The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-06
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.o

Nb4 w LILLIAN L. ELI1IS.O
Popularity exposes a man to the
peril of foolish friends and of fierce
Toes The experience of Jesus at the
period of this Sunday School Lesson
dramatically sets this forth. His Ser
mon on the Mount had just been end
ed The college of apostles had been
appointed. He had returned to his
home in Capernaum. Out of a blind
and deaf demoniac an evil spirit had
oeen cast. This sensational miracle
was the immediate cause for the
events of the Lesson, although the
period was at the time of the begin
nlng OF the opposition of the ecclesi-
astical party.
Too Busy to Eat.
The pathetic multitude thronged the
Healer His plight is set forth in one
of those wonderful cameo pictures in
which Holy Writ abounds: and the
multitude cometh together again, so
that they could not SO much as eat
bread. And when his friends heard it
they went out to lay hold on him: for
they said He is beside himself"
The exaltation of a great passion is
beyond the grasp of common mind.
In Chicago they called Dwight L.
Moody crazy Moody" at the begin
ming of his evangelistic work. That
men should show self forgotten pas
sion in human service seems incredi-
bic to the baser sort of mind. There
is no popular objection to the de-
lirium of the stock exchange, or of
the baseball field; but religious ecstacy
Is sure to call forth OpprC brlOuS cpl
thets from beholders.
Samuel Pepys the self complacent
little CRATER, whose indecent exposure
of his mind in his Diary has earned
him the contempt of generations of
readers. lived through great periods
of the commonwealth in England, and
the Restoration: but he was principal
1y engrossed in dinners and petty in
trigues- He contemptuously filings the
word fanatic" at the Puritans who
were fighting for principles far beyond
his comprehension.
Great minds become so engrossed in
noble pursuits that they forget the
cares of the body and the call of ma
ture- Edison has done most of his
work on four hours sleep a day, and
very little food. He has gone for
sleep. Henry Martyr, the great mis-
sionary, cried, Now let me burn out
for God" The touch of tn multitude
and their claimant needs made Jesus
indifferent to His own hunger and
WEAKNESS. Contrast this with the
1gnoble custom of the millions who |
live primarily to eat ard to please !
themselves.
Those Hindering Wives.
The over-anxious friends who tried |
to prevent Jesus from what they
thought an excess of devotion /. have |
their prototypes today. Once a man
mas entered upon great service, he |
must resolve to disregard the calls
of misguided friends who would turn
him aside to the littIeness of self
1ShneSs. One of the worst foes Of
Christian work among men today is
the mistaken solicitude of wives The
woman does not impel her
husband to hard service, but rather
constrains him by continuous en-
treaty and coddling, to a self-con
sideration that could put his own con-
venience and comfort above large
service. He is adjured not to attend
30 many meetings, not to serve on
committees, to remember that he is
tired, and that he needs rest, and
should stay at home with his family.
Christian workers that if they gave
heed to their wives they would do
days work in their offices and spend
the rest of the time at home. letting
the world take care of itself.
In contrast with this common sit
uation, is the case of many noble
wives who have been the inspiration
of men in public service A curious
xantippe on this ground, saying that
she knew that Socrates was the sort
of man who, with comfortable home
and a reasonable amount of coddling,
would amount to nothing. Therefore
she stirred up the eagles nest, and
sent him forth to the worlds enrich
ment We cannot forget the families
who give up their sons and daughters
TO distant mission lands. nor those
other families which so adjust their
affairs that the ministry of the father
or the son or daughter is made the
principal consideration in the house
hold economy.
''The dead have been awakened;
shall I sleep?
The world is at war with tyrants; shall ;
I crouch?
The harvest's ripe; shall 1 forbear TO I
I siumber not. A thorn is in my
couch. II
Each day trumpet soundeth in mine {
IT'S echo in my heart" s
The Bigots Get Busy.
Fierce foes as we'll as foolish
friends tried to hinder Jesus work.
Ecclesiastical leaders had come all the
Uav from Jerusalem to oppose Him.
Is there anything in the breast of
man more malignant than religious
intolerance? This seems the hardest
Of all the evil spirits to drive out: To
BUR own day, despite the catholicity
IF the gospel of Christ, it persists in
nalisn power. Ecclesiastics have al !
yavs been the quickest to turn to the
ALI in the temporal arm" has been {
marked in all religious history. No ;
bitterness equals that of a church {
quarrel
Jerusalem scribes in refusing to see I
,nv merit in this new Teacher who ]
was not of their party IS set forth
With startling seriousness The grave
sviI of speaking ill of the good called ]
.o,-+t some of the most solemn words
sver uttered by Jesus. In their light !
,-e are summoned to sit in judgmentl {
1pon our own narrowness ana preJu-
- and tendency to misjudgment.I
.snecially in these days of political I
Famous Logic.
1rba emissaries from Jerusalem {
.ruelIv declared that Jesus Hlmsel1
Tas nossessed of a devil. and that he
80 ont devils by Beelzebub, the
,eatben prince of devils. This was a
: oyTih1e charge. Jesus viewed 1t with