The Topeka state journal., 1914-01-31

Beyond the Natural Order.
The International Sunday School
Lesson for February n THE Un-
friendly -Neighbor." Luke Hills.
tBY WILLIAM T. ELLIs)
This is the day of the expert and
the specialist. The scientific spirit re-
Quires us to accept the verdict Of the
highest authority why then. In the
name of all that's reasonable, should
we be expected to take the word OF
q physicist upon subj 5sctes eeeenfially
spiritual? This constant appeal to
science grows tiresome. The man
who has spent his life in the study OF
wholly material and natural laws
may not be expected to have the last
word upon the mystical relationship
between a personal God and the men
and women whom He calls his chill
dren. Thus was Darwin. for instance,
okeptical concerning the value or
meaning of poetry; he saw nothing in
It. Likewise, some poets could see
nothing In Darwtn's theory OF natural
selection. Each knows his own spe-
cialty.
Clearly, IL we are going to consult
specialists, let us not go to an aurist
to have our eyes attended to. nor TO
q nerve specialist to have a club foot
Strengthened. nor to a geology spe-
cialist to have our views upon spirit
uality quickened. Stick to your
last!" cried the painter TO the shoe
maker, who, elated over his success
in criticising q shoe in a painting,
foolishly tried to pass judgment on
the general artistic excellence OF the
work. There are many humble. un-
lettered saints, rich In experience OF
personal relation with God. who are
better authorities upon prayer than
the latest German critic of the Bible.
Let us be scientific enough to admit
that some things lie Beyond the
Natural Order" which, by the way. Is
the title of Nolan Rice Bests pene-
trating little book on prayer.
An Experts Counsel
Nobody ever thinks of turning to
the words of Jesus for information
upon mathematics, geography, MIS-
tory, or the physical sciences. Tnose
were not his subjects. He was avoW-
edly a specialist upon spirituaI tn.n @
He was times greatest expert upon
the subject Of God. To make Coo
more understandable was his mission
upon earth. Through aN the ages
aimee. he has been the worlds most
Illuminating teacher of the spiritual
life. Concerning this he speaks with
authority.
friends and followers asked Jesus TO
teach them about prayer. They real
lied that the subject was one 70 De
studied; they needed expert aovice
upon It. Therein they were wiser tnan
millions Of Christians who nave never
read q single book upon prayer, never
given an hours thought to the sub
iect: and who do not know the differ
ence between a child's bedside petition
and a minister's pulpit prayer
In answer to His disciples request:
which was called forth by the fact OF
finding Jesus himself in prayer, the
Teacher propounded a model form OF
nrayer. Its principle embodied the
right ideals Of mans petitions sent 10
Co We call 1t 1.-The LORDS PRAYER, =
II really is the form given Tor use OF
disciples. BY no means Is 1t to pc. re-
cited as a mere collection OF WORDS
there is no especial efficacy IN tne
particular English words into wnicn IL
was translated in 1911. The spirit, the
idea, the principle-that alone co1n.s
.,,rv New Testament makes vivid the
enius of the original:
asWhen YOU pray" Jesus answered.
YOU should say-'Father,
May thy Name be held noiy'
and thy Kingdom come.
Give US each day
our bread for the day before
And forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves, too. forgive
every one in debt to us;
and 40 not take us into tempta-
tion.'"
The school That Broadens Life.
Tho wise parent sends his son to the
.chooI that will broaden his life, as
we'll as impart certain Information 70
his mind. That quality characterizes
the school OF prayer which the MAS
ter kept for his friends. Inere Is q
profound educative value in praying
Jesus kind Of prayers. Nobody can
remain small-minded who has been
a diligent student in this school. The
first word of the Ideal Prayer hfts one
above self and selfs petty concerns,
that none Of US can truly grasp ITS
ineffabie Name, inlay Thy Name be
held Holy"-that is a prayer worthy
of the ever-beholding archangels
about the throne of heaven. Get
person into the frame of mind which
seeks first to hallow the reputation OF
Jehovah and you have lifted him out
Of the imprisoning petttness OF sell
fishness. We shall be delivered from
we all get to praying that Gods Name
may be hallowed.
The best training a young lawyer or
doctor or editor or preacher or business
man can get Is to be In personal as
sociation with q really great master in
his chosen calling. Just to share the
of1ice OF John Marshall was enough to
IRE a young man Of capacity with
broad views of the law. The disciples
Of Jesus got their kingdom ideas (rath-
er slowly, it is true. for they were un-
promising materially by keeping COM
pany with him. Naturally, he taught
them to pray for the coming of that
Kingdom to which he had given his
life. To enter the Masters School OF
Prayer IL to learn to think kingdom
thoughts. to bear kingdom burdens and
10 be fired by kingdom ambitions. That
is the second lesson in prayer. and it is
allied to the first. A supreme objec-
tive is thus kept before the spirits
eye, to draw ones powers forth to
their greatest extent. This puts
kinRdom plumb-line alongside of life
It imparts q final standard Of values
Contrast II with the storied and wicked