The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-03
BY WILLIAM r. EIJIs.

lu0 characters IN the WOFlQ
greatest portrait gallery. He /
was like the rest of Us. In |
him the race strikes an av-
erage. His very blunders and STUN
bles endear him to mankind. Simon |
Peters biography is the second most |
popular in the Bible.
Here we have him at his great cris- |
is and collapse. The hero broke-but |
he fell as mortals fall, and we still |
love him. Judas has sinned as a f1end |
in cold, calculating, avaricious
selfshness, and no mortal is too mean
TO loathe him. Peter just blundered in
to disloyalty; and once he had been
lifted out of that miry pit, he never
again fell into it. The scar which his
was a constant warning to him there
after. He fell terribly, but he arose
grandlJ-and that is the best thing
about a man.
The HumbIing of Cocksureness.
This man was son of the sea and
of the soil He had few of the parlor
accomplishments. A long journey I'M
der the blazing sun and over dusty
roads, or battle with the tempestu-
Gus waves of Galilee was all in the
days work for him. He knew how to /
take care of himself, and he had all |
of a strong mans consciousness of
that fact. Peter was no Weakling. The
prompt initiative and resourcefuln ess
which he was forever displaying
might be misguided at times, but
they were the traits of strength. That
he, like most leaders of men, was CIV
en- to cocksureness. is all too patent.
In that awesome hour in the upper
room, where the worlds Redeemer
barred his breaking heart to his
friends, it was Peter who was fore
most in protesting against the posi-
bility of disloyalty. Cried he, Though
all men shall be offended because of
thee, yet will 1 never be offended. :.
Though I should die with thee,
yet will I not deny thee" We COM
monty associate these declarations
with Peter alone; the record runs,
Likewise also said all the disciples"
The whole lot fell, only Peter fell the
farthest.
He meant all that he said about
standing fast. Only he was too sure
of Peter. A measure of se1f-distrust
sits well upon everybody. The most
counsel of prudence. Paul was quite
as brave as Peter, and really more
daring, but he qualified his self-conf-
dence by ct can do all things-through
Christ which strengthened me-" No
man is safe in saying that he is too
strong to fall into sin. 1t is when a
person thinks he standeth that he is
to take heed lest he fall, like Peter,
and the other protesting ten.
With the Wrong Crowd.
One of the laws of Scion was that,
in case of civil insurrection, the citi
zen who did not attach himself to
one side or the other should be brand
ed with infamy. There is no neutral
ground in life. Jesus made the case
clearer when he said, HE that is not
for me is against me-. Everybody
should line up with his own crowd.
Peters mistake was that of associat-
ing himself with the enemies of his
Master.
Perhaps because he wanted the
warmth that cold December night, or
perhaps because his world was tumb
ling about his ears and he walked in
a d1ze he Joined the company of SOL
diers and retainers about the fire in
the high priests courtyard. All. Pc
ter; the world has no fire that can
drive the chill from the heart of a
wandering Christian.
This glimpse Of the courtyard group
gives us, as it were, peep at the
great event from the underside. While
the chief actors in the tragedy were
busy elsewhere, the servants and fol-
lowers were exchanging gossip and
experiences about the open fire. Did
the men who had first laid hold on
Jesus still boast about 1t? What was
the story of the soldier who had
clutched at the cloak of the fleeing
young man? How did they regard the
Prisoner? What was their opinion Of
Judas? We wish for more of the his
tory Of this evenings coarse CONVEX
sation about the courtyard fire. We
want a clearer picture of the faces
of these rude soldiers and of the serv-
ing maid who moved to and fro in
the flare of the ftfuI fire. perhaps
bearing refreshments to the soldiers.
There sat Peter. in what misery we
feelings were turned to acute terror
by the word of sharp eyed maid eve
wonder on what. occasion she had
seen Jesus with his band ?)-'"Fhou
also vast with, Jesus Of Galilee-"
with a loud denial and protestation
that he could not even understand
the meaning of the charge. Peter
moved out into the porch. There an
other maid saw him-little escapes
the eye of a woman-and TINS time
bewildered and terror snnitten Peter
"a
not Jesus. The crowd. glad OF the d.
version. took up the charge. and poor
Peter took refuge in an Oriental prac-
tIce and fell to cursing and swearing
that he knew not the man.
AfterWard.
Then the cock crew. That is the
clock by which the Syrian vil1ager
stiIl measures the approach of dawn
and rises as is his wont, before day,
to begin his round of duties. This lit
tie touch is true to life, as all who
like myself, have been Weakened IN
village khans by the same sound well
To Peter the growing of the cock
brought remembrance. OF sudden
he realized all. The portentous words
of the Master came flooding over MIN.
'tBefore the cock crow thou shalt
deny me thrice" He had gone square
" back on his Lord, and on his own
word He had broken faith, he had
lied, he had cursed, like the old, un-
regenerate Peter over refractory
net. He had brought disgrace upon
the Name. One form OF disloyalty had
Involved another, like links in sins
accursed chain. Like an eagle snit-
ten in his fight, Peter had plunged to
earth like a lump of clay
The other day a young man, over
taken in a fault. committed suicide
The shame of the realization of his
ignominy overwhelmed him. The Bit
terness of the remorse of fine ma
tura oniv the Peters know. "And !
he went out and wept bitterly"-how