citv as a city, must answer
for it's attitude toward the Good News.
The woes which Jesus pronounced
IiIean towns. and his utterances con-
corning Jerusalem, prove that. The
craven supi1enesS OF Philadelphia,
the shameless moral laxity of San
Francisco, this dilettanteism of Boston,
the spasmodiC nervousness of New
York, may not be shifted from the
shoulders OF Christian citizens. The
conduct of body is t. be laid to the
charge of all If its individual members.
Since a citys faith is more important
than its subways or skyscrapers, and
since, as DR.. G. Campbell Morgan
says "the sin of the cities was that
tian men ana women u ask whether
or not they are thinking in large
enough terms concerning the cities Of
our times.
The places Of privilege are the places
of peril. The high places are not the
safe places. The stricter accounting
required of favored communities and
individuals was pronounced teaching
Chorazin, Ca0ernaum and Jerusalem
had heard his voice and needed it
not; therefore their plight was worse
than Tyre, Sldon, Sodom and Go
Of him much shall be required
This is the danger of living in a
time when the privileges of Christian
life and work are lim.tlessj and when
the fullest Christian teaching is COM
monplace, Phe plight of the pious.
who amid the blazing light, choose
darkness. is possibly worse than the
plight of the heather over whom we
weep. This n ,te of the responsibility
OF the Christians at home for the ex-
ercise of their highest spiritual func-
Gions, has been sounding with increas-
ed volume in the contemporaneous dis
cussion OF foreign missions. 1t is sad
70 know as much as Christians know
and to do as little.
The Best For the Least.
The consolation which Jesus SEEM |
ed to have. as he turned from the |
needless cities upon whom he, the |
meek. had yet poured mighty denun-
Citations, was that, although they in1
their ponp and pride had rejected him, |
whose eyes had been opened to the |
truth. Men are not admitted into the |
kingdom OF heaven by diplomas of
worldly wisdom. AS Jesus thanked |
from the wise and understanding. and |
didst reveal them unto babes The |
simple heart may enter gates that are
closed to the arrogant rnind.
nent, confronting the two facts of
his non-accep'abilityt to the cities, and |
his -acceptability to the humble, to
state again his own position and mis-
sion. There can be no question about |
Christ's own conception of his unique |
relationship &c God and to the world. !
Con carefully these words: "All things |
have been delivered unto me of my |
save the Father; neither doth any
know the Father save the Son: and he |
to whomsoevsr the Son willeth to re-
veal him.
The Carpenters Call.
Suddenly there seemed to fall from |
the indignant. prophetic Teacher all
his sternness and dignity, and he be- |
came at once the tender, solicitous
shepherd, flied with compassion for
the witless sheep scattered all abroad
before him. He perceived that man |
kind is weary from much labor, and
heavy laden with many and diverse |
burdens. Ths grand passion for help |
fulness, which is the hall mark of the |
highest, burned brightly in his soul. |
He yearned to ease and comfort the |
men to whom he felt himself brother |
by all ties. It was the sympathetic |
Som of man III owed b~ the love of the !