The farmer and mechanic., 1912-02-27
WHEN CHRISTIANITY BECAME
ORGANIZED.

urhc International Sunday School Les
son for March 3 is The Call of the
FIRST Disciples Mark i: 1928;
Luke 5: Ill.
(By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
The political pot is boiling in the
United States just now, and the party
l,sders are busy with the work Of
opt1inc dele gates to the national con-
,.ntions Except a candidate have
followers who can be counted on
when nominations are made, his
his chances OF success are nothing
rrhe methods and motives were vastly
different, Yet it is perhaps not ir-
rsyerent to describe this episode in
ihe public work of Jesus as his en-
listing Of delegates. He was begin
ming to build up an organization, and
these first disciples were to be the
leaders of his party.
Some persons may be shocked at
Inc idea Of Jesus forming an organi-
za1ion. lie did far more than that,
bat he did that, too. His group OF
immediate followers were the nucleus
nf the Christian church. Upon them
ne depended for the carrying out OF
his work after he should be gone
They we're simply indispensable to
him in his mission. That they We're
.niv the average sort Of men was no
mere nance. Jesus ISl IL OS hAio w II
that he depended upon the rank and
;le Of mankind. men whose mediocre
talents became mighty. when trans
fused by his spirit. for the carrying
out Of his ideals. This is a great
story for the commonplace man.
Nearly a year elapsed between the
1emptation of Jesus and his calling OF
me first disciples. Jesus had turned
his face back to Galilee, his boyhood
home Amid the excitement of life
in Jerusalem his human heart often
turned longingly toward the sweet
hills over which he had ranged IN
hoyhood He longed for a sight OF
the wild flowers that he loved ano
for the fresh breezes that blow over
GaIilee. The heart Of man is hungry
for home no other spot on earth
ever seems quite so attractive as that
in which he spent his boyhood.
An out doors, close-to- nature
spirit was that of Christ. He lovet
The sparkle of Galilee's waters in the
sunlight, and the lashing Of its sur
face into great waves when wind:
arose. The gentle green hills Of the
Aiount of Beatitudes. the towering
dignity Of snow capped Hermon, ant
the haZy brown Of the hills on thu
eastern shore Of the lake, ali were
beautiful in his eyes. Capernaum, tn
noble city at the head Of the lake
Was a second home to him.
lie knew these people, and love'
them. they were his kind OF folk
sturdy. brave, loyal, out of-dOors men
1t was most natural that he shoul
20 70 these for his advisers and fel
workers. He could underStan
and count upon them. There is moth
luE strange about the fact that Jesu
went to the haunts of fishermen an
peasants rather than to q theologlca
seminary. when he sought member
Tor his cabinet.
fne big heavy boats Of GaGlee-
have ridden in them, and | have see
them half filled with fsh--could Nc
he handled by one man: they neede
team work. Jesus called TO his seEN
ice men who were used to workin
with men. That is a first quality ft
success in organized service. TT
ability TO get along with feliowVorl
c"s. and to help and be helpe
neithcr oNerrating nor undertaking 2
associate, is a talent which ofte
counts for more than genius.
We have come to the era Of organ
lot!pn: and it is as distinct a perC
III church history as many Of the hi
tory epoChS of the older days n
"ortrine bat service engrOSSeS II
thought of church councils toda
ne Men and Religion Movement
Il more typical expression of the sen
ihtht OF our times than any ne
'rced formulation. Whether we we
come or deDlore it. the fact RENAL
mat We have entered upon the Orga
l"tuon age. The temper Of the tim
demands machinery. Co-operau
Tor the common welfare is the don
Mtnt thought. The disciples of Chr
today must learn how to pull I
telher in large enterprises for t
service Of the world.
Hy this men Will now Judge t
'hurcn. AS Christians. what are
cong Ia amelorate the unbrOthe
conditions in the world, and TO proI
gate the life of Christ? Such funC
mental considerations as these
What make important the maSsing
q Of 10 10y AL 1t ~ iSf