The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-03
nv WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Since the first newspaper came from
the press. was there ever time Wnen
the news of the day was so linked WITH
the great interests of life, ana WIFI
the sublime old stories of the Blple'
as at the present time? Here is Per
STA. the long-forgotten nation, sudden
" figuring on the first pages or the
newspapers, and largely because OF
one fearless, single-eyed American
young man; while millions OF persons
in North America are also studying
this week in the Sunday schools the
familiar story of the three sages from
Persia, who once journeyed westward
in pursuit of their highest conception
of duty.
The contrast is striking and time
ly-for the two stories are linked by
the centuries of growing Christian
idealism which have interviewed
that of the young man from the
west who followed duty's star to Per-
STA; that of the old men from Per
STA who followed hopes star to the
west.
Getting at the Facts.
An unnecessary haze and glamor
has surrounded the visit of the Magi
to Bethlehem. To know more of the
facts in the case only enhances the
beauty of the story. These men were
nature Worshipers, the oldest cult of
the east, and by the common agree
Persia Doubtless they were Zoroas-
TRANS.
There still exists on the eastern
bank of the lower Tigris river, short
" before it joins the Euphrates. a
community of Sabeans, the ancient
people from whom the Wise men are
commonly supposed to have come
The center of this community, which
like the Jews, has persisted in its pur-
1ty through the rise and fall of en-
pires, is the town of Amara, known
Tor peculiar type of enameled sill
YER work which it produces, the Sc
.cret of which has been handed down
from generation to generation. These
Sabeans are still worshipers of the
stars, although they are also said to
be disciples of John the Baptist. The
Dutch Reformed Mission in Arabia,
with which the University of Michigan
is now connected, have lately estab-
ushed a missionary at Amara. A new
sense of the reality of this old story
is impaired by recalling the pres
ent situation Of the people of the Magi.
History's Most Famous Quest.
Lovers of the romantic have cher
1shed the stories of Jason's search for
the golden fleece, Columbus quest for
a short route to the Indies, the search
of many mariners for a northwest
passage, and the pursuit of the fOun-
tain of perpetual youth by Ponce de
Leon. Greater than any or all of
these stories, and more precious in
the worlds eyes, is the wonderful
quest OF the three wise men from the
East for the new star which they, as
astrOlogers, had seen.
These rare. rich and majestic fig
ures suddenly appeared out of the
mysterious East. with the simple an
nouncement that they had seen a
star that would lead them to a king.
The men were spiritually minded star
gazers, seeking to find in the heavens
tokens of peace for the heart of man.
St ChrysostOm has said, Christ is
wont to catch every man in the way
of his own craft=Magian with a star
fishers with fish" These travellers
sought a star, but 10, they found the
Sun of righteousness.
''Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great desire of nations
Ye have seen His natal star:
Come and worship,
Worship Christ. the newborn King"
The Pilgrimage of Peace.
So enrapt is the beholder with the
spectacle of the Wise-men at Bethle-
hem that he gives no heed to the
heavy price they paid in the fulfill
ment of their quest. 1t is long
hard, dangerous journey from Persia
to Judea-longer and harder than we
of the west can possibly understand
Take 1t any way you please, there was
desert to cross: Bedouins to be evaded,
conciliated or fought: and the wealth
which the Wise-men bore to be guard
ed at all costs
Yet the goal was worth the journey
These men sought satisfaction for
their restless spirits They longed to
lay their hearts oblation at the feet of
& King greater than any petty oriental
monarch In them We see the fore
runners of that multitude of high
souled persons who today are throng-
ing the Men and Religion cOnven-
lions to learn of a new and better So
cial order, wherein Love shall reign
over life.
The worlds social and political IN
rest is coming to be a commonly known
phenomenon. Deeper than anything
which gets into the newspapers is the
intense spiritual unrest of our time.
As we watch these three pilgrims on
sWaying camels with their attendant
train of servants. making their stately
way from the East to Judea, we cannot
help calling to mind that other multi
tude of pilgrims at this moment in
snctiOn-t1e PerSians on the way to
Kerbela. Meshed Ali, and Samarra:
the A1osIeIns of many nations with
their faces turned toward Mecca; the
Armenian, Greek and Roman Catho-
lies preparing for the Eastern pilgrim
Rome, Benares. Ise and the tomb of
Confucius. Verify, the heart of man
IS ever seeking, seeking, seeking the
highest good.
when Zeal Meets Cunning.
We may never know what first
It may have been the spiritual ferment
of the time; It may have been some
prophecy in their astrological lore; it
may have been that from the Hebrew
exiles in the neighborhood they had
learned Of the Jews hope. We only
know that as astroiogers, forerunners
of the modern astronomers, they saw
in a new star the portent of a Coming