The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-17

flattered the city, to such a degree
that men said to one another,
we cannot expect anything of that
man for the city" 1t is seldom the
John came with a burning message of
repentance and coming kingdom
He told his hearers the truth about
thennselves=the deep, dreadful truth
of sin that is common to all mankind.
He had no neW-fangIed notions about
sin being merely an error, or an in
herited tendency, to be covered with
rose water, like an unpleasant odor.
He called for repentance, for a change
of mind for an Immediate amending
of conduct. The innate honesty of
mems judgment will not permit them
to accept any gospel which overloOks
the fact of sin; for as they know
themselves, and as they know life,
they realize that sin is present fac
tor in human conditions.
The Preacher Who Was Not Afraid.
John was forerunner of that splen-
did company of preachers, thousands
of whom are with us today, who are
not afraid to tell the truth. He dared
to speak his own message. Eventual
~ he lost his head for his TEN Gritty;
but he never lost his crown. The
head that a Herodian sword sent to
dancing girls platter still wore its
coronet of fearless integrity. A le-
gion of men have since been heart
ened in duty doing, and in brave
speaking, by the example of John.
Probably if John were preaching or
writing now he might be called a slave
of 1.-The interests" because he told
the common people their sins and
babe them be content with their wages.
Likewise he would be dubbed a so
cialist' by the moneyed classes for
his too free criticism of the employers.
In truth. he was neither, any more
than are some of his successors. He
simply served the truth, in loyalty to
God and without fear of man.
The amazing arrogance and conce1t
of the person who expects a preachers
message to square with the hearers
and self interest only shows
how far such persons are from an I'M
Outstanding of the SacredneSS of truth
and of the nature of the Christian min
istry The preacher who trims his ut
terances to suit any mans pleasure
will never be fit company for John the
Baptist.
The Great Idea
Yesterday I talked with a distin
guished newspaper editor, not a mem
Der of any church, and he dwelt upon
the present evidences of a spiritual
unrest and desire and anticipation
which he says he has noticed as being
from linking this man with John the
Baptist. Both testify to the coming
Of a kingdom. That was the burden
Of johns plea-'A good time coming
He had a great conception of a king |
iom wherein justice and truth and love
should hold sway, for all mems vel |
fare.
Any man who has studied the re
igious history of the race can scarcely |
fail to be struck with the idea of the |
present breadth of mems view of re-
igion. Like John the Baptist they
.hink in kingdom terms A generation
IT two ago they thought in terms OF
'ects and denominations Now, the
1,rar- Al
fence with such narrow sectarianism.
At the present time, on the shore of
he Sea of Galilee, in the dirty toWs
If liberals, there is a sect of Jews who |
ook for the coming of the Messiah.
Their idea is that he will spring from
he waters of Galilee, choose his cab
net from the faithful of Tiberias. and
hen proceed to Safed, on yOnder hill,
md set up his kingdom. Equally mar
'ow and exclusive are the views of
some Christian holiness sects, like the
0owieites and the Sanfordites, who
consider themselves peculiarly set
part from their fellows. In direct
ontradistinctiOn from this, John and
Tesus proclaimed a kingdom, a univer-
al kingdom, a comprehensive king
ION, whose glory should be the en-
rance of the nations into it. Today,
IS the Men and Religion campaign is
showing, the kingdom idea is the one
hat commands mems allegiance.
Standing for the Best.
John was a testifier. He bore wit
less to the best he kneW-and that
vas the Best. That is a mans job,
md the surest, directest way of bring
ng in the kingdom. Why do books
ell? Because one person commends
hem to another. Mrs. Jones praises
he freless cooker to Mrs. Smith and
he to Mrs. Brown, and 10, in jiffy,
lreless cookers are all over the village
Carry that idea into religion. Say
good word for the true man in Of
ice who does his work we'll; and be-
ore you know it his vogue will be
o great that all the Vaccinations of
he politicians cannot bulge it. You
ike your newspapers editorials? Say
o to the editor, and your neighbor-
Are the papers articles on religion
'Ood? Tell the editor, and the other
olks in the church. Are you pleased
With a good law. or afraid a bad one
5 impending2 Say so to the man
Who represents you in the law-making
'ody- Get into the procession that fol-
OWS in the train of John the testifier-
The power to bear witness for the
ighest one knows is divine right of
nan. 1t was the business of the Bap-
list; it is the duty of the day.
The Words of Decision.
'erse Comments for February Is, =" No
and Yes: When toSay Them" Psalm