The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-04

Lessons from Great Lives: al
John" John 21:20-25.
BY WILLIAM T ELLIS.
One of the American reviews recent
| ly quotes a British discussion of the
question whether or not a Christian
may accept the new science of eugen-
! les. Apparently there have been Sc
rious debates on the subject. Eugen-
ics or the science of better birth and
1 the consequent betteEment Of the hu-
man breed, may be an interesting fad
for persons who like high-soundfng
novelties; but it does seem as II the
disciples of Jesus Christ should be too
busy about their vital work to go IN for
such profitless discussion. It would
| accord more with common sense, and
the Bibles teaching, If these men
would take advantage of a mild gen
eral interest in scientific eugenfcE, to
drive home the message of the highest
eugenics. the truth of the new birth
That is a philosophy which has been
I proved The truly high-born are they
who have been born from on high The
race is to be improved not by reducing
the mysterious sanctties OF love and
marriage to the status of prize cattle,
| but by the transforming grace or COO
/ in the hearts of individual men. women
and children The person IS stupid be-
yond belief who has not seen this mir
acle transcending all scientific eugen-
[ les, of a bad man made good, a coarse
turned into the paths of true culture,
! by the entrance Of Jesus Christ into
his heart. From the beginning of his
life on earth, down to this present mo-
ment, Jesus has been working this
wonder, which passes the comprehen-
sion OF scientists. He did it with John,
one of the "sons Of thunder" whom he
transformed into a gentle, spiritual
and mystical leader of men,
John was a fisherman. q son of the
open air and the hills A great friend
ship, a great allegiance, a great pas
sion entered into his life. and he be-
came a great thinker and a great
man. plus Christ, often spells great
ness.
The gospel that sweetened the Bit
terness of John, the ''son of thunder -
is the one sure hope of making over
into wholesomeness our present-day
society.
for his future, and for the future of
his brother James, fell far below the
purposes Of the Master. It is ever so.
The best of all success for any life is
to come into accord with the will of
God. There is proved truth in the line
of the hymn,
ITO do the viii of Jesus-that is best"
A great example and a great in
spiration are character shaping forces.
John had both In his new leader.
Jesus.
once Jesus told his band that only
to those nearest to him was it given
to know the secrets of his mind. Near
ness promotes understanding The
closest friends of Christ know him
best John was the favorite disciple,
and he it is who gives US the deepest,
most intimate vision of the heart of
the Master.
Everybody has something Of the
chameleon in him. We take our color
from our environment Association
with refined persons promotes refine
ment- To keep close company with
vulgar persons tends to yuIgarIty Life
in a musical atmosphere promotes a
knowledge of music. And to walk with
Jesus Christ, as John walked with him, |
is to become Christlfke. even as John |
became Chrfstlike.
There is a beautiful poem byt
Frances Eastwood, called st John |
the Aged" which pictures amid his
friends at Ephesus the apostle who !
began youngest to follow Jesus. and |
who lived longest There is room for
only three fragments from it:
I'm growing very old This weary
head
That hath SO often leaned on Jesus
breast,
In days long past that seem almost a
Is bent and hoary with its weight of |
These limbs that followed him. my
Master, oft
From GaIiIee to Judah: yea, that stood !
Beneath the cross and trembled with |
his groans,
No longer bear me even through the /
streets
To preach unto my children. Fen my
lips
Refuse to form the words my heart
sends forth.
My ears are DUH; they scarcely hear
OF my dear Children gathered round
my couch;
Ny eyes so dim. they can not see their
tears.
God lays his hand upon me-yea, his
And not his rod-the gentle hand
that
Felt, those three years. so often pressed
in mine,
In friendship such as passed q woman's
love
$50, raise up my head
How dark it is! / can not seem to see I
That murnurs SO, or IS it weeping?
Hush!
NY little chndrent God so loved the
world
He gave his Son; SO love ye one an
other;
Love God and man. Amen. Now bear
me back,
Ny legacy into an angry world is this.
I feel my work is finished. Are the
streets so full?
holy JohnT
Nay. write me rather Jesus Chrfst's
beloved
And lover OF my children