The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-10
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
F==5HE wise men who Keep an eye
~ n upOn tomorrow are disturbed
by certain orninous signs for
the future of Christian SEN
timent. The big fact mas
suddenly been borne into the
consciousness of a multitude or per-
sons that children nowadays do not 60
to church. The average congregation,
especially in the city, is OF adults Inc
old condition, when family peWs Were
literally filed with families is now I'M
common. So aroused have the BRUSH
leaders of the church become over this
condition that, following the modern
fashion of forming a society for every
thing they have organized League
of WOrShipping Children
There is reason for alarm. If the
children of today are not reared IN the
habit of church-gOing, it is reasonably
certain that they will not cultivate II
in maturity. Even the Sunday school
is no substitute for the religious train
ing of the church and the home. II a
family must make a choice for ITS
children between attending church ana
attending Sunday school. they should
without hesitation choose the church
1t concerns the state as well as the
church, that the oncoming generation
should not miss the depth ana
brea 9TH and height of intellectual and
spiritual vision which regular church
attendance does most to cultivate.
The Training of Boy.
The first appearance OF Jesus. after
the fight into Egypt. is this one when
he is seen in the temple; which the
Sunday schools are to study and Whlcn
is tie basis of this lesson. After the
presentation in the temple of the SIX
weeks old infant, which was consider
ed last Sunday, there came the warn
ing of the impending massacre OF the
innOcentS by HerOd. The infant popu-
lation of the little town of Bethlehem
perhaps a score of children in all
fell victim to the hate of Jealous
monarch. They were the first OF the
long train of martyrs to the name ana
cause of Jesus. Joseph. warned in a
dream of the cruel designs took the
young child and Mary his mother and
went into Egypt until the death of
Herod.
The gifts of the Wise-men afforded
the carpenter Joseph means Tor MS
unexpected journey, and for mainten-
ance of his family while he should be
away from his workshop The length
of the sojourn was perhaps only rev
months. Preachers and painters have
loved to dwell upon the significance OF
the return of Israels second Represen-
tative and Deliverer to the land from
which the first deliverer had led his
peol e. The Babe in the arms OF ms
mother. sleeping at the feet OF the
Sphinx. is a familiar picture, and
striking symbolism.
Back to Nazareth.
Then came the Nazareth years, TOT
Joseph returned not to Bethlehem but
The town of the birth Of Jesus has
fewer associations with his early years |
than this beautiful city, or large town. /
in a cup-like valley amid the hills of |
Galiiee, about midway between the j..
Mediterranean and the Lake of Cali
lee, a short distance above the round
ed dome of Mount Tabor. All about 1t |
are hills, and one has no difficulty IN |
understanding the story Of the Precipi- |
tatiOn, after looking upon the scene |
The natural beauty of the situation is
unusual. The hillsides are full of lime |
stone caves, and I have a photograph |
which 1 took of Nazareth from the in |
terror of one u these. I had gone !
into it wondering whether the Boy who |
played in the hills of Nazareth had.
perchance from this very cave, looked
out upon his home and his people, and |
thought the long, long thoughts of |
youth.
The hills are the same as those
which Jesus knew The fountain i'll |
the center OF the town, to which Mary
used to go with the other village maid
ems to draw the days supply of water,
IS still flowing, though now the spring
itself is covered with a church Boys
still play upon the streets and as L !
watched them at a game of marbles
different from the game we know.
but played with all the enthusiasm
of boys everywhere), seemed to see
again another olive skinned, black
eyed Lad playing in these same streets
The women still carry water as Of old,
though the SIauQdIu I'll Gail ~ III 4AAaAAy
places taking the place of the jar.
The Workshop PlayrOom.
The Boy, who is the hero OF this
tale. and whose life story millions
of Sunday school members are study
ing today. knew nothing about a mod /
ern playground but perhaps he was more
favored than modern children with
their elaborate apparatus for play, IN
shop of his father. All thinking is
IN the light of experience, and most
of us conceive of the immortal Nazar-
eth carpenter shop in the terms of the
carpenter shop of today, with benches
and modern tools. There are such now
to be found in Nazareth for Nazareth
IS largely modernized with many great
churches and schools and monasterles'
au in memory of the Boy.
When in Nazareth. 1 found a car
penter shop of the old style, wherein
worIxmen sat on the floor, and using
both hands and feet. made agricultural
ToseDh did not build tables and chairs
and windoW-frameS and doors. His
work was largely upon ploughs-
which were little more than an IRON
shod bit of timber-and upon yOkes ,
and spade handles. The Carpenter who
made his living out of an agricultural
knew full well what it
meant when he said, MY yoke is
the chips on the floor of Joseph's
carpenter shop were the first toys of
the how Jesus. Work was the natural .
atmosphere of his life. He grew up
to help in all possible ways
about the workshop which provided
the family income That the modern
son OF prosperous parents Is not learn
ing to work with his hands. and is
not under obligation to do any regular
tasks is one of the lamentable defects ,
In our modern scheme of life.
The Carpenter.
This is the only lesson upon the
training in Nazareth that we shall