The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-03
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

Ill.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
It is almost uncanny the way this
Book, called the Bible, sheds a new
light on the latest problems Of the pres
ent time Nowadays we have the wo-
man question perplexing everybody. d.
viding thinkers into two camps. and
between them both the cause OF woman
is made to suffer. In such day as
this the Sunday schools have allotted
for the study of millions. a story which
reveals vividly the greatest gift ana
essential power of woman.
In shining distinctness it is pointed
out that the chief qualification of wo-
man is her spiritual intuition. She is
endowed with the ability to perceive
the real values of life. Her capacity
and loyalty in love are but variations of
her ability to penetrate to the core OF
all things involving spiritual values.
In this sense of relative worth. which
transcends all arithmetic, for it is the
divine mathematics of love, woman Is
lowered above man. By the exercise
of her powers of spiritual intuitfoni she
is to attain her highest service In the
world.
Fragrance That Envelopes the World.
This story is one of the sweetest in
the repertory Of the common people.
The scene is laid at a large family din
ner in the town of Bethany, a suburb
of Jerusalem. where Jesus and his dis
ciples were guests. The event of the &C.
casion, which alone made the dinner
noteworthy, was the action of Mary OF
Bethany, sister of Lazarus who broke
an alabaster vessel of pure nard-a
superlative perfume. worth a working
mans wages for a year-upon the feet
and the head of the Master, who had
restored her brother to life, and who
had been teacher and friend to her
family.
This was the very extravaganza Of de-
vOtion. The guests gasped at the royal
offering which filled the house where
they sat The amounting was a con-
summate token of lavish devotion
better understood in the perfume-lOvine
Orient. than in our Western land. Yet
the fragrance of that offering has fol
nineteen hundred years been sweeten-
ing this old earth Of ours.
The thrifty, ''practicar' and unsenti.
mental guests were scandalized by such
extravaganza. They were displeased
that the Guest of Honor should counte-
nance such waste. and their disapprova
Of Mary became instantly clear to botf
her eyes and her ears. Chief among
these prudent and protesting ones wa.
that keeper of the Money bags, Juda!
1scariot. who thought always in term.
OF lucre, and who straightway, with
appraising eye. began to estimate tn,
possible uses of the money represented
by the gift. Outwardly he talked o
giving 1t to the poor; really he wanted
1t in his own money bags where hi
avaricious fingers could clutch 1t.
Poor Mary was shocked, embar
raised and hurt at the reception which
he act was accorded by the othe
guests sensitive. spiritual personal
ity. she quailed before this hostile criti
cism. Her one thought had been o
her Lord. She was of those who do no
weigh and calculate consequences. II
her 1t was clear that her Master wa
worthy Of her best: and that the high
est use of any possession of hers wa
to employ 1t in the service Of love. Sh
knew instantly-and wondered why tn
truth was not plain to everybody-tha
when great loyalties call nothing els
matters.
A Gentleman to the Rescue.
True Gentleman that he ever was
Jesus came promptly to the rescue o
Mary. bewildered by the carping criti
c1sms of these small-souled disciples
Only for an instant was she permitte
to suffer embarrassment or rebuke
then she became covered with the EN-
barrassment of eulogy
Jesus not only received her offerin