The Topeka state journal., 1914-02-14

things: laying wait for him. to catch
something out Of his mouth.
Hard Knocks for ECc1eoiaottco.
Why should the professionally re-
iigious person. the man who makes q
readily succumb to the fundamental
temptations to avar1ce. self-aGgran-
dizement. aristocracy and unbrotherli-
ness? We shudder a. we read Christs
terrific indictment Of the ecclesiastical
know from our observation and expert
ence that the charges lie against the
door Of some Of their successors. False
hood, ruthless personal ambition, rank
disloyalty to friends and to honor. a
total lack of concern for the real work
Of the kingdom-one can give names
and particulars in support Of these all,
legations against eminent ecclesiastics:
while many others, OF course, are real
saints. Is it any wonder that some
brave men in the church refuse to con-
slider ecclesiastical positions?
Never was this particular teaching
of Jesus more timely than now. This
is the era Of revolt against class domi-
nance. The churches feel this. We
have entered the day Of democracy;
sincerity as its basis. Only true men
are f1t to govern themselves and one
another. The moment pretense ar
rives. real democracy begins to depart.
Truth In the inward parts" Is the very
life blood OF democracy.
And for that Jesus pleaded. Woe.
and only woe. awaits the person who
builds up a religious life primarily for
other peoples eyes to see. Religion
Is not reputation; it is character. 1t is
the hidden. godward side OF life. 1.-THE
Father who seeth in secret" Is its Judge
and rewarder. The faith taught by the
Master and the apostles is life "hid"
with Christ in God. ff Chrnu tho street
corners and the chief seats. There is
nothing professional or self-parading
about 1t.
In this discourse which set his hear
ers by the ears, the unconventional
Nazarene made specifically the point.
as charge against the lawyers. or
interpreters or the sacred canon, that
they loaded up the people with burdens
which they themselves did not bear.
They preached. but did not practice.
To them religion was something apart
from present. everyday life, like the
building Of memorials to the men of
a dead past. They hindered the peo-
real. and here and now true religion
is. For II religion is unreal, some
thing to be talked about and argued
over and prescribed for other people,
and not a new life and transformed
character for ones self. it is only q
show and a pretense. as Jesus said.
The Good Time Coming.
Everybody Is asking how we are
going to solve our clamorous social
problems. Some look overeagerly to
legislation. Others pin their faith upon
the slow processes of education. Stin
others merely trust to luck. But, the
Jesus way, az here indicated. is the
fundamental way. He wants a social
order based upon sincerity and service.
His program for a better world Is by
better men and women. The kingdom
which he established. and upon which
he pinned his faith. is made up Of indi-
viduals who accept his platform and
share his life. t.~
ligious thought overemphasized indi-
vidualism; but forever the need abides
for men and women whose lives are
kept right in the sight OF God. Among
the friends of Jesus there IL no divorce
evil. no scandal OF double living. no
oppression Of other men, no cruel
wealth and no bitter poverty. When
the religion of the spirit reigns, and
| people live with the supreme ambition
to be well-pleasing unto Christ. the
inside of the cup is clean, even II the
outside is not polished.
| The Bed Rock of Temperance.
Terse Comments for February Is.
| "Why Every One Should Sign a
| Temperance Pledge" Prov. 1920, q.
| 29-35.
| BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
All the signs of the times portend a
steady and Irresistible growth Of tenn
perance sentiment. The use and sale
Of intoxicants depends upon an arrant
individualism. such as Is growing out
OF date. The social passion of our time
wars directly against the liquor traf-
fic. The conviction gains steadily in
extent and in depth that the net re-
suit of the use of strong drink is evil
and only evil. And as we are legislat-
ing against impure foods and harmful
drugs, we are advancing toward the
right step. which Is governmental sup.
preston of business that does sc
much harm.
There is a danger in the present pop.
ular mass movement OF the temperance
cause. The danger is that Legislation
will outrun popular sentiment. There
must be a clear and convinced major
ity in favor of prohibition before any
temperance laws can become effective
In this. as in all other matters in {
democracy, the majority should rule
1t Is intolerable that a law treating
} minority, in league with corrupt off
cials should dominate a community
The point here to be made is that ther,
should be no cessation Of the educa
tional side of temperance work. If leg
tslative victories are to be buttresse,
into permanence. So while busy II
, campaigns among the voters. let US no
| cease to secure individual Temperance
pledges. The dry wave," as the par
, adoxical phrase has it. about whicl
/ there can be no misunderstanding o
misrepresentation is the growth of per
: sonal total abstinence.
Not everybody will sign every form
OF temperance pledge: but. there 1
surely extant some form of words tina
: will satisfy every sincere believer 4
, temperance.
A pledge IL psychologically sound !