The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1912-07-16

Matt. i3.3"
tBy WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)-
\ seed fell into a creylce IN a rock,
whrr- dust and soil had gathered; \
tiny green shoot soon appeared. MS
grew into a sapling: the sapling grew
into a tree, and. 10. such was the
power Of the living thing, that the
mighty rock was sundered. There
are seeds OF new ideas SprOutlnS IN
our time in the cracked rocks OF
ancient customs and cO~nScrVatlSnl.
Because the seeds seem little, foolish
men have ~disregarded them. If there
is any lesson in the days newspaper,
or in this old story of the mustard
seed. as tOid by Jesus, it is that what
is despised today may be mighty to-
morrow.
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 has ever
shown itself strangely blind to the
tendencies Of its own times, and
which has been at no pains to guide
the shaping forces of life. Such
potent agencies as the Sunday school
had to come to heir greatness OF
power before ever the organized
churches realized their potentialities.
Who, among all the leaders Of Chris
tendom. would think it tho business
OF the church to choice
young men to 60 into journalism, not
for OF religious propaganda,
but for Of human service
and kingdom ministry? So, too,
young men n young women become
teachers OF the young without ever
an inspiring or guiding ord from
their religious leaders. Who gives
heed to the men who draw the pic
- thn Dopio1inal prooo uyhint
so affect the thinking OF the masses?
Has any ecclesiastical assembly ever
devoted five minutes to q COnSidera-
ton OF the power OF the song writer,
or even OF the men who determine
the character Of a nations humOr?
hundreds OF Sunday school songs.
sung by the very little children
songs hat make an abiding impress
Sion upOn the plastic mind of youth;
| doubt. though if she has ever had
q word OF praise or encouragement
or suggestion from any Christian
leader Of our time. The truth is the
churches are culpably derelict in un-
d%errating and ignoring the forces
which fix the ideals Of our day. The
seeds and saplings that are to be-
come 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 unap-
praised by even his nearest neigh
bOrs, may be setting into motion
forces which will profoundly afrect
the life OF tomorrow. All about us
the mustard seed parable is being en-
acted. Let us learn its lesson, anG
not despise the day Of small things.
Patience With the Sced
Nobody has such faith as thu
farmer. He spends winter. sprine
and most Of ummer in preparing fol
hts harvest. With seed in tn,
ground, lie simply waits. working. i
is true. while he waits. The SEED
cannot be hurried If it is to brin'
forth good fruit. Nevertheless, tn
expects a harvest, although he recog
nizes that it lakes a miracle OF ma
ture to produce it every cal.
In religion. too something Of tn
same patience with the seed is need
ed. The Christian Church has un
dertaken to raise a worldwide har
vest AS yet, the e is only ger
minatins in the ground in man,
places. Thus. in India there ha
bee a wonderful sowing Of Christian
truth. but the full harvest is not yet
All over that wonderful land an OBJ
sertel may see the mustard seed o
truth SprOuting, and he has faitl
that the day is to come when tina
great tree, whose leaves shall be 70
the healing OF the nations, will re
suit. But patience is eeded
Here is an article Of every Chris
tian's creed that should permeate a
his thinking: whether we watch
or not. whether we understand it o
not. the kingdom OF heaven is grow
ing and coming. In ways beyon
our ken. and by agencies that ar
pas human grasp, that kingdom
which means mans weal-as we'll a
Gods glory. is steadily rising towar
its fullneSS Of dominion.
The Time That Tests
It is good for a mans soul to /
on friendly terms with a garde,
From old Jerusalem l brought SON
seeds Of pOppies, grown in the Ca,
den of the Tomb" They were ;
fine as dust. 1t Seemed inCredib
tina out of them should ever gro
great n beautiful lowers. | ha,