The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-10

Drummers ON Kingdom Work.
The International Sunday School
Lesson for Jan. II is '"The Mission
Of the Seventy" Luke 10:1-24.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIs.)
Every long distance train and
steamship bears its quote OF drum, rum
mers. or travelling statesmen. They
90 everywhere. At the present mo-
ment more than a hundred thousand
Of them are scattered over the conti-
nent. I have met them in remote
Aesopotamia, in interior China, and
ON seven seas. They are the repre-
sentatives of the firm, the advance
couriers OF its outreach.
1t is not irreverent to liken the
seventy men whom Jesus sent across
the Jordan to open up new territory
for kingdom business to the drum
mers Of trade. They were to pro-
claim the message of the Firm. In
their persons was bound up the au-
thority and honor Of their Employer.
To receive them was to receive Him;
to dishonor them was to repudiate
Him. The vision Of the possibilities
Of the new business that might be
done. which had first appeared 10
the Head Of the firm, was impaired
to these solicitors; who went forth,
in the approved fashion OF modern
trade, two by two. AS one business
man said. Anybody can turn down
one man. but 1t takes a strong man
to turn down two"
Pushing into New Fields.
The curious notion that Christianity
should not be extended beyond its
present borders Gan idea which 1t Is
well for us was not held by Asia In
hn nARAn
and America was unknOwn) gets no
support from the New Testament
story. Here we find Jesus himself
casting a generals eye upon the rich
cities across the Jordan and planning
to share with them the truth which
he had brought from heaven.
Few travellers venture across the
Jordan, but those who do are repaid
by the wonderful ruins of Amman,
fess that not until looked first upon
the great marble remains of Amman
did I ever realize the magnificence OF
the civilization which had hourished
here in the time of Jesus. He coveted
these great cities for the kingdom;
even as Christian strategists today
look with yearnins upon our own
cities as keys to the problem of world
evangelization.
The spectacle thrilled the heart Of
Christ with thoughts of a ripe and
plenteous harvest, with few workers.
This kingdom mind, If it may so be
termed, marks all who partake Of the
character Of Christ. One indictment
to be laid at the door of many Of us
today is that we are not facing the
harvest field. and are not really con-
cerned over it. More of us are inter-
ested in the machinery Of the harvest.
ivv in h0
of a patent spiritual harvester is sure
of attention.; but we would rather tin
ker with futile wheels than take a
sickle and go out and do hand reap
ing. Also we are not lacking for en-
thusiasm in harvest festivals and
domes; even when there is no real
harvest to celebrate. Pitiable? OF
course. But the passion for harvest
increase and fr new fields. Is to be
learned only in the school OF the Lord
of the Harvest.
The Unknown Seventy.
The sending of the seventy is the
largest bit of organization work by
Jesus of which we have record. And,
to our modern notions, the
press work was very poorly done. Not
a single man Of the seventy got his
name in print! Evidently the Head
of the firm did not think that the
of his agents was an
important matter. A drummer told
me the other day Of a hot debate
among a group of statesmen as to
whether the drummer's name should
be conspicuOusly in the center OF his
business card, with the firms name
in small type down in the corner, or
vice versa. All the men except one
voted that the firms name should be
name should be printed large! Which
reminded me of some kingdom drum
mers 1 have met; but not Of these un-
known seventy, who are 'only remem-
bered by what they have DONE"
Honor the seventy because they did
their job. They went as sent. With
one work in mind, they travelled un-
encumbered: the comfort Of the SOL
dicr Is important only to the degree
that 1t enhances his efficiency. Many
of us know that our lives are too
greatly cluttered up with conveniences
and luxuries and social usages and
trivial engagements to permit us to do
any real work. The seventy went out
two by two-there Is your good So
ciety Of fellow workers. the best in the
they made all things sub
servient to their mission.
A Louisville pastor has learned that
men are willing to be sent out upon
adequate tasks. His men are banded
together as Yoke-Fellows, pledged to
do any reasonable definite service.
Now a multitude are marvelling at the
great and varied work wrought by
these men who go where they are
sent, whether it be to visit a definite
man in prison or to drive out by auto
mobile into the country fifty miles to
hold a service. One sage observer
upon this 'If a preacher is
failing. or thinks he Is failing, the
way to cure the situation is not to get
a new preacher, but to get an old
bunch OF laymen busy" There is a
profound message for every congrega-
ton in this story of the sending out
Of the seventy.
'Wlth Prayer, or Not at All"
The recent simultaneous Every
Member Canvass Of three denomina-
tions have taken as their motto, with
prayer or not at ALL" These saxacious
leaders have seen that the greater the
activity the greater the need for spir-