The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-03-07


Vigilance. the Price Of Life.
TIA International Sunday School Les
son for March is "Watchfulness:
Temperance Lesson.'TAuke Az'So-4o'
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS9
This story is Oriental. from first to
last. The average person reads this Ia
-miliar New Testament passage TOT the
first time with bewilderment. 1t II all
out of his range OF experience he
might as well be asked to explain tne
symbols on an Oriental rug
What does he know about giroeo
loins? He does not wear long skirts
that have to be tucked up into his
girdle when he runs and does actve
work. The men in the Near East 40
that very thing today. 40 l nave seen
ed American know aught OF wedding
professions and feasts, with portion
brought home by the guest to his faitn-
full servants. We ring electric uoor
bells; in tho East, one hammers louo
and long at the outer gate. waiting TOT
the movem. hts of a sleepy Waterman;
that. too, I know. The fear OF tnieves'
against which the house Is barricaoeo.
has scarcely q counterpart IN thls
western world. And the unjust stew
ard. the Number One Boy" OF China,
who takes advantage of his master 8 ap-
sence to be high-handed and oppressive
that also is true In the East To-Day.
There are more important teachings
in the text than little lessons In ORIENT
alism There is a present meaning In
all the teachings of Jesus. His mes
sages are always applicable; truth IS
forever up-to-date. That Is why the
Bible is more modern than the novel
which came off the press yesterday.
The inspired Book is true to all times
It's essential teachings can be taken
right out and practiced on the next
person you meet.
The Attitude OF Fsaithfulness.
Canny old Ben Franklin said that the
eyes of the master accomplished more
than his hands. He meant that the
oversight Of the employer is necessary
ten thousand men can testify. the av-
erage worker eases up when the boss"
is not looking. 1t is rare class that
can be left out Of the teachers sight.
Most of us need to be superintended.
Now Jesus bade his followers live and
work in an attitu 1e Of faithfulness.
which is vigilance. They were to act
as II the Master were near, and hourly
expected. To be ready for him at all
times was the great motive he implant-
ed. This was the sure preventive OF
unfaithfulness and poor work. The in
spection Of the Master was at hand.
Every thoughtful person has recog-
nized this principle. Some day we shall
not return to our desk, our bench. our
kitchen, our books: will our days task
does not want her neighbor. suddenly
summoned in the morning, to find the
supper dishes still unwashed. The book
keeper wishes to leave his books in such
will not have to be called in to unravel
them. There is no greater incentive to
good work every day, right here and
now. than this great teaching Of watch
fulness.
A Plumb-Ldne for Watchfulness.
some truths are, mere distractions.
and wholly speculative. They have
nothing In particular to do with this
year of our Lord, 1914. There is none
of that In the discourses of Jesus. All
that he taught II livable. in New York
or New Mexico: At the base of his
btltty: 1t works out into real life The
Sermon on the Mount helps a servant
to sweep under the beds and in the
corners 1t makes a builder a. care
full of the integrity Of his out-of-sight
construction as Oh his facade. The
great cathedrals are marvels of thor
ough workmanship, because men
wrought in the spirit Of Thou. God.
seest me-
Paraphrased. this lesson on watch
spect to the great ideals. Take God
into your planning. Chart your
course in life by the eternal verities
DO Justly. love mercy, walk humbly'
that II the program. If you are real
Ing" ~ -'' TIC o . con"
The Dominating Passion.
There is something more than con-
scious caution to this quality Of watch
fulness. 1t is deep purpose. a pas
sion. soul-attitude. The new Tes-
lament phrase, Looking unto Jesus
embodies it. AS a mothers thought,
present and absent. is with her babe.
so the faithful disciples thought is of
Christ. Just as a devoted lover has
his beloved ever in mind, his whole
30 the Christian IL dominated. in deed
and motive, by the expectation of his
Lord.
This looking-Christward attitude
deeply affects life. 1t makes one a
better person to live with. Sunshiny-
ness courage. helpfulness, patience
all qualities of grace go along with
watchfulness. For, very clearly, If
one IL ready for Christ, he is ready for
anything. The life lived in his fear
Of religion elevates the whole social,
and commercial and civic life of a
community. So this Expectation of the
Lord touches inspiringly every phase
of character.
The Makers of Social III.
Biting and tenacious are the words
of the gentle Teacher when he ar
raigns the men who abuse their post
of responsibility. and who forget their
obligations to the higher authority
above them. They cease to watch
and. to quote the lesson text, they
begin to beat the men servants and
the maid servants and to eat and
drink. and to be drunken: the lord OF
that servant shall come in a day when
he expecteth not. and in an hour
when he knOweth not, and shall Gu,
him asunder and appoint his portion
with the unfaithful."
To all perpetrators Of social i'll, tt
all men who underpay their work
men, to all women who leave theil
dressmaker's and grocer's bills unpait
to all owners Of foul tenements and
resorts Of evil, to all makers Of dis