The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-10-22

H. al ingS, which, sooner or laIeT,
every friend and family
18Th must face. These are ex-
periences which sound the
depths of life. The streaming eyes
which we sometimes see at railway
stations and steamship WharVes are
fully INELIGIBLE only to those who
have either thus, or at the deathbed,
severed tender ties. The preparatory
experiences, wherein the rather or
mother led the dear ones up to an I'M
derstandine of what was involved in
the separation and fortified them for
the days to come, are known only to
the experienced. Yet 1t is all mir
rored in these final scenes in the life
of Jesus.
Visitors to Oberamm say that
the most affecting scene of the Pas
sion Play, next to the cruc1hXlOn IL
self, were the partingS between Jesus
and his mother and friends. He had
. come to the last stages of his earthly
experiences, as the Sunday schooIs
have studied during the past quarter
He seems to have been chiefly con-
cerned with preparing his friends for
the end which he saw SO clearly, ana
for the separation from his visible
presence which would follow. He told
them during those soul trying days in
the north country, of what was 10
come. 1t was then that Peters flash
of comprehension, and his fearless
confession, comforted the heart of the
suffering Teacher.
For Jesus was suffering, even as in
Gethsemane. But he suffered nObly.
There are two kinds of suffering, one
regal and the other craven. Abdul
Hanid, as he WhimperS and complains
in his Salonica exile, smoking count
less cigarettes through the long days
and sleepless nights, is an image of
craven suffering. Jesus and the other
martyrs of righteousness, bearing a
great ordeal as those who know them
selves to be inheritors of truths eter-
81 fch contrast What
man may do in divine endurance of
untoward and undeserved adversely,
Jesus has shown.
ForegIeams of Glory.
Like the golden sunset over the Bos-
phorous, which bathes squaIid Con-
stantinopIe in celestial glory, so there
come to even the most commonplace
life experiences and visions of hope.
This transcendent hour strengthened
his heart and the hearts of his dis
ciples for the dark days ahead. All
of the events of our todays and our
yesterdays should prepare US for our
tomorrow. It is true that we should
live "a day at a time" but always in
the light and power of the days that
are gone. The Mount of Transfigura-
ton was Gods preparation for Mount
Calvary. Yesterday always looks for
ward to today. A great love is the
best equipment for the endurance of
a great sorrow.
This anticipatory value of expert
ences should be a factor in character
development. Just as the ancient
through the Mos1em frescoes in the
Mosque of st. Sophia, Constantinople,
hearten Christian believers in the con-
viction that this peerless church is
some day to be restored to its original
uses. so the crosses that peer through
the experiences of life should prepare
us for the heroic struggles and tri-
umphs that lie ahead of US.
The New Law.
These final public ministries of Jesus
which we now hold in review contain
several profound deltverances respect
ing the new laws of his kingdom
First, in answer to a query of active
minded Peter, he enunciated the new
principle of forgiveness. The Old Tes-
lament, like the later Koran, says to
smite enemies: Jesus says to forgive
them This is a new principle at work
In the world. 1t is essential to the
universal brotherhood to which Jesus
looked forward. Only this can bind
certain Arabs are known by gashes on
their face, so Christians are to be
known by their readiness to forgive.
His enemies tried to entangIe the
Master in some sophistries concerning
divorce. He dared to announce, what
his disciples today should be equally
rigorous in affirming, that divorce, ex-
eept for infidelity, is wrong and not
permissible 1n1S means new cndnRe
In the social order, an enhanced sane
tity of the family, and a permanency
In the status of women which has
proved revolutionary.
Again, following hard on this, Jesus
uttered that beautiful truth which is
rs Chrtstianity's crown upon the brow
of childhood: suffer the little chill
dren, and forbid them not to come I'M
to me; for to such belongeth the king
dom of heaven" The latest Iegisla-
ton on the question of child labor has
not yet got beyond the platform of
Jesus.
The capitalist question. a labor ques-
tion, and question of religious poll
tics-the ambition of Zebidee's sons
intruded themselves into the notice of
the Master. who never shirked prac-
teal problems in his contemplation of
high ideals. He solved them all by the
pronouncement of new principles,
which are applicable today as then;
and admittedly the best of solutions
for the welfare of the mass as well as
of the individual. The recent multi
plication of volumes upon the social
teachings of Jesus would seem to show
that his laws are coming into their
own.
A Hero and His Heroism.
No life is made up of detached Incl
dents: all form whole, with essential
relations of the parts. The triumphaI
entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is often
contrasted with his journey forth bear
ing a cross to his death outside the
wall. The truth is. they were in vital
sequence. One followed the other as
effect follows cause. For it was this
triumphal entry, and the cleansing of
the temple which Immediately follow
ed it, that brought the climax, the
plottings of the foes. He thereby de-
fed the ecclesiastical power of his day,
and he also attached powerful vested
interests in interfering with the temple
revenue.
The "safe" leader in religion is he
who confines himself to denunciation
of Islam and heathendom and the NOR
al and religious shortcomings of Spain
or Italy or South America. He may
wax eloquent over the evils of the
dance, the theater, card playing, to-
baeco and liquor. Everybody applauds
his eIoquence, zeal and religious integ-