The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-07-07
1ASATURDAY
- NIGHT
BY
j! MIluHW puRynll
THE EXTRA MILE.

go a mile go with him twain Matt
VA.
Not much choice about it. IF Roman
officer or courier wearing IS. r. @. r..
and imperial eagles above it on his
cloak said you'd have to conduct him
over an unfamiliar mile you'd have 10
CO. You might be drafted for any
service at any time at any place No
redress. When the Nazarene fell
stumbling and fainting under his cross
a rough soldiers hand was laid on the
shoulder of stranger in Jerusalem.
Simon Of Cyrene. a disinterested by
stander watching the strange process
sion going up Calvary's hill on the way
the senate aud the Roman people thou
art commissioned to bear this felon's
cross" Ugh. Carry a gibbet to the
place of torment. Ye gods. a grew
some task: But there's no choice.
Queer. BY the irony Of fate this very
Nazarene had taught that his disciples
should willingly go the requisitioned
mile and then cheerfully. unasked, go
an extra mile! Anybody. everybody.
had to go the first mile. and oft with
scowling face and muttered curse did
they do it. The first mile. therefore.
showed nothing of Christian character.
but the second free. joyous mile took
away the bitterness of the first from
the drafted recruit and left the courier
with amazed eyes He surely was q
follower of the Christi
Why Should We?
Except your righteousness exceed
the righteousness of the scribes and
Pharisees," said Jesus. The Pharisee's
mile was measured with exactness
He did what he had to. no more. He
tithed all his garden herbs and said
the required number of prayers. but no
more Too many modern Christians
measure their miles to God
Oh. these stingy Christians! They've
to learn that generosity reacts. Give
and it shall be given unto you. good
measure. pressed down. shaken to-
gether and running over" Some folks
go to church just enough to keep up
their membership. The prayer meeting
and the communion service never see
them. They know to dot the Sunday
the special coal collection will be
taken-sick headache that day! It's a
mighty hard mile for those who walk
with God through sense of duty, fear.
prudence or necessity. There is no
virtue in compulsory obedience. No
wonder some religion is irksome.
Christians are to be known in their
excess of the claims of duty. custom
or conventionality. The extra miles
are the marks of Christian.
Sublime Concession.
But that extra mile isn't practi.
cable; it isn't good working hypothesis.
The world isn't ruled by men with
velvet gloves" True enough But
we've tried the mailed fist ever since
the days Of Christ and before. 1t
isn't such glowing success either.
The armed camp Of Europe is the an
swer. Millenhium's far off as ever. The
millions and energy had better be spent
on our gigantic social wrongs. The
toiler needs that extra mile. Our
great thinkers believe society is max
ing the criminal and underdog instead
of helping him. Christian United
States returned unasked the loot in
demnity money to heather China-the
extra mile. Did it pay? You and your
workmate had words long ago. You're
a Christian; be isn't. He nodded half
recognition the other morning. You
gave chilly response. Shame! Twas
for you to make the advance. If
We salute your brethren only" says
Christ. and ''if ye love them that love
you" only, what reward have you?
Do not even the publicans the same"
Do the weak. the wounded. the erring.
make you impatient? You've done
mile! You've done your part to make
up with your friend? Yes. but it was
cold. frigid. punctilious. Throw a lit
tie warmth. affection. enthusiasm. into
It; go an extra mile and watch results.
You'll break his heart and bind him
to you with hoops of gold.
The Extra Mile.
do you mean meet a person half
way. preacher" Yes. and. more than
that. always be a little kinder than
you need be: do little more than
could be reasonably looked for Mary's
week in the kitchen. Martha's upstairs.
Say. Martha" calls Mary. "I've a
binding headache: would you kindly
dry the dishes if wash themY' Ger
tainly. grille; just you go lie down; I'll
both wash and dry them Next week
Martha calls to Mary. SISTER mine,
don't you have to meet Mr.. Eligible at
the 4:3O train?'' YES" swell. you'll
never make it. child" Il know it.
Would you mind sewing on a button
for me?' Sure | will. And Just let
me finish the parlor busting for you
while you run and get dressed" Lis
ten. brother. Is your employer very ex-
acting? Rest of the fellows do what
they're paid for-no more? Do they
leave their hammers hanging in the
air. when the whistle blows? Other