The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-15

Bible and deny the plain meaning of
many passages. Jesus, in this story,
SO faithfully pictures the fate Of those
who repudiate the Son, that we shud-
der as we read his words.
In tremendous and awful figure
Jesus said: ''Whosoever shall fall on
this stone shall be broken: but on
whomsoever this will fall it will grind
him to powder He had already
reminded them Of the Scripture: 1.-THE
stone which the builders rejected, the
same is to become the head of the
corner" There is q rabbinic legend,
that during the building Of Solomon's
Temple. there was one stone which
seemed to fit nowhere, and it was dis
carded and covered with dust and de-
bris. But as the temple grew to COM
pletion. 1t was found that the cap
stone was missing and, 10, the de-
spised and rejected stone beneath the
rubbish was the crcwning piece Of all!
The Christ. whom the Jews rejected
and slew. is today the worlds fairest
and most triumphant figur>.
Terrible is the picture drawn Of the
consequences Of being an enemy of
God. We have but to recall the aw-
the year 20 A. D. by the Romans, the
most terrible on record, when more
than a million persons persisted, to see
the earliest fulfillment Of this terrible
prophecy.
The Jews rejected the Stone-and on
them it has fallen. The sin of all sins
is the reputation of the Sent Son of
the Lord of the Vineyard.
Levelling Up the Democracy.
Terse Comments for August 16. Our
Social Life for Christi Luke "a:
1925.
BY WILLIAM n FILLS
An amusing story is told by DR..
Josiah Strong of the early days of
propaganda for a socialized conception
Of the gospel. He was speaking upon
Social Christianity and a preacher
answered LIN that his church had al
was not new! Absurd as was the blum
der, yet we know that church socials-
whatever their shortcomings in the
past-may be factor in social Chris
tianity. One great phase of the
church's larger mission to man is re-
hnement and exaltation and strength
ening of the human relationships. She
must create a good society of good
people which also has room and a well
come for all the worse who want to
become better. Those forced, dreary.
unreal gatherings which have often
cials." with no real cohesion. no real
vitality. no real joyousness need now
to be supplanted by occasions which
really express the church's mission as
the most unifying and inspiring social
agency in the world. Where there is
Of life and there is in every
true church-there must be the social
expression of 1t.
A Christian democracy land there
cannot be a successful democracy that
is not Christian needs to weld 1t into
-
hood which marked the Apostolic
church. When men and women meet
as children of the one Father. and
brothers and sisters one Of another
there we find the triumph Of democ-
racy.
There are three factors in Christian
ity-God. man and his brother. Other
religions have been content with two
God and man. But Jesus put a third
as the proof of the first two: love of
the brethren is evidence Of love Of
God. So Christianity is an outlooking
religion. It is building with skylights
and windows also. No anchorite can
be an adequate Christian. It needs
mans relations with man to give full
play for mans relations to God.
There may be as much Christian con-
secration expressed by a dinner party
used for Gods service as truly as the
pulpit. The home that Is made hos
pitable for the sake of helpfulness is q
veritable house Of God.
Some communities need church gym
nasiums: but all communities need. far
more, Christian homes that are en-
ployed in the service of the community,
to create a wholesome Christian at
mosphere. The person who has a home
at his disposal need not sigh to go to
the foreign mission field. Our day has
few needs greater than the need for
normal Christian homes that are given
to hospitality. for the sake Of saving
the young and keeping sane and sweet
our country's common life. This is the
antidote for the excuses and vulgari-
ties of the conspicuous fast society"
OF our great cities.
Cana as well as Calvary expressed
a thought of God. Jesus came eating
and drinking. and honoring the social
relations of men and women, in order
to teach US that devotion to the Fa-
Their need not take US out Of the world.
but enable US to serve the world, as the
salt of society.
Church kitchens have a mission as
definite and important as church pray
er meetings. They make possible the
meeting together Of Christians in that
most social of relationships, the shar-
ing Of good. This is basic hospitality.
There Is a sound reason for furnishing
refreshments to guests as il done in
the Orient. In the breaking of bread
we come to know one another. That is
why church suppers should be frequent
not the odious money making kind Of
course-for the sake Of binding q COM
munity together under the best
auspices.
The happiest memories Of youth
should be associated with the church.
The best of the good times should be
enjoyed under its roof, and in its fell
lOwship. Here should be experienced
the best definition Of ss0ood sociafx >,