The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-08-23
BY WILLIAM It. ELLIS1

l.
! This is the d &c of the question mark.
| Everything must stand the test of the
| new times Nothing is taken for grant
| ed. Even the most fundamental in
| stitutions. like the family, are being
| challenged. Peters admonition to
/ Christians to be ready to give to every
| man that asks an answer concerning
| the faith that is in them, was never
| more needed than today. And the ex-
| PLANTATION OF Christianity which the
| world most readily comprehends is that
| which is written in terms of character.
The one most unanswerable argu-
ment for Christianity is a Christian
| life.
! Every little while somebody raises
a breeze of discussion by indicting
present-day Christianity. by its own
, standard. A tremendous case may
thus be made out. The weakness of
it lies in representing Christianity as
a failure: whereas, the most that can
! be said is that it has not come up to
its own high standards. Contrasted
with the condition of nonChristian
lands. the state of Christendom is like
. paradise. And this is probably a fairer
test than the other. The gospel has
proved itself in the wonders it has
wrought in making over the cruelty,
unbrotherliness. and stagnation of pag-
anism into what even the worst cynics
will admit is the best order of human
life this old globe has ever known.
The final proof of Christianity is
: Christians. 1t makes men of those
, qualities of character which have come
TO be designated by the word Chris
tan AS We may fairly judge Budd-
hiSm by Buddhists, ConfucianiSm by
Confucianists. and Northumberland
by Mosiems. so we may test Christiani-
ty by its Christians. That proposition
opens up to us a vista of the noble
men and women we have known; the
holy mothers and strong fathers; the
persons VINO have won to greatness of
character and service because of their
religion. The unselfish and helpful folk
whom VIC call to mind are legion. We
recall too. that the persons among our
acquaintances who have stood for the
: highest ideals of refinement and cul-
ture and citizenship have been Chris
! tians. We see the benevolent institu-
tions of our time kept going by Chris
tians. The new passion for social JUS
tice and weii-being had its first proph-
cts in the church, and today draws its
principal support therefrom. So, in
spite of many of US who have come far
short of our Christian vision, We may
fairly rest the case of Christianity on
its finished product-Christians
Society draws many horizontal
lines; Jesus drew none. and only one
vertical line. He knew no classes
except the good and the bad. the sheep
and the goats. the saved and the I'M
saved. This idea has been strikingly
put in some verses by John Randolph
Stidman:
After all. and after all
Since ever the world began.
Just two have lived, and two have
died
In lowly mien. in lordly pride.
The rogue and the honest man.
after all. and after ali,
The classes are but two:
And both are rich and both are poor,
And both still know, as they knew
before,
The things that they ought to do.
After all, and after all.
Escape it we never can:
Only the choice of one have we,
And you must be and 1 must be
a rogue or an honest man"
The eccentric person is the one |
who is out of center; he has been !
mal-adjusted to life. When Christ is /
the center all of life swings true and |
normal.
Test and see that the Lord is good,''
is the Psalmist's challenge. That is
fair a merchant can make no greater
1nducemelt to purchaser than a free
trial of the goods \ common method
OF advertising is by the distribution
OF free samples. The Scriptures boldly