The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-09-12

An1lo the crash OF empires o.
called upon to consider one OF the
most dramatic Of the farewell admoni-
tions Of Jesus. The pertinency OF tne
present parable IL in the mind OF every
member Of the Sunday school tnat
uses the International Lessons. 30
bei ed, chastened, awed men and women
today are ready to study the deeper
truths Of life: and to lend an attentive
ear to hear what the Master OF us all
has to say concerning ultimate innings:
The closing utterances OF Jesus nao
to do with the Kingdom OF Heaven
that kingdom which has outlasted all
empires and still moves forward In its
benef1cent way through all the shocks
to human institutions. Here we face
a subject that is vaster than this over
whelming war, that is today engross-
ing the worlds thought.
Myriaos Of Christians are asking
themselves whether the present world
upheava! portends the contamination
foretold by Jesus. All OF us are SOL
emnized by an international catastro-
phe without parallel in human history.
Whatever ones views of the judgment:
it is certain that this war Is the enc
Of all things earthly for myriads OF
men. Small wonder, therefore, That II
is a profound spiritual experience Ior
st il larger hosts of the living.
The Sufficient Preparation.
When we are ready for God. We ere
ready for anything. That Is the N
elusive truth of the great parable II
the Wise and Foolish Virgins. Tne:
who go to meet the Bridegroom 10 'c"s
and unashamed, fear nothing else; at
peace with Him. they are at peace
with all the world. Here the lesson
mans philosophy of life. There is alb
solutely no other satisfaction possible
to human nature equal to the surpass-
ing peace of preparedness for the pres
ence of God.
Every crisis teaches the supremacy
of things spiritual. Wnen the storm
of unexampled war broke over Europe,
1T drove the nations to their knees.
Even irreligious France turned to
prayer. Kings and councils called their
people to supplicate before the throne
of Heaven. Inevitably the war has
set people to thinking Of the God who
was before all, and IL over all. and VIII
be after all. When right with Him,
men are right with all the old.
There is no other disaster equal to the
disfavor of the Infinite.
The Ten Nlaidens.
Because the greatest truths may be
mirrored in the humblest happenings,
Jesus set forth his wonderful te :ning
of the last days in the familiar story
of an Oriental wedding. and of the ten
n,aidens who were to help give joyous
welcome to the wedding party. Or
these ten, nVe were WlSc anu AlNS "CAO
foolish; for only five had laid by any
store of the oil needed to make the
" eddiny illumina ton. The parable is
one of preparation. There is II" ':ecd
to point out any analogy to present
world events; every one must do that
for himself.
The story touches upon our prepa-
ration for life, as well as our prepa-
ration for death; it is truth for ev-
cry day, as we'll as for the last great
day; 1t serves to make character for
youth, as we'll as to afford consolation
for age; it makes vivid the Masters
oft-repeated exhortation. BE We also
ready" That is the most practical
motto for the boy or girl starting out
in life; and it is the most spiritual
counsel for the aged person waiting
deaths summons.
TOO Late, Too Late"
Somewhere 1 have read of a paint
ing that l--erely showed a shut door.
that was all; but the artist conveyed
to the imagination the impression
that that door stood for separation
and finality. History is full Of tragic
regrets of those who have arrived too
late at their opportunity. We see
even such an empire-builder as Cecil
Rhodes crying on his deathbed, so
much to do; so little done! Queen
Elizabeth's shrieks offers q regal
she stared into the pitiless eyes of
death as it drew nigh. Let us get
firmly into our thinking the truth that
there comes q day when we must cry,
TOO late!" Opportunities pass; oc-
casions are not abiding,
In the affairs of business: in mat
tiers of pleasures: in the vaster con-
Germs of the spiritual realm, there
surely approaches an hour when in
vitation and opportunity rejected exist
no more; the. grace of God Is no
longer heard knocking at the hearts
door; the hour for filling the lamps
of service and OF happiness has
passed. Tennyson repeats the refrain
in his "Idylls Of the King"
"'Late. late. so late! and dark the
night. and chill!
Late, late. SO late! but we can enter
still
Too late. too late!. 70 cannot enter
now.
".No light had we: for that we do
repent;
And, learning that. the Bridegroom
will relent'
Too late. too late! ye cannot enter
now
".No light! SO late, and dark and
chill the night!
Oh. let us in that we may ind the
light
Too late. too late! ye cannot enter
now
".Have we not heard IL lie Bridegroom
is SO sweet?
Oh. let us in. though late, to kiss his
feet!'
oh. no! too late! ye cannot enter
now"
The Things Which Cannot Be Shared
The five wise virgins who had to
use their own store OF oil. even as
every one of us Is steward of his own
gifts. have often been criticised Tor