The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-25
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

F~7ROP into the local room OF
IT'D - III any large newspaper attel
the copy is all in, and it viii
be easy to hear h1ppani
g47l discussion by the young re-
porters concerning the out
of-dateness of religion Splicing tnelI
talk with considerable profanity, these
Young men will demonstrate how Such
modern and wise men of the world as
themselves are quite superior 10 tnat
outgrowu thing called Chr1stlanlty
Then go down stairs to where the eCl-
toriaI writer's have their offices, along
with the men who control the desti-
MES of the paper. Probably no pro-
family will be heard, and surprising
proportion of the men Will De Iouho
to be members of the church ana oc-
casionaIy speakers at religious con-
ventions- The parallel Is s1gn1hcant'
but its principal point is that a little
knowledge of life tends to 1rreNerencS'
whereas a broader grasp of human ma
ture and human history makes men
religious. The reporters will have OUT
grown their frivolous attitude TOWARD
the sublimities by the time they nave
graduated into editorial offices.
In like fashion, one may ma the
clerks In the departments at WASH
ington, Ottawa and London, quick with
clever sneers and gibes at rellslon' ;
but presidents, premiers, caolnet ON
GERS. and other leading statesmen may
be found during their hours or ease,
reading the books of religion ana
philosophy. The inventor of the Cat
ling gun, DR.. Calling, once SAID 70
me when our conversation chanced 70
fall upon his friend, Mr. Ingersoll, that
he thought Mr. Ingerson was very
able man and a very clever man. but
bv no means a truly great man, LOT
every great man is possesseo o. I5
spirit of reverence May we not auu
that the greatness of the great con-
sists in the recognition of the greater?
The coronation of King George was
religious function
orr present lesson takes US into an
oriental palace. We find one of the
confidential servants of the great
king man with constant access 10
the royal presence, forgetting MS prize
and privileges and bowling low IN
prayer to the Lord of Hosts Ola
Shushan. that scene of royal pomp,
never witnessed a nob1er spectacle
than Nehemiah's prayerful concern
for the welfare OF Jerusalem Meme
mfah was higher when he bent upon
his knees than when he stood before
the conquering Xerxes-
Religion and Affairs.
There is a suspicion widely preva-
lent that the writers of religious lit
arat,,re do not know real life. They
zen fnsn artificial atmosphere of
Diety. They meet only their own KIND.
like some preachers, they are out or
touch with men in the everydayness
Of life. where men meet as men, ana
religious talk and teaching is oIten
perfunctory and professional cannot De
denied. Some of the STANDARDS they
hold up will not endure the fresh air
and the sunlight
religion is for real men and for strong
men for the statesman at the capltai
and for the farmer at the ploW. Inal
is one of the attestations OF the pres pres
emit time. The Men and Religion
Movement, which is covering the couh-
try the rapid spread of the Brotner-
hood idea, the astonishing growth OF
adult Bible classes, the popuIarity u
the Iavmen's Missionary Movement,
the Imposing parades Of the Holy
Name society. all testify that Meme
miah. the religious man OF attairs' mas
many successors, and that the man
who is out in the busy world Is also
often apart in the closet or private
devotion. The recent death Of a splen-
did southern gentleman Justice Har-
Ian of the United States supreme
conrt recalls the fact that many OF
tte abIest j11rfsts in our land are con-
spicuouslv active in church work.
News From Home.
One evening my raft on the T1gris |
river tied up at Mosul, opposite the |
ruins of old Ninevah, and reputed TO |
be the most inaccessible city In the
Turkish empire. Early next morning |
7 had a visit from man who said |
that he had seen the American flag |
flying above my tent, ana ne na0
made haste to come and speak with |
me because he also was an American. |
He was the only American within a |
radius of hundreds of miles, and it |
seemed good to see the old nag once |
more. and to be able to have speech |
with a fellow American. Throughout |
my sojourn at Mosul he was at my /
service, showing me many and varied
courtesies, all because I was man
from home.
tered boyhood friend from the old |
home back in the country town, can
have the ear of the public man in his
private Office, while men OF afrairs cool
heir heels in the outer office Who l
has not seen a busy city man reading
the little home paper with more inter-
EST than he bestows upon any or the |
journals? In all this we
4 kings court who suddenly came up
On two men from Jerusalem. Forgot
ten were the pending affairs of state
and the latest court gossip. The city
Of Mount Zion, the nome OF every true
Jews heart, might be lying in ruins,
but it meant more to Nehemiah than
al the splendid palaces of Shushan-
Reform That Hurt Business
Thirteen years had elapsed since
Ezra's return. His drastic reforms,
while for the ultimate good of the re-
turned Jews. had created an assort-
nent of bitter enemies. He had COM
oelled the men to put away their
oathen wives. and each wife had re-
.urned to her home and to her tribe
% fOment feud. Reform does inter-
ere with business, especially with bad
business. Yet he has scant devotion
@ principle who will countenance
wrong for the sake of temporary and
emporal benefit. No more shameful
lefense of the liquor traffic. for in
;tance. has been offered than the one
hat ii brings in a revenue to the
tate; the Implication being that he
ingle of this gold in the public Golfers
crowns all sound of widows weeping,
md children's suffering. and strong
ems dalirium. and prisoners re-