The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-12


1S-year-old boy who is now a student
in the United States. What do you
suppose is the special reason for her
anxiety? That the boy is having. too
hard time? That he may secure
profitable employment? That life may
be easier for him than it is fer her
and his father in their lonely. over
taxed existence in the Orient? Far
from it. This mother is distressed be-
cause her -on, a talented boy, mas been
offered a position at 500 month in
New York City, that may open up to
him a career of distinction and pros
peFity in this land; so that he may be
weaned away from his present faith,
and from his resolution to follow in
his fathers footsteps as a missionary.
Is not that a solicitude breathing the
very spirit of Jesus? The mother
wants the best for her son; and she
has proved that the best is not worldly
prosperity, but steadfast loyalty to
Gods highest call.
The parents who are anxiously
teaching their children to get on"
instead of inspiring them to rise up.
should con carefully this part of the
Sermon on the Mount. North Amer
lea does not really need a single addi-
tional rich man; it can spare num-
Der of those it now has; but it does
sorely need more men and women in
whose hearts the ideals of Jesus are
supreme. The leaven that will save
who put Christ first.
The Bread and Butter Question.
The high cost of living has forged to
the fore as the days liveliest question.
Important as it is. we must admit that
the high cost of living IS of less con-
Germ than the low grade of life We
are hearing too infrequently just now
the battle cry of intellectual progress
Thigh thinking and plain living"
High living and plain thinking is more
of Sh0IIl6
straighten out our economic tangles;
but it may be submitted that these are
Of infinitely less Importance than the
elevation of popular ideals Once per-
an immediate consequence would be
brave, wise dealing with these "prac-
tical' questions
There was the soundest judgment in
the eXhortation of Jesus to seek the
first kindom of God. That way comes
all true prosperity. a mans Bible class
recently discussed whether man
dare. in these material times. sacrifice
his job for convictions sake, especial
ly when he has a family dependent
upon him. The Judgment of this large
company of men of affairs was that it
is really the highest form of business
sagacity for a man to be true to his
ideals. The very demonstration and
acquisition of moral fibre which such
an action requires increases a mans
leagues one with the sublimest forces
of history, of heaven and of earth.
The earnest verdict of these world
wise men favored the dictum of Jesus,
that "all these things" would be add
ed to the person who seeks first the
kingdom of Righteousness of God. All
the resources of the eternal, on earth
and in heaven, are pledged to the sup
port of such a one.
That is the elemental bedrock faith.
Simple trust in God is the best possess
sion. It never fails. The evil man may
seem to flourish like the green bay tree
but his prosperity is not permanent,
and it is probably at present more ap-
courageous enouPt to withdraw from
the worlds complex allegiances, and
to substitute one central supreme sub
mission and motive. is sure to be hap
Piest and to accomplish the most. Child
like trust in God, and manlike disre-
gard for the trivial and temporal ex-
actions of an artificial society, will
solve all problems. 1t will not demand
of God daily accounting of all his
ways: for he works from the stand
point of eternity.
Such a faith will not be anxious about
anything. 1t will take time to CON
sider'' the lilies, the birds, the fields,
the stars. 1t will "be in league with
the stones of the field" And it will
possess a serenity of face and heart
which not all the beauty doctors and
masseurs in New York can impart, 1t
will sweetly live for the things worth
while, in the strength of Him whose
cmniscient preaching is accompanied
by His omnipotent power.