The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-09
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY w LILLIAN L. @@AH-@AA-'
A group of men who have closely
studied the progress of the Men and
RELIGION Movement were discussing II
the other day. With absolute unan1m-
ity they agreed that the aspect OF the
movement which has made the great
est impression in every city visited is
the social service message. The idea
that Christianity is interested IN the
practical things OF our day. that II
cares what wages men are receiving
and for their physical welfare, as eX-
pressed in better housing and SANTA
lion and that it is concerned apouI
their amuSements and their polltlcdl
affairs, is really new to many persons.
AS one man said, ''Why, L thought
that religion meant simply going 10
church." The vision of the truth that
religion means the church gong 70
the people interested and inspired
him.
The most observant of the Christian
leaders of our time are convinced IhdI
the Gospel for today must be express
ed in terms of service. All the noo-
ern social movements, be they coIleSe
settlements or new political partles'
are an expression of deep desire LOT
the great realities of practical reIlglon;
Ours is not a doctrinal age-Woulu
that il were more So-yet 1t is QUICK
TO hear that the first doctrine OF CHRIS
tianity, love in action. Jesus llNeu q
life before he taught a truth MS
deeds outran his words. A church thdl
renders service as well as ho1ds ser
vices catches the attention ana wins
the allegiance of the people OF our
time The stir that was created III
Philadelphia by the social service mes
sage of the Men and Religion move
ment startled some conservative Iol IN
at first: but as the days have passed II
of Christianity has gripped the greaI
body of people as no other WORD coulo
do.
Growing Up to Jesus.
Thirty years go the idea of social
C,hristianity'' meant nothing bigger
than a church sociable. The Few I tie;r
who were beginning to glimpse tIll9
phase of Christ's example and teach-
ing were looked upon as tadolsts:
Josiah Strong, who was propnel "
this message is still alive 10 recall tliS
davs when ministers meetings Iookeo
askance at his statement OF truths
which all of Christendom mas accpL-
ed and beyond which most ChrlStldI
leaders have now gone: II Is r LeTi1s
difficult for the modern man TO redIlze
that this present era or the pre-
eminence of this thought OF soclai
service was undreamed of generat1oh
ago. Nowadays It Is poor p, p5 e ~aiIi1i-
indeed. who cannot support ana Vlnul-
cate the social message or the GoS-
pei. 4.,., GRO
forever rising up to the level Oh III 49,
The world outgrows some men Jesus
It is ever striving to grow up to- Inc
last word in modern social service Is
the example and message OF Jesus he
''went about doing good The atten-
ton of his world and time was attract
ed to him by what he did ratner thah
by what he said. His miracles were
at the time his mightiest message. he
apent himself to the last spark or ms
Vitality in behalf of people His me
burned so brightly that it consumed
him in ministry. His message, peyono
which no modern social preachrnah
goes was mot to be ministered unto
but to minister and to give MS lie
a ransom for many.
rrhe modern social Gospel is not
new religion; it is merely an entrance
into the religion which Jesus prac-
ticed and preached. This present sun
dav school lesson is best understood
as a little study in appled Chrlstla aLI
ity. 1t is an illustration OF the mod-
ern social service programme Oh Inc
Church.
Creating CommOtiOn.
The BACKGROUND of this lesson is
lovely GaIiIee, with its rolling hills, It's
rich gray olive trees, so sort ana peau
tifuI in all lights, and its multitude OF
in ali its varying moods, as constant
influence upon the life of the people
These were country folk or simple
WAYS The wonder is that the per-
sonaIitv of Jesus still holds true to
type even when introduced into our
modern complex CIVILIZATION. 1hdS
life was lived among the peasants and
the fishermen whose interests were
few and trivial.
Teacher, with his wonderful WORKS
and his strange words Ihrough the
countryside ran the tidings OF his
strangely moved people. A commotion
was created throughout the country
side. AS women gathered at the VII
lage wells, morning and evening, they
talked of the latest bit of news from
the new Teacher and Healer at Caper-
naum. Travellers bore the tidings
from village to village. The lelsureIy
East sent its representatives to see Tor
themselves what Jesus was DONG. he
created a real commotion
And why not2 Part of the cutlery
against sensational preaching is TOOL
ish, and part is based on mlsa pPre-
hension If preaching is alive and is
true il ought to create sensation
Jesus came to stir the world. A min
lister may question his call II ne IS not
causing people to talk; and 10 talk
about the higher things instead OF the
lower about holiness instead OF evil,
about God instead of about the trivial
tiles of barren lives.
The Cry of the City.
This story shows city astir. Caper-
naum was all agog over the sensation
al work of the new young rabbi. His
place of sojourn was thronged, and the
record runs that "all the city was
gathered at the door" What con-
gregation of the suffering and needy
the narrative pictures! So great was
the multitude, SO terrific the pressure
upon His vitality, that long time be-
fore it was day, Jesus arose and went
into the desert place for that spiritual
replenishing which he always found in
communion with the Father. His dis
cipIes excited by these new and un-
precedented events, at the center of
which they found themselves, said I'M
to Him, 'AlI men seek for Thee
The sight of a city seemed to exer-