The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-07-16
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


Civilization is captive following
the car of the conquering Christ. Stop
and think what it means to the king
dom of heaven that so many kingdoms
of earth and sea and air and body and
mind have been brought into subjec-
ton by modern science. Consider, for
instance, how the whole business of
missions has been expedited by the
steamship, railroad, cable and print
ing press. Figure out how the tele-
phone alone helps the work of one
church in a single week. Count the
degree of efficiency that has been add
ed to the individual Christian worker
by the invention of shorthand and the
typewriter. Or, as our topic naturally
leads us to do, dwell upon the place of
the International Postal Union in the
progress of the cause for which proph-
cts prayed. Here is message OF
Christian truth: let us take even so
simple a one as I am now writing. If
1 devoted the remaining generation of
my life which the tables give wholly
to promulgating this one thought 1
could not hope to reach over a thou
sand different persons week by word
of mouth. Engrossed in the one task,
it would take thirty-three years of in
cessant labor averaging an audience of
one thousand separate individuals
week IN order to reach one million
one hundred and sixteen thousand per-
sons. Thanks to the fact that this is
the twentieth century, the printing
press and postoff1ce will unite to carry
this little article to more than twice
that number of readers within a single
week The illustration reveals the way
in which the world has prepared high
ways for the progress of all the mes
sengers of the King of kings.
The postman is the servant of BUSH
ness; but as he hastens all over the
earth he bears also words of love and
cheer and instruction and inspiration
and friendliness. He is the weaver
who knits the remote edges of the
fabric of civilization together.
Consider the hungry eyes that daily
watch for the postman-looking many
of them for letters which never ar
rive. To remote, empty lives, single
missive means the opening of win
dow into larger world. Why not let
that world appear at it's best, by writ
ing, to the loneliest person you know,
a greeting of friendliness. cheer and
good news of the coming kingdom
Tell the best you know about your
friend, yourself and the world. 1t is
true Christian ministry to lift up the
cast down spirits that can be reached
| only by mail.
Letters may say more than spoken
words. Sometimes persons who never
| let their heart find it's way to their
| lips do not hesitate to spread it out
| on paper. II is OFTEN easy TO write
the personal word of religion when it
is not possible to express it vocally
| At various times there have been
formed leagues of Christian letter
writer's, but this is mission which
most people can fulfill without join
| ing an organization or taking any
pledge. Why not sit down right now
and do it?
Because some of the early friends of
Jesus were moved to write letters
/ about loftiest themes, the world has
| the sublime body of literature which
makes up most of the New Testament
canon.
Every sincere letter of coincidence
and congratulation may be Christian
use of the art of letter writing
| 1t has been my fortune to be in sew
eral American homes in Asia when the
mail from the home land came in
| What disappointments there were
when the newspaper and circulars
were unaccompanied by any personal
] lettersl Even honored and busy mis-