The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-29


tie with sin.
While this age can scarcely imagine
the conditions obtaining in josiah
time, it may be more easily under
stood in the land where this history
4 was made and written. The liter
AIRY possessions of the region east of
the Jordan, ana all through the
Arabian Peninsula, are almost negli-
gible. One may meet whole villages
or tribes without a book. The Mos
! lens of Kurdistan, and tee regions "
ing along the Tigris. are illiterate to
an almost incredible degree. Such
was the condition obtaining in Europe
in the Middle Ages. Martin Luther
was twenty years old before he ever
saw a Bible
Now one of the hopeful Characters
tics of our modern educational life is
the prevalence of Bible study The
college Young Mems and Women's
Christian associations have done
ton OF Bible study. There is not
an educational institution of any
standing which does not have many
of these voluntary Bibl- classes, and
the old indictment againLt the average
students knowledge OF the Bible
should no longer hold good. The
unique characteristic of this book is
that it has power to change the lives
of men. 1t grips consciences. 1t
makes bad men good, weak men
strong, ignorant men Wis. Selfish
men are set to pursuing lives of un-
selfshness indo1ent men become dill
gent in welldoing. No other book so
takes hold of human lives and makes
them over; no other book so touches
the very springs of character.
First the Book, Then the Deed.
| King Josiah did not find the Book
of Law merely to deposit 1t in a royal
museum. He found out what mes
sage it had for him and his nation.
Then he called a solemn conclaye of
the leaders of the people and resolved
upon the practical measures to be
adopted. There is always something
to do after reading tn, Bible. The
iresult was a great assembly of the
people was called at the temple, and
the Book was read in their hearing
The dramatic discovery of this lost
book was rehearsed, and the peoples
hearts were stirred to self-examina-
ton.
Then, in royal state and with royal
purpose, King Josiah himself stood up
and made solemn covenant to obey
the words of the book. He pledged
himself to this as his life work The
most sacred words he could use were
taken upon his lips, as he made this
VOW for himself and for tie nation.
1t was a sort of Christian Endeavor
conservation meeting. The pledge led
to performance. Whenever anybody
results are bound to follow. And the
record full of meaning for the life
of presentday nations and individuals,
concludes with the words And Josiah
took away all the abomil atoms out of
n all the countries that pertained to the
Children of Israel, and made all that
3 were found in Israel to serve, even to
serve the Lord their God. All his
: days they departed not firm following
. the Lord. the God of their fathers"
"From India's Coral Strands
Terse Comments for July 80: "a
Missionary Journey Around the
. World: VII Missions in Burma
and India" Acts 17:16-31.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
It is but little more than one hum
bred years ago that Indias pioneer
I missionary sailed from England to en-
ter upon his life work in that country.
Discouraged by public sentiment in
that country, England, tie missionary
! enterprise in India was slow in unfold
ing but the advent of missionaries in
that country marks the actual begin
ming of the great Protestant mission
airy movements of modern times.
The name of the first English mis-
, sionary in India William Carey,
stands foremont in the annals of
missionary achievement.
5 For every man, woman and child
: on the great North Anr erican con-
tinent there are three in the smaller
t land of India.
: Multiform Hinduism. with its mil
= lion deities and it's blight of caste.
: is the principal faith of India. Then
come Mohammedanism, Christianity.
zoroastrianism or fire worship, and
various smaller sects.
The people of India IKE those of
Athens. are too religious" as Paul
said. The whole life of the nation is
impregnated with the religious idea,
with the religious practices and relig-
ious beliefs, to a degree nowhere else
to be paralleled. Yet lover level of
immortality and degradation is reached
/, in connection with the religious rites
of India than 1 have been able to dis
cover anywhere else in the world.
All of Indias needs are comprehend
ed within her need of the new life
! which is in Christ Jesus.
India has throughout her history
been the scene of religious conflict.
+ One faith has succeeded another. Bud
dhism has been crowded out into the
fringes of the country, making its
last stand in CeylOn. Now the greatest
, struggle of all, the final one, is on,
; with Christianity arraysd against all
non Christian faiths. The progress of
the battle is increasingly dramatic; the
: issue will mean not only the redemp-
: ton from ignorance, superstition and
, misery of one-hfth OF the human race
but it will also mark the conquest of
the greatest stronghold of heathen-
DOM
Everything that India is today ask
ing. the United States and Canada
: have, thanks to a Christian heritage