The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-11
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

Luke 6: 27-Ss. Romans 10: $40.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
A picturesque Persian whom his
american followers call Master and
whom his Persian followers ACCLAIM rs
Messiah,' has come to these shores
and is getting considerable attention
from the public prints. Abbas Effendi,
as he is commonly known, or Abdul
Baha, as he is really named. claims to
De one in the succession of the long line
Oh reYealersof truth to the world. He
brings mild teaching of brotherhood
and tolerance and universalism. In the
long reach of things, neither the man
nor his creed will figure very promi-
nently, but it is wholesome at the mo-
ment to contrast him and the great ter
religious leaders who have gone before
with Jesus and His philosophy. A fresh
look at what Jesus taught is always
profitable.
We scarcely would care to dignity our
Persian guest by contrasting his little
phhosophy with that of Jesus. 1t is
1a1r, however, to call to mind the great
founders of faiths which have won the
allegiance of human hearts throughout
the centuries, and to compare their
philosophies with the philosophy of
Jesus. Buddha, with his word of self
immolation; Confucius with his doc
trine of human relationships; Zoroaster
with his teaching of the sanctity of the
elements; all have made contributions
to human thought. But nobody who
possesses the discrimination and poise
and intellectual integrity of the pres
ent-day scholar would think of giving
these men rank as philosophers along
side of Jesus of Nazareth. The teach
lngs of Christ are not only more COM
prehensive than those of any other but
they meet the pragmatist's test Of
making good. The Sunday schools for
two months are devoting their lessons
to the utteranceS of Jesus which en-
body His mind.
The Disappointed Expectations.
All who heard the words that fell hot
from the lips of the gentle Teacher
sitting amid the waving lilies of the
Galilean hillside, looked forward to the
coming of a king who should be great
in temporal might. That error is fun
damental to human nature. We all
greatly admire king the man of
power and pomp and vast achievement.
Only dimly are we learning to cry
Thy gentleness hath made me great"
George Macdonald has put the truth in
his beautiful lines.
They all were looking for a king
To slay their foes, and lift them high
Thou cam'st a little baby thing
That made a woman cry.
20 Son of man, to right my lot
Nought but Thy presence can avail;
Yet on the road thy wheels are not,
Nor on the sea thy sail!
MY how or when thou wilt not heed, :
But come down thine own secret stair, |
That thou mayest answer all my need,
Yea, every bygone prayer
Most of us have not eyes to see that
this deep human note which was struck
by the manner of Christ's coming and
py ms words of life, aimed at the
hearts of men, is of first Importance
The kingdom must come in the realm
of character. Singular saints are the
salt of society. Ne minds make new
men, and new men make a new world |
People count for most: Christ dealt not
with distractions but with truths that |
commonplace men and women could |
work out in their own characters.
The ParadoxicaI Law.
Probably Jesus would not get first
page headlines in tho newspapers to- |
day We're He to come cam .aigning as
spiced enough for populaN taste: He |
did not utter dramatic savings of the
ear-catching kind: there are no ma
1esucaI egotlstlcal epigrams to his
credit Instead, he came quietly talk |
ing to people about the law of love.
Instead of telling men how to be- |
come great and mighty and rich, and |
how to overcome their fellows He |
bade them give UP their rights, endure
wrongs, and serve mankind to the last |
drop of blood. To love in spite of all |
and to keep on loving with a self for |
getfulness and a self abnegation that
are bewildering, was His prescription |
He was after new society, created by !
the loving hearts of individuals His !
goal IVES kingdom, the kingdom |
which ultimately comprehend ali |
men. We are beginning to understand |
this truth, which He put into these |
words.
but say unto you that hear. Love
Your enemies, do good to them that
hate you, bless them that curse YOU. |
pray for the thai despitefuIIy use
YOU To him that smiteth thee on the |
cheek offer also the other: and from |
him that taketh away thy cloak with
hold not thy coat also. Give to every |
one that asketh thee and of him that
taketh away thy goods. ask them not |
again: And as y would that men !
should do to You. do We also to them
likewise. And if We love them that |
love you, what thank have We? for
even sinners love those that love them |
And II We do good to them that do |
good to you, what thank have We? for |
even sinners do the same And if We /
lend to them of whom We hope to re- |
ceive, what thank have We? even sin
ners lend to sinners to receive again |
as much, But love your enemies and |
do them good. and lend never de- |
Spairing; and your reward shall be |
great, and We shall be sons of the Most |
High; for he is kind toward the un-
thankful and evil. Be We merciful /
even be judged: and condemn not, and |
We shall not be condemned: release |
and We shall be released"
The Gentle Conqueror
The world has come far since the
incredulous ears of mighty Rome's |
subjects listened to the paradoxicall
utterances of Jesus. 1t is amazing to |
contemplate how humanity has swung |
around to Christ's conception of what !
is most important. These hillside |