The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-06-11
Religious World
Tho international Sunday SchoO Les
son for June Is is "Christ's Wit
ness of John the Baptist" Matt.
II: 2-19.
fRv IT EVVIC
T. ELIIS.N

weeks ago. on the same platform. is
the presence Of the religious leader
ship of North America, sat DR.. Josiah
strong, DR.. Washington Gladden DR.
Walter Rauschenbusch, and Rev.
charles Stelzle. These men had been
for years as voices crying in the will
derness proclaiming the social mis-
sion Of the church of Christ. They
had been often disdained and con-
dcmncd, and even their loyalty to the
old gospel doubted. But in his great
hour they came to their own, for the
truth of their teaching was attested
alike by conservative and liberal:
and what they once proclaimed as a
singular message is today the accept
ed program of the churches of Christ
iii America. The occasion reminded
one of the vindicaton of ohm the
Baptist, which is the story of today's
sunday School lesson.
The man who goes before, the fore
runner. whose business it is to clear
the way for the master coming after,
has 10 bear the brunt Of conflict and
the shock Of opposition. John had
known the wilderness life; opposition
and condemnation had been his
share: the end of it apparently, had
been a prison. lnsidiously the temp
tation cane,-was it worth while;
had he not made a mistake? In high
rSt herOism he had dared all enmi-
ties: now he must die. We naturally
recall, in connection with the Bap-
lists story, the lines of Mrs. Char
lotte Perkins Stetson:
"a man must live We Justify
Low shift and trick and treason high.
But is it SO? Pray tell me why
Life at such cost you have to buy?
In what religion were you told
"A man must liver
There are times when d man must
Imagine, for a battle cry
From soldiers, with a sword to
hold
From soldiers, with the flag un-
rolled
The towards whine, this liars lie,
\ man must live
The Preachers Doubts.
4 pathetic picture is this Of an in
spIrer depressed. The preacher Of
truth in doubt is a tragic figure, and
yet not an one. John in
grim Macherus, on the other side Of
Jordan. the object of mighty HerOd's
vengeance, had time to brood upon
al things; and insidious questionings
haunted his mind. Partly this was
physical; a day in the open air would
have cured it. Fol- all that, it was
through which all sensitive spirits
are called to pass. Selfishness is
prompted by loneliness and hardship.
The prison conditions were calculat-
"a TO challenge Johns gertrude.
Even into the isolated dungeon OF
the BAPTIST had penetrated the news
81 the work Of Christ. The message
Of a prophet and his teaching flies
Itr and fast. Never a new exponent
OF a revised religion comes to these
shores that his fame is not heralded
on the wings of the wind. l once
asked a company of English-speakins
japanese men, in ar interior Japan
csc city, whether the name of Jesu:
was known Throughout the land, ant
they were of one opinion that every
body in Japan had heard of Christ
We talk loosely about the millions OF
heather whol have not heard o
Christ, but as a matter Of fact, at thu
present time there are comparativel,
lew to whom the name of Jesus i
not known, although they lave n
understanding Of His gospel.
What pedturbed John was the lacl
OF kingly state about the Messiah
whose advent he had heralded. TIL
full truth about Christ is create
IMAM even the preacher Of it un
derstands. 1t is wonderfully true tina
the half has never been told; evel
The messenger Of the Master does no
a~pprehend the entire import of tn
good news he bears. John was linn
lted in his understanding by the oil
Jewish notion of the MeSsiah's char
acter. Therefore he sent messenger
cNSuS u inquire IL ne Was II
truth the Coming One, or if Their
was still another to be expected.
The New Gospel.
over Sir Christopher Wren's gray
IN st. Paul's is a Latin inscriptio
meaning, IF you would see his mon
uIflent, look around" The work
the best tribute to the worker. Thu
Jesus said to Johns meSsengerS-an
We might dwell upon the fidelity
these friends of the Baptist VIII
stood by him even in his imprisoT
ment that they should behold Hi
works and bear back to their maste
Ihe news Of what their eyes say
mat is a practical way, With
every mans grasp of studying tn
genuineness Of Christianity. Thes
are they which testify of the powt
or the Redeemer-"the blind recei,
thelr sight, and the lame walk, tt