The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-10-21
) 7q|5F5E(aSGMReHEss.

cation of a state. Rebuilding is in some
ways more difficult than building. me
person who has made a wreck OF lie
! finds it a greater undertaking TO re-
make than it was to build in youth
Vision was needed to see the new
Jerusalem in these heaps of debris,
these piIcd-up pillars, these obliterated
streets A few years ago, when
walked over the smoking acres OF run
Dish that had once been san Francisco,
I marvelled at the courage and imagl-
nation of the citizens who from the
first saw a new and fairer city rising
from these ruins. So it takes the vision
that has been Spirit-anointed to see IN
every wreck of humanity the man that
may yet be; and in the weaknesses ana
offenses of the present social order
new and perfect state of society. The
faith which these old Jews possessed,
to behold a second and greater temple
in the stead of this desolatiOn, is need
ed by all spiritual builders today.
Despite their mixed emotions, their
mingled tears and psalms, the returned
exiles had the wisdom to perceive the
proper first step. Without waiting for
a building, they set up an altar. That
was an act of faith and fealty. 1t pro-
claimed their trust in God and their
allegiance to Him. And it showed that
they realized, what Christians need al
ways to remember, that it is the wor-
ship that makes the temple, and not
the temple the worship. The spirit is
more than the house. Whoever erectS
an altar in his heart, in his home, in
his life, shows a sense of proportion:
he puts first things first.
What Use Is the Church?
This whole episode-it was more
than an episode; it was an event in
Jewish history-raises the present-day
application of the place of the church
in national life. The Jewish nation was |
10 A ion a
founded upon religious convictions.
The cornerstone of this new type OF
life, which, despite the recent election.
is essentially the same on both sides OF |
the Canadian line, is sense OF the
supremacy of spiritual things. Can /
ada has taught the whole world a les
son by her zeal in planting the church
in every one of her frontier commun1-
ties: wherever the nation advances
there advances the church also the
most thoughtful people of the Domin-
ion have conviction that Christianity
is Indispensable: the church steeple IS
the first and highest of the frontier
landmarks.
A new sense of the proper functions
Of the church in a community is taking
hold of our day. The National Coun-
try Life Commission has pointed 1t out
Not only for preaching and worship,
but as centres of the social life of the
neighborhood the churches have use
W Whatever is OF general Interest, WAioe
aver makes for real neighborllness,
whatever promotes intellectual upllft,
whatever ministers to patriotism and
social betterment, is proper for the
church A return of the O1d-fash1oned
vceurn, a revival of the Oft-der1ded
.hurch supper (not for money making,
out for good fell ywship), the mainten-
ance of a local Chautauqua-aH these
are proper for the church, which is
placed in the midst of the people to
nirister to all the needs of their spirit.
n the promotion of world brotherhood
what agency so appropriate and effec-
i've as the church2
This Western world is dead opposed
O any alliance of Church and state.
rkat is a discarded notion, even IN the
linking of progressive Europeans
BUT the Church in the State-inter-
,reting all its intellectual, social, com
nerciaI and industrial processes $
most proper and necessary That IS
he modern fulfllment of the ideal OF
he Jewish exiles.
The Bagdad Synagogue.
Later we shall study the difficulties /
g these builders, and the opposition
hev met Today let US rejoice with $
hem. The laying of the foundations
f the new temple was made the occa- {
ks