The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1914-01-27
in THE RELIGIOUS WORLD
What the Church Folk Are Thinking About and Doing
Sunday School Lesson and Young Peoples Topics
BEYOND THE NATURAL ORDER.
The International Sunday School Les
son For February list is 1.-THE I'm
: friendly Neighbour" Luke Hills.
By William T. Ellis.

BY William L. Ellis. |
This is the day Of the expert and
the specialist. The scientific spirit
requires us to accept the verdict OF
the highest authority. Why then, in
the name of all hats reasonable,
should we be expected to take the
word of a physicist upon subjects es-
sentially spiritual? This constant 'ap-
peal 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 re-
lationship between a personal God
and the men and women whom He
calls his children. Thus was Darwin,
for instance, sceptical concerning the
value OF meaning OF poetry; he saw
nothing in it. Likewise, some poets
could see nothing in Darwin's theory
OF natural selection. Each knows his
own speciality.
Clearly. if we are going to consult
specialists, let us not go to an aurist
TO have our eyes attended to. nor to
a nerve specialist to have a club o
straightened. nor to a geology spec
ialist 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 a 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 tina
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 a Is
the title of Nolan Rice Best's pene-
trating little book on prayer.
An Experts Counsel.
Nobody ever thinks Of turning to
the words Of Jesus for information
upon mathematics, geography. Ms
tory, or the physical sciences. Those
were not his subjects. He was o
eddy a specialist Upon spiritual truth.
He was times greatest expert upon
the subject of God. To max God
more understandable was his mission
ZION earth. Through all the ages
since, he has been the worlds most
Illuminating teacher Of the spiritual
life. Concerning this he speaks with
authority.
This is the obvious cas- why his
friends and followers asked Jesus to
teach them about prayer. They real.
lied that the subject was one to be
studied; they needed expert advice
upon it. Therein they were wiser
thAn millions of Christians who havt
v S0A ~ lac ooA 0fOAA k4OSJ -
ntver given an. hours thought to tn
su .>ject; and who do not know thu
diff, between a child's bedside
petit On and q minister's pulpi
prayer.
In answer to His disciples request
which WAS called forth by h fact o
finding Jesus himself in prayer, tn
Teacher pr pounded a model form o
prayer. It's principle embodied tn
right ideals Of mans petitions. sen
to God. We call 1t 1.-THE Lords Pray
err; It really IL the form given 70
use of disciples. By no means is ]
to be recited as a mere collection o
words; there is no especial efficacy 1
the partit ular English words int
which it was translated In 1911. tn
spirit, the idea, the principle-tha
alone counts The rendering OF tn
Twentieth Century New Testam en-
makes vivid the genius of the dig
inal:
When you pray" Jesus anlwered,
you should say-'Father,
May thy Name be held holy,
and thy Kingdom come.
Give us each day
our bread for the day before US:
And forgive US u SINS,
for we ourselves, too, forgive ever
n in debt to us;
And do not take us into temptation
The School ThatB Foadens Life.
The wise parent sends his son !
the school that will broaden his lii
as we'll as impart certain informatio
to his mind. That quality character
ICES the school of prayer which tn
Master kept for his friends. n
is a profound educative value
praying Jesus kind of prayers. N
body can remain small-minded WI
has been a diligent student In tn
school,. The first word OF the Ide
Prayer lifts one above self and self
petty concerns, and cries out for q
object SO exalted that non OF us CO
truly grasp it's eac and immensely
he glory of the ineffable Nam
May Thy Name be held Hoiy'-th
is a prayer worthy of the eve
behOlding ~archangels. about the thrOl
of heaven. Get a person into Il
frame Of mind which seeks first
hallow the reputation Of Jehovah al
you have lifted him out Of the IL