The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-01
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spheres. The powerful labor move
ment should be captured by religion.
The rapidly growing movement to-
ward Socialism awaits the control and
direction of Christianity. The daily
newspaper press, the most potential
agency of the times, offers a sphere
of influence to which religion has been
singularly blind. A more broad-mind-
ed policy of religious administration
would endeavor to exercise it's in
huence over the school teachers of the
continent and, in another direction,
over the men who are the scouts of
Observation-Disclosures sailors, SOL
diers and business representatives.
While the church is tenderly cherish
ing some archaic institutions, whose
present usefulness consists chiefly in
furnishing a livelihood to pious incom-
opportunities. Unquestionably, the
church is not as contemporaneous in
her organization and institutions as in
her teachings. And deal of this
Conservatism" is called by another
name when exhibited by such as the
ten spies who reported to Moses.
Dread always is defeated. Coward
Ice conquers nothing. A heart of fear
is life's worst evil. There are giants
on every hand for the person who is
afraid. The temperamentally timid
are never trustworthy. Those ten
spies were majority; but 1t was a
majority of towards. The great adj
vances made by society are usually
when some man helplessly in the mi
nority, like Columbus, is scornfully
given his way. Truth is generally in
the minority, until it becomes safe
and commonplace. The man to fol-
low is the daring, high hearted man
who in loneliness is brave enough to
follow God.
Joshua called his people back to
first things. He compelled them to
face decision. He recalled them to
the ultimate spiritual verities, which
have been aptly condensed into mod
ern phrase, Get right with God"
The sacred man sees double Caleb
and Joshua had more than the facts.
They had confidence in themselves.
They had confidence in the company
of Israelites whom they represented.
They had confidence in Jehovah, their
supernatural leader. Therefore they
argued for an immediate entrance into
not afraid of a fight. To them land
won without an effort was not prize
to be coveted.
There is no vital need that one
should be in the fashion; there is no
greater need that one should be one
self.
The reason why Joshua was conf
dent was that he had the assurance,
LAS was with Moses, so will I be with
thee; I will not fail thee nor forsake
thee" This sense of partnership with
God is what makes the weakest strong.
1t is confidence and power. For in
this firm the Silent Partner pledges
his all to stand behind the acts of his
associates.
Even God can not do much with a
weak and fearful man.
A great soldier must know his Gen
eral Orders" So Joshua was instruct
ed, This book of the law shall not
depart out of thy mouth. but thou
shalt mediate therein day and night;
for then shalt thou make thy way
prosperous, and then thou shall have
good success" Amid the days maxims
on success" this deserves a first place
as being of overmastering Importance.
Walk Gods way and work Gods way,
and failure is impossible.
A good life rule is. when undecided,
do the more courageous thing.
Great experiences are Christening.
In the hour of his accession to leader
ship Joshua doubtless perceived his
own limitations most clearly. Else
there would not have been need for
God to hearten him repeatedly. Who
ever undertakes big task, or gets a
large conception of life, is bound to
feel chastened and inadquate.
The CanaanS of the heart are con-
quered by fearlessness.
Today IS their of all the ages"
Joshua succeeded Moses, his arm
strengthened by all of the power of
Moses, and his work advanced by all
of the latter's achievements. There is
scant room for vanity in the life which
recalls that it stands on the shoulders
of all who have gone before. Each of
us is himself-plus all predecessors. We
live in houses that other men had
built, and do a work which other men
began. So let us be humble.
1t is everybody's business in the
world to express his own Individual
ity, to live his own life, to make his
own definite contribution to his time;
in a word, to be a personality From
the thin ranks of the personalities
God has to select all his leaders of
men, even as he shose Joshua from
Some cities and neighborhoods and
nations are VIGOROUSLY craven. They
never assert themselves or defend
themselves; ever they fall a prey to
the strong. it's own history of defeat
fought against Jericho, just as a sense
of conquest fought with Joshua
NEWS AND NOTES.