The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-27

W As2ok2 S
Where Our Times Get Their Ideals
The International Sunday School Les
son for June % is, THE Seeking say
iour"-Heb. Ala to $40.
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.]
Merely to prove that our brains have
not lost their highest capacity, II Il
worth while for US to stop thinking
about the sporting page and the 1ash-
ions hints long enough to consider tne
drift Of the world in which we live
That is big thinking, worthy of mature
minds. Few of us ever rise ABOVE q
consideration of the nearest and small.
est Of the many counter currents OF
life.
When we view things in the large, II
becomes clear THAI the general trend oi
our times is towards ideaiism.
Almost any department OF life may De
selected at random in proof OF TINS.
Consider the matter OF the educatlon
of women. Within the memory OF Nv
ing persons emicent thinkers scoHed
at the idea Of "she- schools" and "educa-
ton of females" Many persons still
alive knew Mary Lyon, who was the
pioneer of the modern idea OF niSner
education for women.
Child labor, the horrors of which
have taken strong hold of this genera
ton, was not the subject for comment
century ago. Our vast plans 1or paDy-
saving and for llygienic living are crea-
tions Of our own day.
Prison reform is scarcely more than
a century old. though the present con-
ception Of prison reform is a world
ahead Of that which Dickens knew.
The general diffusion of intelligence
within a century has been colossal
achievement.
II is only = liter Of decades since
Temperance has made such progress as
the most prophetic reformer of fifty
years ago could not foresee or ant1ci-
pate The social evil has been boldly
challenged and is being sagaciously
fought in our DAY. Politics is being
put upon a new basis. Medical science
is &C ling to be a social service. The
thinking of the whole world is grow
ing democratic.
Simply stupendous is the progress
which our eyes have seen in the ao-
vance of human welfare. A long. clear
look at this should steady our thinking
and stop our hysteria. Great tasks re-
main. but that they may be accom-
plished is proved by what has already
en- done. The seemingly new principle
which is dominant in the world today
is nothing else than the Kingdom 1oea
taught by Jesus nineteen centuries ago.
Pale Galilean, Thou Hast Conquered!'
The cry of Julian the Apostate may
be echoed in our own day. The social
conquests of our era all follow at the
chariot wheel of Christ, and are part
of His triumph. He is the victor in
the twentieth century. The immeas-
urable ferment Of this generation is
traceably due to the kingdom leaven.
which Jesus implanted in the lump of
society in the days of his flesh. What
an evidence of the patience of God,
ho t,~, Shnrr1d xUaif long for
much of victory.
For the past three months the
Sunday schools of the world have
been studying Jesus in his teachings.
Through the record runs clear note
of opposition. His ideas seemed so
radical as to be futile. The spectacle
appeared like a pathetic waste of a
great mind and a great mission: for
the shadow OF the cross fell athwart
these latter days of Jesus.
Now, in amaze, we behold the con-
sequences of those utterances which
His day fouted. Nowhere else but in
the teachings of Christ did this new
take it's rise. We are today reaping
the fruits of His Sowing. His king
dom is so palpably triumphing that
we may echo Jul;an's cry, "Oh, Pale
Galilean, Thou hast conquered"
Three Months of Wisdom Words.
A period of about three months in
the life of Jesus is covered by the
quarters lessons. The scene of all is
laid in Perea. Steadfastly the face of
Jesus was turned toward Jerusalem.
He was near the end of His life.
These lessons all represent dis
courses. These were attendant Incl
dents for some, but only one miracle
the healing of the lepers. Jesus
was gathering up into the final mes
sages the utterances of His ministry.
The background of snarling. cap
tious, hostile Pharisees is present
throughout. Then, as now. vested in
terests were against new ideas. From
the days of Jesus down to the veto
of the home rule bill by the house of
lords. the rich and powerful have al
ways been found opposing the prog
ress of democracy. Conservatism
sets its face against reform. Even the
church has found herself in some
cases holding a fort, when she should
have been leading charge.
In this connection, it is to be noted
that two of the stories told by Jesus,
have the greatest pertinency to the
possessors of wealth; the parable of
Dives and Lazarus, and the refusal of
the rich young ruler, are to be found
within this course of lessons.
Getting the Meaning of the Near.
Homely stories and commonplace
incidents maze up most of this course
of lessons. esus saw sermons in
stones" All the life amid which He
moved was to Him vocal with spirit
ual messages. He attached q pro-
found teaching to such common inci-
dents as the scramble for place at u
feast; the misery Of leper at tho
rich mans gate; the shrewd worldly
wisdom of a steward discharged from
his post; the loss of a coin from h II
n N hn
herds straying sheep; the Pharisee at
Observation-Disclosures way He looked
Jesus found feathers for truths ar
rows.
The observation is suggested by
this. that our days call is for proph-
cts and poets who will interpret to
us our own times and our own life.
We tired of the ST -hea ted