The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-11-02
CRY wILLIAM T. ELLISD

and the LeaVen,' Mark S-11-No'
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLISD
This is the day of signs and por
tents. The whole horizon is 1uil VI
significance. Everybody VINO Is no
so1,nd asleep knows that he Is llVlhs
in a rare and meaningful DAY sun
of MS like the goose-bone Wea'He-
,rool,a+s are seeing things only III
local significance and without
lxnowIedge We are verifying Jul 70
notions by profound portents' In inc
strange movings upon the sai
heart of man one person sees the
- era of triumphant indus
+ria1isno. his wife, on the other haho'
babolds nothing but the reign OF Wom-
a., outrage. another halls 1t all as
1,aroIding the advent of single tax;
o+hers hear in the mutterings of man
1,ind the rumblings of the chaTioI
wheels of their own particular polli-
ical parties. Some, WhoSe N 5 -
not very wide, prOphesy the GAVIN ~
az millennium; while others near Lhe
cIanking chains of approaching Juus
ment. re,e on the
siens and sign readers. The Pharlsees
We're great weather proPnets' Ale 50
thew were past masters OF the arr ,;S %
symbolism. With the ,t aT1l@Ht they
could read a hidden meaning my :. a. a.,
most anything. Jesus lIlulctSu -, ~ |
in these excoriating Words; 1e $50 NJ"
how to discern the face or heaven
bIt We cannot discern the signs OF the
times. An evil and adulterous geIera
ton seeketh after sign; anu thGI
shall no sign be given unto IT. out tlIe
80 IF Ionah.'' Mind you, these were
the religious leaders of the TIME: tnSS
we're the men upon whom tne PeoPIe
depended for counsel ana olI . 1rat |
thew were professionally the wise, yet
Jesus disdained them as blind, lead
ers of the blind" unable so mucn as
to read the signs of the times IN winch
they lived.
Are Our Prophets Blind?
That sort of talk unsettles the COM
placency of religious leaders. In our
own day it is reinforced py the Iranh
declaration of some realIy ulsceriIus
ones that the preachers and religious
leaders are ignorant of the signs OF
our own times. They are the ones
who are slowest to see the funda-
mental religious character of the day s |
mood There is a wonderful religious
revival abroad in the world at the
present time, but it is found in our
political conventions and soclologlcal
conferences and not in our churches. |
This is startling: it should give pause |
to every Christian. Religion is our
recognize its movings in our midst2 !
That very thing is being charged up |
against the church of today.
On the highest authority, that OF the
den to be aware Of our world. 1t is a |
sin to be ignorant of the times in
which we live. The Sunday school
teacher who does not read the news |
paper but devotes hours to musty old J..
commentaries is unfit to teach class
of live boys or girls The preacher :
is is incompetent to preach of the
life that is to be. That prophets out
side the church should be pointing out |
the place and power of religion while
Iy,ff 4e CONFORMING
meaning of the new day, is funda- |
mental reflection upon those whose
mission it is to watch the stately step
pings of the Son of Man in this His
world.
The reviews told recently how Fred
erick Harrison, the famous British |
economist, who for so years has been
espousing labor's cause, had come ouc
In a diagnosis of present conditions.
What was the conclusion of this man,
who is high and dry philosopher?
1t is that his country of Great
Britain needs a moral reform such as
that wave of humanity which swept |
over the Roman world and put a stop !
to gladiatorial shows. He says:
by all means try various temper
airy palliatives. Profit-sharing may be |
worked. Cancellation has done some
thing, and may do more. The arbitra-
ton of public authorities may be use
full. New blood in parliament is emil
nently needed. There are now before |
it bills and schemes which ought to |
be tried. But let no workn1en think |
that, given the present tone on both /
sides of this unrest, any legislative, |
political, or economic devices will touch |
the root of the matter.
Nothing will touch it but a new |
and better spirit in all who work and
who organize work-a new social
moral and religious reformation
The Critic Mood.
What allied these old Pharisees tina
Jesus had such scant patience with |
them? Simply they were not honest
in their dealings with Jesus Himself.
They were not seeking truth but vic !
tory Like true politicians they were
not attempting to bring to light the
truth, but to rip each other and 10
catch the popular votes They wanted
a sign from Jesus only in order TO
confound Him. They were different fro n |
John the Baptist who was an honest
seeker after some evidence of the
Masters mission. These Pharisees
could see sufficient signs by watching
Jesus for any day, but their minds
were so bitter and critical that 10
sign which the omnipotent Jehovah |
could have given would have altered
their opinions. They were blind, dis.
honest partisans. The doors to their
minds were shut and locked, and the
keys thrown away.
A cynical reporter never writes
good story. The f1rst-class craftsman
is always gifted with sympathy. The |
critical mood Of the Pharisees was
fundamentally wrong. They did not |
want to see the good in Jesus: they /
sought only evil. Now it is a princi- /
pie that we can never understand any |
body until we approach him desiring |
to see him at his best.
Some OIdtime AristocratS.
Sc NJ h hill in lis