The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-06-08
(RY WILLIAM t. ELLIs.)


(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
A favorite diversion of that large
class of persons who love to count
themselves liberal is to trace the
resemblances between the various
great religions of the earth. The
quest is interesting and not without its
points of merit; for it has tended to
tolerance and it has given some of
the seekers an elemental knowledge of
what religion is.
The study is not best, however, un-
less it develops the radical difference
between Christianity and other faiths.
The teachings of Jesus have their
points of resemblance in the so-called
ethnic faiths, but essentially the Chris
tan creed contrasts with all other
creeds in its greatest fundamentals.
With religions of Buddha, Con-
fucius, zoroaster and Mohammed
forms of outward observance are
counted of primary importance.
Christs doctrine is first of all a Sc
cret hidden life, new relationship be-
tween the individual soul and God. 1t
has to do with the deepest convictions
of the heart, the outward manifesto
tions being purely sequential.
1t was this simple faith. which,
Transforming the lives of its adher-
ents, met and conquered mighty
Rome, working the miracle of time.
Robert Browning, the centennial of
whose birth the English speaking
world has been celebrating in recent
weeks, sets forth this faith in his
few lines, IAN Epitaph in the Cata-
cOmbS.''
st was born sickly, poor and mean,
A slave; no misery could screen
The holders of the Pearl of price
From Caesars envy; therefore twice
1 fought with beasts, and three times
saw
Ny children suffer by his law.
al n
1 was some time in being burned,
But at the close a Hand came through
The fire above my head and drew
My soul to Christ, whom now 1 see.
Serjius, a brother, writes for me
This testimony on the wall
For me, I have forgot 1T ALL.
The Real social Cure.
AS in religion, so in sociology, there
is a deal of dilettantism today. Fad
dists are Swimming the surface of
great truths and pluming themselves
on their up-to-dateness. Parlor 50,
cialists'' are popular. 1t is ''the thing"
to go stunning, or to attend fashion,
able teas where the woes Of working
women and children are presented by
women in Paris gown. One gets sick
at heart as he beholds these theorists
who seem not to abate one jot of their
own selfism, and these politicians who
make mere vote catching creed of
the amelioration of malign social con-
ditionS.
The fundamental defect of all the
current social-isms is that they are
trying to make humanity over by po-
lftical enactments and social programs
We may legislate until the crack OF
doom but selfish hearts will still work
out selfishly for mankind. Only new
mind of ministry and mercy, only the
very Christ passion for human veal,
will cure our many social ills. When,
like Christ, men and women learn 10
think more of the welfare of other
people than they do of their own, ard
when they have been taught to love
myself last" then will the new day OF
brotherhood dawn, and not unit! then;
The cure for social evils lies in the old
Fashioned gospel of regenerated hui
man hearts.
The New Life.
The most notable phenomenon on
the DAVIS religious horizon is the gredt
change which has come to pass Win
in the memory of all who read tnese
lines in the attitude of the church Tow
ard social questions. 1t used to pS
that these were counted as lying with
in the field of the social economist, anu
as being only most indirectly the con
ern of the church. Now 1T IS the rare
minister who does not recognize anu
preach that social service IS losica
expression of the old gospel. He mas
for this new order, however, the
message that the kingdom
that means mans veal as well as
Gods glory is to come only When IN
"slain Lamb is in the midst OF the
throne" The sovereignty OF seinsnnesS
secures salvation. Christ's atoning sac
r;fice and the self sacrifices of all who
name. His name, are to bring in tina,
new day of Justice, peace and brother
hood for which the whole creation
groans.
Almost of a sudden we have come
70 nerceive that, in the most prac-
ticai sense and in the realm of the
between man and man
Jesus is the saviour of this present
world. So we turn from the blind
leaders of the blind, from the wrang
ling, self-seeking politicians, to the
fauItless Christ, crying, in the woruS
But Thee, o Sovereign Seer of Time
Rut Thee. o poets Poet, Wisdom's
Tongue,
Rut Thee. o mans best Man, o loves
best Love.
n nerfect life in perfect labor writ,
n all mems comrade, Servant, k1nG. |
what If or vet. what mole, what flaw
what lapse,
What least shadow Of defect,
what r11mor, tattled by an enemy
Of inference loose, what lack OF grace
Even IN torture . SAooP' VI S'S0P - -
DEATHS
oh. What amiss may forgive in Thee |
Tesus. good Paragon, Thou Crystal |
Christi"
without Wax
The original meaning of sincere" IS |
.1vithout wax" barking back to the |
practice of sculptors to fill in the in.-
perfect work with wax that repaired |
selects for the moment, but was inev- |
tably revealed in time. Jesus laio |
loWn in His platform the principle thai |
al who bore His name and did His
I-ill should meet this severest of tests. /
to the core is His inexor-
HE requirement. Our peerless, perfect |
rooober declared "the disciple is not |