The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-23

son for May "a II OupEoAAS~~A~
Seryants'-Luko 17:1-1o.
RY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
Some persons are stumbling DOCKS
and some are stepping stones. some
lives help and other lives hinder. Inc
seriousness OF being the sort OF per
heinr their best, is dealt with in plain
speech by Jesus. His teaching nlts
annarelv at big business, II 1t is bad
business. 1t indicts the saioon-keePer
and the mistress who Expresses ner
servants. 1t reaches out to the osten-
fatious rich who put bitterness into
the heart of the poor. and the Cnns-
tan" homes which give their servants
r distaste for religion. The purveyor
OF suggestive literature or immorAl
art or debasing entertainment comes
souarely within the range Of this ter
xific attack Of the gentle Nazarfne.
Things Worse Than Death.
..It were we'll for him that = mill
stone were hanged about his neck ana
he were thrown into the sea, ratner
than that he should cause one o! THESE
little ones to stumble" That ID ter
rifle. 1t holsters the immemoriaA De
lief Of society In capital punishment.
There are some things worse IMAM
death. Jesus, who looked FORWARD 20
q kingdom Of social solidarity. inciuo-
and the social order. Whatever hurts
peopie-and especially the weak: the
helpless and the defenceless who nave
no protectors. except the inevitable
truth of God-comes within TINS
sweeping condemnation. The sacred
ness OF life and of human welfare
that passion which burns brightest IN
the noblest breasts OF our time-Was
lighted by One who had himself been
under the harrow OF ineQuitable polit-
CAL social and religious conditions. we
find Jesus arrayed on the side OF all
who need.
There is a great deal Of talk now
adays about property rights" and
some of it is needed. Every teacher
of truth, however. must speak clearly
the Judgment that weighed In the
scale against the rights Of life. the
rights Of property are inconsiderable.
Our day sees clearly the worth OF hu-
man life. In one Of his profound pa
pers What believe and Why-now
running in The Independent"-Dr
William Hayes Ward says. in touching
upon the puzzle Of infinite space and
infinite time, while I believe there
are innumerable inhabited worlds, yet
II the earth were the only one the ser
vice to us on this little world OF all
the radiant heavens would not be un-
worthy, for 1 believe that an Infants
single will 10 of more value than the
sum Of all cosmic forces through all
the celestial ages. SO much Is mind
superior to matter"
A new and larger and important
Interpretation OF the teaching OF Je-
sus IL being given in this generation.
There never was such an intense ana
general solicitude for the little ones
Of life. This IL the meaning OF the
new British law that Is changing an
cient estates from game preserves for
the nobility into small farms for the
common folk. The cry of safety
first" which in varied forms IL be-
ing written into legislation and which
holds human life above dividends, IL
Master. Child labor is being driven
from the earth even as was slavery.
because the Masters mind concern
ing tho little ones" Is becoming
world-dominant. The principle IL
everywhere being accepted, that any
business which Is not good for all Its
workers and for all the people. IL a
bad business, whether 1t be a cotton
mill or q gin mill.
This distinctive principle OF the
have a national application. It IL ex-
PLANTATION for Americas concern for
the welfare Of Mexico. President
Wilson, at the funeral OF the Ameri-
can sailors slain in Vera Cruz. laid
down the new extension OF this
Christian teaching, namely, that a ma
ton may even go to war for the serv-
ice and help OF a needy neighbor. 1t
was this word Of Christ that freed
the Congo slaves and recently saved
the villagers in Armenia from slaugh-
ter by the Kurds. It Is making
world-protest against the intention Of
certain heather powers to exploit
China The formal message OF the
Master is re-echoing in the social
battle cry, "Each for all and all for
EACH" Whatever hurts the '1east of
these" offends Jesus Christ and mer-
its His condemnation.
A Unique Doctrine.
In the budget of utterances OF Jesus.
which make up this Sunday school les
son, there are four distinct messages.
The first deals with stumbling blocks
and helpers. The second touches upon
the unique Christian teaching; which
differentiates It from other RELIGIONS.
Retaliation was tho rule Of the world in
which Jesus lived. The Mosaic doctrine
Of IAN eye for an eye" works out in the
Arabs blood feud and in all the ancient
world, which still maintains the ideals
that were common in Christ.s day. But
He came bidding men to forgive . peni-
tent brother.
There 10 no mushinesS or muddy
mindedness about this. The clear word
Of Christ II that an impenitent offender
10 to be rebuked. The preacher or
teacher who has not the courage to con-
denim sin. has no credentials from
Christ. But when q brother has re-
pented. then he II 10 BE- forgiven. Yes.
and forgiven again. and again; for the
kingdom cannot come-there cannot be
harmonious eocaal order-until the
principle Of forgiveness and forbear-
ance peFmeateG It. BY tho forgiveness
that We expect Of God. Jesus abjures u
to forgive our brethren.
A Prayer for the Times.
Some persons romember Moody chief
ly in terms Of his great sermon ON faith.
and his voice still echoes in memory a.
he repeats this passage. Increase our
faith" This II the third message Of
Christ, set apart for tho days study.
It u . timely truth. In the face OF
materialism. OF reckless speculation.
OF arrogant worldly-wisdom. our day