The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-20
CBY WILLIAM t. ELLIs.)

where dust ana SOIL hau gathered
tiny green snoot soon appeared. Tins
glew into a sapling; the sapnng grew
INTO Tree; anu, 10, Sueh was the
power oil the nVlng thing, tnat the
mighty rock was sunGere0- 1nere are
SeSuS OF new lucas SlrOutlng IN oar
time in the cracked rocks oI ancient
customs and conservausms. Because
the SEEDS seem Mite, toonSh men nave
dlSreSarded them. ii there is any
lesson in the DAYS newspaper, or III
this old story OF the mustard SEED, as
told by Jesus, it ~ that what is de-
splsed TO-DAY may be mighty tomor-
row.
While we study the parable of the
insignificant little seed that became
a great plant, let US give a glance in
passing TO the amazing folly OF or
ganized Christianity, which mas ever
shown itself strangely blind TO the
tendencies of its own times, and when
has been at no pains to guide the
shaping forces of life. Such potent
agencies as the Sunday school and the
Young Peoples Society have mad 10
come to their greatness of power DC
fore ever the organized churches real
lied their potentlalities. VINO, among
all the leaders of Christendom, WoLld
think it the business of the church 10
encourage choice young men to go INTO
journalism, not for purposes OF re
ligiouS propaganda, but for purposes
OF human service and kingdom minis
try? So, too, young men and young
women become ISdCnSIS OIL lIlS SOoiIS
without ever an inspiring or guiding
word from their religious leaders.
Who gives heed to the men VINO draw
the pictures of the periodical press
which so affect the thinking OF the
masses? Has any ecclesiastical as
senblv ever devoted five minutes 10
consideration of the power of the sons
writer, or even of the men VINO oe-
termine the character OF naIlon
humor? I know little woman VINO
writes hundreds of Sunday school
songs, sung by the very little children
songs that make an abiding impress
sion upon the plastic mind OF youth
/ doubt. though, if she has ever had a
word of praise or encouragement or
suggestion from any Christian leader
of our time. The truth is the churches
are culpably derelict in undertaking
and ignoring the forces which fix the
ideals of our day. The seeds and sap
lings that are to become the trees OF
tomorrow might be better for a little
tending.
All the great forces grow silently.
There is less power in a noisy crowd
than there is in the retired thinker
in his study. The philosopher, the
inventor, the scientist, working apart
from man, unheeded and unappra1Sed
by even his nearest ne1ghbors' may
be setting into motion forces which |
will profoundly affect the life of to-
All about us the mustard
seed parable is being enacted: Let
Us learn its lesson, and not oesplse
the day of small things
Patience With the Seed.
Nobody has such faith as the
farmer He spends winter, spring
and most of the summer in preparing
for his harvest. With seed in the
ground, he simply waits, working, 1t
IS true, while he waits. The seed
forth good fruit. Nevertheless, the
farmer is an incurable optimist. He
expects a harvest, although he recog-
nizes that it takes a miracle of ma
lure to produce it every year.
In religion, too, something of the
same patience with the seed is need
ed. The Christian church has un-
1ertaken to raise a worldwide har-
vest. AS yet, the seed is only ger
minating in the ground in many
been a wonderful sowing of Christian
truth, but the full harvest is not yet.
All over that wonderful land an OBJ
server may see the mustard seed of
ruth sprouting, and he has faith
hat the day is to come when that
great tree, whose leaves shall be for
he healing of the nations, will result.
But patience is needed.
Here is an article of every Chris
.ian's creed that should permeate all
his thinking; whether we watch 1t or
not, whether we understand it or not,
he kingdom of heaven is growing and
coming. In ways beyond our ken,
md by agencies that are past human
grasp, that kingdom, which means
mans weaI-as we'll as Gods glory,
s steadily rising toward its fullness
IF dominion. Il
The Time That Tests.
1t is good for a mans soul to be on
friendly terms with a garden. From
I'D Jerusalem brought some seeds Of
ooppies, grown in the Garden of the
III Il I
seemed incredible that out of them
should ever grow great and beautiful
lowers I have planted them and now
am watching for the growth. At the
present stage 1 cannot tell what are ;
weeds and what are peoples: both are
together. My only course is to /;
wait. The end will prove the peoples. s
Il thus we are necessarily patient with
natural forces, why not be equally
patient with spiritual forces? The
by the poet:
Flower in the crannied wall,
pluck you out of the crannies,
Hold you here, root and all, in my hand
little f1ower:-but if 1 could understand
What you are root and all, and all in Ill
should know what God and man isl
AS we wait and watch for the COM {
ng of the kingdom, even as for the
nonished not to get excited. Flowers
viii vindicate our waiting. The mustard
iced will become a tree that will shelter
birds The kingdom of heaven will in
,reasingly exercise its benign minis
ries upon the people. It's ultimate tri-
,mph is sure. Our faith in all seed
,rould enhance our faith in the seed
4 hich is the Wor1.
Some Kingdom BIunders.
There are three classes of people
rho especially need the teaching of
his parable of the mustard seed, for
hey are laundering in the matter OF
he kingdoms coming.
First there is the kingdom-to-come-
n-a-hurry crowd. They are sure that
he millennium will dawn tomorrow