The Topeka state journal., 1912-04-27
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
Politics are engrossing the thought
of men in the United States at the
present time. The issue is one both
of men and of platforms. With
peculiar timeliness, there comes 10
the hosts of the Sunday school this
lesson of a convention held, two thou-
sand years ago, not in a pannereo'
garish noisy hall, but on the green
sIope of a twin crested hill, within
sight of the glistening waters OF
Salilee. Then was laid down plat
form of principles, drafted by the
Candidate himself, upon which ap-
real was made for the suffrage OF
all the world.
The political cleavage Of our time
in all countries is along the line Of
Iadicalism versus conservatism; put
the present-day distinctions are dim
as compared with the sharp con-
trast between the radicalism of Jesus
and the unyielding and tradition
bound conservatism of His Day The
revolutionary utteranceS OF the Teach-
ar from Nazareth are difficult Tor us
TO understand since we are heirs to
centuries of nominal acceptance of
Them. The eight Beatitudes, which
are the summary of the Sermon on
TIE Mount-that being the formal
declaration of the principles OF the
party which Jesus established ran
directly counter to The accepted
thought of the time. When delivered,
they seemed not to supplement, Dut
to antagonize the Law Of Moses.
We may easily imagine soph1s-
ticated ecclesiastical leader turning
away from the Mount Ce Beatitudes,
after hearing the deliverance OF
Jesus and saying, well, If this up
start Rabbi thinks to win any votes
by that kind of talk, he is going TO
be greatly undeceiVed." Thus has II
ever been the way of tte world to
undervalue the power of now truth.
We now know that the Bea1tudes
were far from being the last word
of Christ: the Calvary plank in his
platform was far more radical
The Winning Party.
Lively as seems the present politi-
cal campaign in the United States, it
IS relatively, a tame and trivial af-
fair The issue which the carpenters
son forced upon the world has been
debated in schools, by the roadside
and on bloody battlefields, for we'll
nigh two thousand years. The arena
steadily widens, and the ancient par
ties which taunted the young Radical
and his innovations have grown con-
tinually weaker and weaker. Every
day He is making increasing inroads
into their lives. Today, the party of
the Beatitudes, the party of idealism,
the party of aItruism, the party of
the new life, is the winning crowd in
the world.
There you nave a great truth TOT
consideration, as the study of the
Beatitudes is undertaken. They are
winning out. The principles of Jesus !
are commanding the votes of the ,
world today Despite the fact that it
runs counter to all the natural dispo-
sition of mankind, and counter to
the spirit of the times, and counter
to the accepted code which spells
worldly success, the platform of Jesus
is being ratified all over the earth. |
Human society was never before so
thoroughly penetrated with the ideals |
of the Sermon on the Mount as to- |
day. The broadest ground for opti- |
n.ism to be discovered by a student !
of the times is the vogue of the prin- |
ciples enunciated by Jesus. These |
nre the yeast which has set the world !
of today in a ferment. Well may the |
cry of the ancient ruler be repeated, |
80 pale Galilean, thou has con-
oueredr" Before the platform of
Christ the Roman empire has fallen, |
yielded up their cruel and selfish |
usages.
The Octave of Happiness.
In childhood We learn these Beat
tudes which today millions of mature
minds are studying. Here they are |
before US in their amazing breVity |
and simplicity; who would have
thought them so revolutionary
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn: for
they shall be comfOrted.
Blessed are the meek: for they
shall inherit the earth
Blessed are they that hunger and |