Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-05

Smith. Thomas, South Dakota, Daniel
hand on the head of a child. He Is the
teacher who has set the child IN the
midst
Nowadays it is as certain as the
stars in their course. that every child's
right to be we'll born, well fed, well
taught, and to enjoy care-free youth,
is becoming the supreme concern or
society. These privileges are today be-
ing regarded as the right and heritage
of every baby. The evils OF child labor
Of tenement life. of ignorant rearing
and ill-nurtured infancy, will ere many
decades be only hideous memory
The spirit of Jesus is warning against
them. The mind of Christ, as set forth
in this present lesson, Is becoming the
common mind of man. g.
What is Normal Success?
In the light of the strong words or
Jesus, many Of us are called upon to
revise our ideas Of success. Is the
woman who wears the most diamonds
and the best dresses, and attends the
most brilliant functions and has her
name oftenest in the society columns,
the really successful woman? Are
we to court as having pre- eminently
achieved that man who has the largest
bank account is director in most cor
porations, belongs to the best clubs,
drives the handsomest automobiles,
and is talked about oftenest In the
papers? Specifically, that Is the way
the world has been thinking. 1t Is time
for us to have serious session with
ourselves upon this subject.
The truth, which becomes clear to
any thoughtful mind, although Jesus
has thrown the most light upon it, is
that normal success for the average
man or woman Is to give a large part
of his or her mature life to the rearing
OF sons and daughters This Is the
greatest privilege and honor that God
ever gives to mortal More than that,
the highest enjoyment to be had In all
the world is to be found in the family.
The joys that taste sweetest and last
longest are fireside joys. A family OF
boys and girls is more pleasure than a
stable full of fast horses and fine au-
tomobiles. To have ones name on the
loving lips of sons and daughters Is
better worth while than to have ones
name In the papers. They who may,
and do not, know the privilege of liv
ing for children. will eventually,
through long and lonely years, taste
the ashes Of repentance. Jesus made
the service of the little ones the form
Of life. When we get confused in our
thinking concerning success, 1t Is well
to remember that ''Inasmuch as We
have done it unto one of the least Of
these my children. We have done it to
me"
. The Child Standard.
Not childishness. but childlikeness,
is counted the mark Of the mature
soul. Jesus makes the spirit of the
child the test Of citizenship in his
kingdom. We know, dimly, that the
greatest are the simplest. Why not
49, - ~I-,,r ,sr,,a
and sophiStication? Let us get back the
sincere, direct and wholesome life which
characterizes childhood. Lest this seem
an overstatement, let me quote the
mighty words of Jesus, which are the
heart Of this lesson:
in that hour came the disciples
unto Jesus, saying, Who then is great
est in the kingdom of heaven? And he
called to him q little child and set him
in the midst Of them, and said, Verify
l say unto you, except you turn, and
become as little children, We shall in
no wise enter into the kingdom OF
heaven. Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little child, the
same is greatest in the kingdom Of
heaven. And whose shall receive one
such little child in my name receiveth
me: but whose shall cause one Of
these little ones that believe on me to
stumble, it is profitable for him that
great milestone should be hanged about
his neck. and that he should be sunk
in the depth Of the sea. See that
We despise not one Of these little ones;
for say unto you, that in heaven
their angels do always behold the face
of nv father who is in heaven.
Even SO 1t is not the will of your faith
er who is in heaven that one of these
little ones should perish"
The Test Of Our Time.
In part, at least, these standards Of
Christ are becoming the standards Of
our world. This is the most wholesome
and optimistic truth that can be re-
corded concerning our time. Even in
graft-ridden communities, school
boards are commonly free from pol
itics. The amazing educational pro-
gress Of the United States and Canada
is the highest tribute to our civiliza-
ton. The playground idea Is sweeping
over the continent. Much of the best
art Of our day Is devoted to books for
children. Great stories and depart
ments exist for the ministry of chill
dren alone. Even as the wise men
brought gifts to lay at the feet Of the
Bethlehem Babe, SO at the feet of the
children Of today civilization is offer
ing its choicest and richest tribute.
The child is the apex of our civiliza-
ton.
In this respect the church is follow
ing her master There is no department
Of organized Christianity which is in
creasing in efficiency SO rapidly as the
Sunday school. 1t is not only growing