The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-30
Things That Man Cannot Do.

Things That Man Cannot Do.
Terse comments upon the uniform
PRAYER meeting topic of the Young
Peoples societies. Christian En-
deavor, etc. for. August 81, Mis-
Sl6r, ff@Prayer Eph. $1,000.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
The Standard Oil company is SELL
ing its wares all over the earth It's
success is one of the wonders of mod
ern commerce. 1t has Supplanted the
ancient water jar of Asia by the five
gallon tin can. The immemorial ir-
rfgation water-lift along the T1grlS
and the Euphrates rivers. by animal
power is giving way to the oil pump
Beholding the achievements of
mighty corporation like this, in Gre
atine and directing a successful,
worldwide enterprise. many mission
arv speakers have suggested that the
Dropa gsn da of Christianity could be
carried on in the same way The fdI-
lacy is perhaps 4 natural one But
let no man think that any business
concern could by business methods
evangelize the world No greater her
esv could lodge in the minds OF men
The Christia MIA ton of mankind is a
spiritual process, TO be effected by
spiritual means. Humanity speaking,
man cannot do it The task Is one
for the forces of the divine Spirit
Only Spirit-tiIled men. employing
old earth in its deepest religious con-
victions.
with prayer. or not at ALL" was
the slogan of the recent simultaneous,
every-member canvass of the United
Presbyterian and German Reformed
churches.
Christian progress abroad is de-
pendent upon Christian prayer at
home.
Let us advance upon our knees
Henry Martyr.
The more closely one studies his
land and times. the more intelligent
becomes his conviction that the need
of ali needs in our day, with respect
TO religion. is for a new sense of spir-
itual verify and values on the part
OF church and people. There is no
lack of machinery; we are fairly sub
merged beneath a bewtldering array
of methods. No new agencies are
needed; We have too many already.
We are ingenious and inventive and
modernized to the minute. In all the
externals of religious propaganda we
are abundantly equipped Still the
report comes of arid, sterile fields.
and of listIess labOrers. The deep lack
of our day is for 4 soul burdened
spirituality. We need more praying
Christians. We must have men and
women agonizing for the outpouring
of spiritual plenishing- Not more con-
ventions. but more Christians going |
apart alone 10 entreat God in behalf |
OF the world is our want The topic |
has the right word-'esSentia ;
prayer is absolutely essential to Chris |
tan progress. The church may win |
without money, without boards, and |
without equipment; but she can only /
fail If there is not vital. ceaseless
prayer in her hearts of hearts.
Phillips Brooks uttered one of the
really great truths about prayer when
ne said. Prayer is not the conquering
IF Gods reluctance. but the taking
lold OF Gods willingness"
-. Kingdom prayers make kingdom
christians Christ wrote into his pre-
'criptlon for prayer the formula Thy
1ingdom come" To pray for the
,lngdom with sincerity and inteiIi-
renee, is TO grow up to kingdom sta
ure, being lifted out of the pettiness,
neanness and sordidness of the small
oul- Our prayers for the salvation
# the world may be the salvation o.
ourselves
Ding Ii Mai. a Chinese evangelist
Who has led hundreds of Chinese stu
lents to devote themselves to the
YORK of the Christian ministry, has a
rayer life so real that he spends
Whole nights on his knees. He has
list of more than thousand per- ,
ons for whom he prays by name
he reason he has power in gospel
When thou prayest. rather let thy
cart be without words. than thy i
-ords without heart-Bunyon-
Only the tuned violin can make
1usic: and only the life in harmony 1
nth God can win victories for Him.