The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-11-22

The New Man for q Big Job.
The International Sunday School Les
son for November % Is Joshua
The New Leader Joshua 1:1-9.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
De Lessep is dead, but the Panama
canal is practically completed. Dr
Langley died of a broken heart, but
thousands Of airships are today sail
ing amid the clouds to testify tna'
he was right. 1t is the way OF the
world that Moses does not always en-
ter the Land Of Promise to which he
has led the people. Every nation
every community. every business,
confronted with the crisis created by
the death of its Moses.
1.-THE old order changeth. yielding
place to new;
And God fulhlls himself in many
ways,
Lest one good custom should corrupt
the world"
If Moses lived forever, where were
the Joshuas? The new times forever
need new men. The training of
Moses did not fit him for this new
task. for which young Joshua had
OccA SSlllHS ICdOy, OH AANAO " - ~
himself The preparation OF a lie
for great service, which Is today,
theme, is always timely and useful
For as we trace the qualities OF
Israers new leader in the princely spy
who brought back the word OF cour-
age from Canaan, so we may be as
sured today that the youths Of high
dauntless faith. will be the actual
leaders of the world a generation or
two hence. Joshua was not maze
captain of the host at the death OF
Moses; he was being made in all the
years that went before. Bayard Tay-
lor's lines are pertinent:
HE who would lead must first him
self be led;
Who would be loved be capable OF
love
Beyond the utmost he receives; who
claims
The rod of power must first have
bowed his head,
And being honored, honor what's
above:
This know the men who leave the
world their names"
On the Football Fields of Rugby.
The Duke of Wellington's word Is
familiar:-'"The battle of Waterloo
was won on the football fields of
Rugby" Somewhere today. among
our boys at play, are the nations fu-
ture statesmen and poets and preach
ers. The business of training Joshuas
(and we delight to dwell on that
name which is but the older form OF
the later captain of salvation, Jesus,)
is more important than that of re-
organizing political parties. Mr.. Will
liam Shaw wrote a wise word IN The
Congregatfonalist' recently when he
pointed out that the care of the Chris
tian Endeavor societies in the indi-
vidual congregation Is better deserv-
ing of attention than many seemingly
larger matters of. UNCONVENTIONAL
polity.
Every grave-minded person, with
q solicitude for society, is asking
himself whether our present usages
are best calculated to prepare our
young men and women for the ever
increasing responsibilities of the new
times. Are our young men too de-
voted to sport. and too little interest
ed in statecraft? Are a considerable
proportion of our young women more
interested in fashions and amuse-
ments than they are in fulfilling
woman's highest mission? Do they
care more for making "a good catch"
than for being good wives?
Absolutely the only foundation for
tomorrow Is today. We have no 9TH
er stuff with which to build society
than the boys and girls. young men
and women, whom we see about us
today. Are we older folk helping the
younger to become Joshuas? Tho
business of getting ready for oppor-
tunity Is the one great task Of youth,
and it is the burden of this lesson.
After the Funeral-What?
Griefs grayest hour is after the
preacher has pronounced. Dust to
dust, ashes to ashes;" and after the
friends have all departed from the
bereaved home. In this deep and des-
Olate period of darkness, what shall
we do? Nurse our sorrow in selfish
Indulgence Of our feelings? Listen to
the Lords own answer from this his
tory: Moses my servant is dead;
now. therefore. arise, go over this
Jordan" The cure of grief is service.
Charles Crittenton lost lovely
daughter: he gave himself to the
work Of founding rescue missions for
girls, as q memorial to his child. In
healing the sorrows of others his own
were cured.
Every death is an invitation to
cross some Jordan. 1t is an hour Of
aroused feeling; the heart is then the
most sensitive; conditions have been
so disturbed that they may be adjust
ed to meet new purposes. After a
loved ones departure from earth, go
forward to the greatest possible serv-
ice. in memory of that one. A living
work is a better memorial than a dead
marble shaft. No monument marks
the grave OF Moses on Nebo; the en-
trance OF the Chosen People into the
Promised Land is his everlasting
memorial.
His death welded the hearts Of the
people into oneness. They were ready
to cease their interminable fault-find-
ing, and to give loyal allegiance to the
new leader. A fresh experience of Je-
hovah's sovereignty possessed them
And they were prepared to go for
ward straightway. All, Moses, you
are not the first nor the last man who
has accomplished by his death that to
which he was unequal in life.