Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-12
In The Religious World;
(REvIEw OF SUNDAY SCHOOL LEssoN)
better chance than Capernaum.

falrly makes the HeSn creep ana the
nerves Jingle, as one contemplates
the awfulness of the offense Of ignor-
ing opportunity. To have had the
privileges of Capernaum, or, even
more, of a modern Christian COM
munity with churches and schools
and Sabbath and literature, and still
to ignore Christ, is an offense that
will not be forgiven in the day Of
reckoning.
The TerrIbIeness Of Truth.
knowledge of the truth creates q
judgment day. We all Of us are con-
demned by the truth which we know
and yet do not. knowledge Is desir-
able only to the extent that 1t can
be made useful. To know and not
to do Is to incur the gravest respon-
sibility. A common delusion is that
there is virtue In the mere intellec-
tual acquisition of information, and
in the theoretical and critical exer-
else of knowledge. This Is not so:
truth is to be used. Impractical, it
becomes atrophied, like any other ut
employed faculty. When exercised It
leads the way to more truth. Every
duty we omit obsucres some truth
we should have known"
The awesomeness of living In q
day Of privilege and opportunity
should search the soul Often we hear
about the grandeur of living now.
1--WE are living, we are dwelling,
In a grand and awful time,
In an age on ages telling
TO be living is sublime"
Yes, but it is also terrible respon-
s:l IT, ir hi
equipped with agencies for service
such as no other era ever knew, to
know the sunlight Of an unprecedent-
ed day Of knowledge and opportunity,
possessed of staggering power to
serve the whole world and to live
a life large and outreaching, is a re-
sponsibility which should alright all
of us. There is the danger that we
may fail to perceive our day of Wis
itation. Even now, with claimant
calls for royal living appealing from
every side, it is still true that some
persons are going through the world
as If Christ had not died and as II
men were not living in direst need
of brother help. The lesson OF Ca
pernaum, Chorazin and Bethsaida is
verify lesson for the hour.
~ Better Than Diploma.
Theoretically, the path to the ca
reer of greatest usefulness is paved
with diplomas-and surely they are
enough of them to pave several paths!
Some genius for figures could make
an interesting calculation of the area
in square miles of diplomas which
have been given on this continent
within a generation. The stogiest
and woodenest of "grad.grinds," who
can mechanicalll work away until he
has earned degree of Phi. D., is
reasonably sure of teaching post in
some college. ". ~
Here enters the radical word Of
Jesus, saying that the childlike mind
can discern spiritual realities more
quickly than can intellectual sophis-
tication. II thank thee, o Father,
Lord of heaven and earth, that thou
didst hide these things from the wise
and understanding and didst reveal
them unto babes: yea, father, for so
it was we'll pleasing In thy sight,"
faith Is highest wisdom. The trust
full heart understands the loftiest
truths more clearly than the largest
ably was looking into the eyes of his
peasant followers as he spoke, men
guiltless of the training of the
schools, who were doing more than
the wise ones of the sanhedrim for
the illumination of their age. When
it comes to things Of the higher life,
faith finds straight path where
skepticism founders in the woods
Wisdom is, after all, of the believing
spirit.
Well says the expositors bible up
on this passage, For what is the
great object of the gospel? Is it not
to dethrone self and enthrone God in
the hearts of men? It is clear, then,
that, If it had in any way appealed
to pride and self-suficiency, it would
have defeated it's own end. Suppose
the revealing of things had been to
the wise and prudent as such, what
would have been the result? The
kingdom Of heaven would have be-
come mere scholarship prize And,
however good a thing scholarship
may be, and however important that
it be encouraged, this is not the work
of the Christ of God. His gospel is
for all: so it is addressed not to the
great in intellect, which would con.
fine 1t to the few, but the lowly in
heart, which brings 1t within reach
Of all-for the very wisest and great,
| est in intellect may be, and ought to
| be, meek and lowly in heart"
The Personal Note.
Earlier in his discourse, the master
.had unfolded the parable teaching OF
the responsibility for neglected truth
1t seemed as if the lightnings of judg-
ment flashed from his lips as he spoke
Then the dominant shepherd instinct
| began to manifest itself-for Jesus
never rose above his personal yearnine
| for the welfare Of the Northumberland
! he grew winsome and tender and per-
sonal and silicitous. He saw these Of
tenders as sheep wandering without d
| shepherd. In spite of all their sins and
! failings, he wanted to gather them tc
| himself. ..
So we have the matchless appeal
| Come unto me-" Others summon mer
| to a SYSTEM Jesus calls them to him
| self. He in his personality is the solv-
ent of human troubles, the healer OF
| human woes.
"Once I sought a'blessing,
Now 7 seek the Lord I"