Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-06
A MAN AND HIS METTLE.
The International Sunday School Les
con for January 9 is 1.-THE Baptism
and Temptation Of Jesus" Matt. 8:
1917; q: iii.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.
The battleship Utah, the largest war
ship afoat. was launched few days
ago: but before she is accepted or put
So with the machinery that is to go
must be given it before the govern
ment will take it over. Likewise with
her guns: they, too, must be tried in
every possible way to see If they are
fit. Although possessed Of the form
and stature of warship, the Utah
must overcome the strennous tests
which bar her entrance upon a war
ships career.
So it is with man. Youth, grown
to manhood's estate. must prove its
manliness. Until he has come through
some great testing we cannot be sure
that the young man has entered into
manhood's inheritance. AS with war
ships. so with men: their mettle must
be demonstrated. A somewhat tragic
phase of the life of the boy who, ar
rived at years of maturity, goes forth
into the world, is that his knowledge
of men and of himself Is SO largely
theoretical, rather than experimental.
Even his religion may be of the hot
house variety, never having been sub
iected TO the chilling blasts of the
world Of actualities. Afterward, there
comes into his voice the note OF
gertrude and he treads as one who
knows himself and his work. He has
been tried OUT and he has made
good"
At the outset of his public career
Jesus proved his mettle. Equipped by
the ecstatic and transporting spiritual
experience of his baptism, and by the
soul-wrenching wilderness battle with
temptation he went forth to his work
of teaching and healing and helping,
confident in his own powers. He had
been tested, and he had come forth
victorious. Other temptations would
assail him. Of course, but satan had
done his worst, and in vain.
Standing by the Best.
The greater linked itself with the
lesser when Jesus went down to Jor
dan and Joined himself to John the
Baptist. He sets an example of stand
ing by the best in sight, and not
spurning it because it is not better.
cause the church it not big enough or.
good enough. Waving all considera-
| ton of the modesty or accuracy of
his diagnosis Of the church. it is to be
pointed that person betters himself,
| the world, and the cause he joins, by
| identifying himself with the best he
can find. The Baptist's ministry was
inadequate, but it was headed right
| Therefore Jesus yielded allegiance
| to it.
| This was kind of following the
| fashion which has sound warrant.
| There is a sense in which conformity
to existing usages is the real mark OF
greatness. The person who breaks
loose from all the established conven-
lions. dressing in unusual fashion and
assuming to be law unto himself in
all social relationships, it not usually
a great man. but only freak The
wise person employs as his we'll
trained servants, who help smooth
life's course for him, all the social
usuages Of the sphere in which he
finds himself. If he is in New York,
he conforms SO far as is proper to
New York ways; IL in China, to
Chinese ways.
| Not very different is the matter of
religion. The sensible man can get
along very we'll with any one of the
established communions: it is usually
the weak, the vain and the sentimental
! who flock off into peculiar and super
Tor sects, which consider themselves
above all churches. Jesus was con
tent to be baptized with Johns bap-
tism. In that experience he had the
approval of the opened heavens and
the Fathers voice, This is my be,
loved Son, in whom | am well pleased y
The Price Of Peace.
Straightway, following the leading
of the inner Light that was ever his
/ guide, Jesus went from the Jordan's
banks to the wilderness Of testings
He had to be alone for this ordeal: as,
indeed, the soul Is always alone in It's
crisis hours. Here, after forty days OF
hunger, he underwent the proving OF
his humanity, as we'll as the testing
Of his divinity Born the Prince OF
Peace, he began his reign with q
struggle.
Thus was figured forth the eternal
truth that the way of God is way
of war. Rev. Charles Brown states
the principle thus: THE pure heart
comes through wrestling with prin
cipalities and powers. The pure life
is won by the man who will take tc
him the whole armor Of God. The pure
faith and church is gained by men
like Savonarola, and Luther, and the
early Separatists, who will fight cor
ruption and superstition and priest
, craft. and endure scorn and suffering
and martyrdom to right the wrong
! Justice in the commonwealth between
class and class, church and church
school and school, man and man. will
, come through men who are not afraid
{ Of strife. So let us aim after peace
that is based on the will of God-the
peace Of good conscience and al
5bedient heart 1t will come as tht
life is overhauled, cleansed, and re
formed, and it will come then II
abide"
Is There a Devil?
The devil has gone out of fashion
but not out of business. 1t is not con
sidered good modern form or gooc
~ ode fhpn1nuy 10 nor