The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-18
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word was not TO be taken at face
value That is still his master tempta-
ton If men really believed that GOD
means what He says IN His BOOK
there would be a profound alteration
of conduct But the tempter has led
them astrav upon this point They
fall by failing to give God His place
as a righteous. cOvenant-keepinS, pre-
eminent Lord
The spelling of the IdyI.
Written large IN all teachings should
be the great truth that Gods program
for man was one of perfect bliss He
designed and desired that man should
walk with Him in fellowship and
friendship But the woman ate OF the
forbidden fruit, repudiated Gods law,
and incurred the divine dfspleasure.
Then fell the great black curtain be-
tween man and God. In newness
of seIf-consciousness which betokened
the loss of their innocence, Adam and
Eve found that the company of God
was not congeniaI- Just as the will
fully sinful do not enjoy the society
of sincere Christians. SO Adam and
Eve stunned the society of Jehovah.
and hid themselves amid the trees of
the garden
Challenged by Jehovah. Adam IN
saiIantly laid the blame upon his wife
As one Old saint used to say, Adam
was no gentleman He failed to ac-
cept responsibility for himself and
for his family. for doubtless Eve had
thought that she was sharing with him
a good thing when she proffered him
the fruit that the tenlpter had made
appear desirable in her eyes.
For their sin, Adam and Eve were
driven forth from the garden. and
from their pristine state of purity
and bliss They had incurred the
worst Of fates. separation from familiar
fellowship with God. In Copenhagen
there is a striking modern statue of
Adam and Eve hearing the voice tina
spelled their fate They are afraid
and consciencs-smitten, but withaI-and
the sculptor has cunningly caught the
redeeming trait in the experience of
the first parent=they have their arms
about each other, and their attitude
says. Gone is the garden. gone is
God, gone is all our bliss, but still we
have each other
In the very ordeal of the expulsion
from Eden. man and woman were
drawn closer together. It doubtless
has been true in general that man has
acquitted himself more creditabIy than
Adams first response would Indicate.
for he has been the defender and the
protector and the provider of the wo-
man Cad gave him to be his help meet.
When Christians Meet as Christians.
Terse Comments for January 10 !
How Can We Better Our Prayer
Meetings." Matt 1s:1S-20
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
All historians who have dealt with |
the period of the early Christian |
Church have paid tribute to the |
power of the simple fellowship of the !
disciples The friends of Jesus met |
together for prayer-often in secret, |
because of persecution-and the gath ;
ering was one of real democracy and !
fellowship. The joyous sharing of a |
common faith made these gatherings
q marvel to the heather Such quiet I.
peace, such confident trust in a God /
who is near, and such genuine. in !
innate and family Fellowship on the /
part of the believers had no parallel /
in the pagan religions. The expert !
centuries has shown that Christian /
ity has ever been at its warmest and /
best when, in simplest form the
friends of Jesus have met together to [
talk about Him and about their own /
Christian experience. Whatever its !
name or form. the prayer meeting is /
an almost Indispensable factor In
the highest Christian life The use
fitness of the Young Peoples socie- /
ties in rejuvenating and revivifying
the modern church prayer meeting is
4 service which has not yet been ade-
quateIy measured
When a prayer meeting becomes a
talk meeting it may be entertaining
and edifying, but it misses the pri-
mary objective, which is prayer
When persons pray together often
they find little difficulty in working
together
\ real sense of human need and a
real assurance of divine nearneSs-
these are the first requirements of a
true prayer meeting
The traveller misses much who
ioes not make a practice of attend
nS prayer meetings in the commun-
ty wherein he may be sojourling-
The genuineuess of our Christian fell
owship may be found at these little
Of earnest Christians
They have the favor of home. They
are a cure for loneliness and temp
-ation. They deepen ones own life,
ones spiritual horizon, and
also permit one TO be at times a min
STEERING witness TO our common
Master
Stupid prayer meetings are not
good prayer meetings. The drag and
the sag of indifference-a far differ
emit thing from waiting in reverent
silence upon the Spirits voice-aS<e
he perfunctory. stereotyped testi-
nony or prayer. with the unani-
mated singing of hymns which have
been announced mauifestly to fill up
the time, are by no means character
site of the true prayer nesting For
when there is realized need and real
zed faith. there is certain TO be life;
and life is always interesting, in every
1ne of its manifestations The prayer
meeting that possesses most life con-
most TO life
The ingenuity Of youth has devised
L multitude Of new methods for prayer
neetings. It has been found that nov