The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-15

during the past quarter of a century
Those who have had opportunity to
observe have seen 1t in the thick or
the fight for good government, ana
loftier public ideals. 1t does look as
if a good king Joash-if one may so
personify a spirit or a trend-has
come to the throne in cur day. Let
us remember the agencies that have
made him ready.
Where the King Was Crowned.
There is a great truth for the times
in the fact that Joash was kept ana
crowned in the temple. For more
than six months past have been
ranging over Europe and Asia, study
ing nations. and the drift of human
life and l am ready to testify that tne
supreme factor today in the afralrs OF
governments is the religious life OF the
people Writing as I am. in the midst
of the wastes of MesoDOtamia. l can
not escape the conviction that this des-
olation mirrors Asian. The ignorant
fatalism which says I'm 'sh Allan, :
God wills it-when it ought to be up
and doing, has made a desert of what
was once the Garden of Eden. The
more alert Turks themselves perceive
this truth which the western Worlo
needs to learn, emphasize atresh, thaI
it is religion which makes the supreme
difference between the East and the
West A few days ago man called
At NV tent outside the wall of the
most inaccessible city in Turkey, at
tracted by the American flag flying
over it. and told me that he was a
naturalized American, recently re-
turned to his native city for soJourn-
He was born on this spot. and his fam
iIy still lived there, yet because he
was a Christian American he was no
more like the people of the city than
a total stranger His Christianity mao
sent him to America, where the great
,rl,A
him back to serve the land of his ma
tivity.
While some persons, eager to be
liberal and abreast of the spirit OF the
times, are for eliminating rengloh
from all public institutions, and for
barring the book which made the ma
ton from the schools, the wiser pat
riots, with deeper insight, perceive that
King Joash must be trained and
crowned in the temple. and they would
give added stress to the religious nur-
ture of the child. This is one explain
alton of the increased vogue of the
Sunday school. 1t has also set some
parents to thinking about the import
ance of the family altar, and habits
of church-g going for their children.
Growing the New King.
That was real craftsmanship which
the party of Joash practiced in effect
ing their coup by browning the new
Z
bellion against Athaliah, and had fight
ing and bloodshed and confused is
sues. But they knew that the best way
to drive out the bad is to crowd in the
good that the wicked and usurping
queen could best be dethroned by the
| enforcement of him whose right 1t
was to rule. Here is a hint for the
parents who are forever saying don't
| to children: try the better way and
| crown Joash.
There is a noble man in New Eng
| land, whose name may be seen at
tached to fire work in the best mag
azines, who has a passion for helping
! boys. Much, if not most, of his time,
out of the hours at his desk, is given
to organizing and inspiring boys. De-
spite the unusually good work he has
| done in the big world, it is quite like
| w that his greatest achievement in life
! is what he has done in the way OF
character making for host of boys
Is there not a hint here for many g
man who wants a career? What bet
ter one is possible, even from the
standpoint of patriotism alone, thar
| this one of training Joashes? The
Boy Scouts and the Junior Brother
hoods depend. for their success upor
competent men leaders. And, abso
lutely and beyond any question, the
future of the nation depends upon how
it's kings are now being trained.