Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-12-14


the Sso-called resubmission move
ment. believe 1t is merely a scheme
to influence other states where the
battle is on, to make them believe
tlat Kansas has tired Of prohibition"
Nevertheless, the friends Of the law
do not intend to relax their vigilance
nor treat with levity such warnings
as that OF another of our leaders,
who writes: II believe the 'resub-
mission movement means business.
/ have no doubt that the fight for
life of prohibition in Kansas viii!
soon be on"
The influence Of the church In
contemporary movements for the
moralizing of politics would afford
much matter for study and nowhere
more than in Kansas. The progress
give" movement, not In partisan and
personal phases, but in broader and
deeper relations, seems to derive VI
tality from the determination OF
God-fearing men that right must be
done in public affairs. II is not
merely that such men as Bristow
asd Hoch, both Methodists, and 9TH
ers like them are the leaders, but
more. that hosts of active, purpose
full churchmen are their followers
Says Governor Hoch: "All real re-
forms root in the church, and the
church In this state has been the
chief power behind the throne In
every movement for governmental
bettermen. You will pardon me Tor
saying that the church in the west
is much more aggressive than the
church in the east for civic right
eousness. spent most of last wis
ter in the east and believe this 1udg-
ment is we'll founded"
Kansas Methodism is characterized
by large vision and intelligent zeal
We have four great conferences, Ten
years ago their membership was
about $4,000, now $4,000. Then
their gifts to missions. home anc
foreign, were about $4,000; now
over S12S,OOO. Where has Meth
odism done better?
Experience in Kansas may throw
light on a great problem of Christian
education. Shall the church concen'
trate it's strength In few great uni
versities, or shall it diffuse its In
fluence through many colleges? Our
three fine colleges in this state seem
somewhat to justify the latter policy
Does not the familiar college neal
home draw to itself hundreds VINO
would not feel the pull of the grea'
university far away? So 1t seems
in Kansas. Old Baker" now il
its second half4century With the dig
nifty Of age and the liveliness Of
youth, confides in a great future un'
der the new presidency of DR.. Ma
son. Kassas Wesleyan, with its un'
excelled school of commerce" mas
not failed in unfolding the cultural
and Christian ideals, and now re-
ports the astonishing enrolment Of
1.272 students. South Western
College has earned the following
superlative praise from Chancellor
BuchteI of Denver University: y
was present at the South Western
College commencement. There were
twenty-six in the class for the A. b
degree, eighteen men and eight wo
men. Seven are to serve the churcf
as ministers and three as missionar
les" We trust 1t is no vain fancy
to hail these schools as the future
Harvard, Yale and Princeton of thu
prairies.
Herein is the greatness OF Kansas
its central position on the contin
emit, its strategic relation to nationa
history, its middle-class and Ameri
can population and its singular com
b,nation of the New England con
science with the western enter
prise. In closing this letter l ven
ture to repreat and subscribe to Sen
ator Bristow's recent assertion tina
the people of Kansas have wrough
out the highest moral civilization II
! the world.