The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-29

call, has ever attempted this scene.
On the farther side of Jordans Hood
| gathered the hosts of Israel. Tents
were down; loins were g1rt- All
were looking forward to the actions
of the priests who should go before
them. The nervous strain OF a bride
| on her wedding day IL not compar-
able with the tension under which the
Israelites lay at this moment.
Their past lay behind them; what
of the future? What awaited them
in the new life just beyond Jordan?
great task? How formidable were the
enemies? Could they trust themselves
to meet this new emergency? It was
a critical hour in Israers history.
| Like many another. 1t was met, by
Divine direction, with religious
preparation As many Christian
homes are established by ceremony
of dedication. SO these Jews were pre-
pared for their new life by cere-
monial publication. The injunction
was that they should sanctify them
selves. for tomorrow the Lord would
| do wonders for them.
| Then followed the stately march of
the priests down to the rivers edge.
AS in the crossing of the Red Sea,
SO here, the waters were divided be-
fore their feet. When God says go
ahead. the business of making a path
l
terested as to whether this drying I'D
of the Jordan was due to a landslide
| thirty miles above-a phenomenon
! which has happened-or whether it
| was a direct interpretation of God
The artists tools concern US less than
doing the impossible. Shall we re-
fuse to accept the sunset because we
! do not know the scientific theory of
such an amazing coloration?
1t is. enough to erect pillars of
| memorial. even as did the Hebrews,
| God had led them hitherto. It is
enough, for us to know that God has
| been for us. and with us. and ahead
of US.
The present truth of this great his
| tory is all gathered up for the friend
| Lesson, Fear thou not, I am with
| thee. The message is one Of cour-
age. 1t is an inspiration to dare do
| hard things. The croakers who fear
| that these new times are altogether
! desolate of God and religion because
Scripture Alright. All through the
centuries God has been leading his
people forward to fresh experiences
and larger triumphs. The way of the
kingdom Is an untrodden way, but the
Ark leads on.
"GOd and Home and Native Land"
Terse Comments for Nov. 80, "Our
Church at Work for Our Country"
Deut 8:1-20.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
The two wings by which a nation
scars are religion and patriotism.
The experiment Of making a country
successful without religion has never
succeeded. AS patriotism is one of
the finest qualities Of the human
spirit. so it needs the still finer quail
ity of loyalty to God for its inspira-
ton and strength.
A few days ago two women sought a
large. historic and wealthy Presbyterian
adelphia at which a noted missionary
was to speak. They were half a block
wrong in the address given them. So
they inquired OF several persons in the
neighbobrhood. but none knew Of the
church. Two drug stores. both within a
block Of the church. were visited. but
the church. The telephone directory did
not contain the church's name. Then re-
calling that the Witherspoon Building
was Presbyterian headquarters, the wo-
men telephoned there, only to be told
that the person at the other end of the
wire had never heard OF the church in
question. At length, the persistent mis-
sionary women hunted up a Presbyterian
minister whose address they knew, and
learned from him the exact location of
this great church which at least once has
entertained the Presbyterian General Az
sembly. Then they arrived almost too
late for the African missionary's address!
All OF which means. let us be frank to
hard enough for its own neighborhood
to impress its existence upon the minds
OF the people who live within its shadow.
How can 1T, or any other church, serve
the country at large II it is not minister
Ing to the people at its very door?
II any church is not ministerfne to the
nation II she Is not graphing with the
great problems Of patriotism which are
at root moral and religious. and If she is
citizenship. then that church has lost her
saltness; she is dead one" Her cam
dlestick has gone out. She might as well
be social club or an old ladies' home.
For she has failed at the business of be-
| ing a church.
That mans the best cosmopolite.
Who loves his native country best
-Tennyson.
The Church of today is finding her
feet and her hands. I am not SO sure
| about her voice. But this is the social
service era Work for the common well
for church. Actual ministry to present
| needs Is the new test of orthodoxy In
! all her long history, the Church was never
more expert than today in practical SER
vice.
Inc lie Is more than meat, and the
country Is more than good sanitation and
| thrifty conservation. We need to beware
! OF the utflitarians who threaten to steal
our soul, in their relentless pursuit of ma
| ter1al comforts. Nations. like men, are
MADE by their ideals. AS a country thinks
IN its heart. SO Is 1t. The unique indis-
pensable service which the Church renders
the nation is in keeping the torch Of
ideaHsm alight. She 'interprets patriotism
IN terms OF the spirit The noblest pas
sions are by her brought to bear upon
| the duties Of citizenship. She fires the
neart with holy flame Of loyalty to
country which is a spiritual devotion
That Is why q community needs preach-
ers more than 1t needs fire companies.
The highest good Is impaired to a ma
ton when it il given God.