Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-12-11
(By William T. Ellis)


Luke "a: 36-48
(By William T. Ellis)
A penetrating phrase from a let
ter by st. Peter speaks of persons
which is near" That describes the
mass of us who cannot discern
things in their relationships. Every
great event has great consequences,
and the shrewd person percelVes lts
implications, as well as its lmine-
date reality. When the newspapers
announced that a new Babylonian
story of the Fall and Deluge. ante
dating Abraham, had been discov-
cred, many persons merely thought
it a curious bit of news. OF its vast
consequences, in the realm OF rell-
gion and history they had no suspi-
cion. Thus it is that the fact OF the
resurrection of Jesus cannot be un-
derstood at all until its consequences
also are realized.
We know from last weeks lesson
study that the resurrection of Jesus
had been historically established by
His six appearances in or about Jeru-
in Galilee. If the resurrection OF
Jesus be a reality, then it is fraught
with such tremendous consequences
to mankind that words fail us to de-
scribe it adequately.
Clearly, if Jesus could rise from
the dead, then it is possible also for
us to rise from the dead. Paul is
both logical and philosophical in
making his teaching of a personal
Immortality contingent upon the
resurrection of Jesus. If all the
worlds bonds that have bound hu-
manity have been broken, and If
death, the last great conqueror of
then a new order of affairs entirely
has entered into human life.
The New Kings Imperialism
The resurrection fact is inadequate
without the Resurrection pro-
gram. Jesus proved His author
ity by His ascendancy over death.
He had demonstrated the possibility
of a new and risen life. Now we
find Him, in the present lesson, issu-
ing directions to His followers as to
the manner in which the new life is
be lived. The former teachings
OF Christ were all touched with a
new luminosity by the new truth of
essary certain special instructions to
the men who were to carry on the
work of Jesus. The Master was
mounting His throne; what was to
be His policy for His kingdom?
The flaming conquests of Moham-
are one of the wonders of history.
Yet they are easily understood. Since
his followers believed him to be
Gods latest and fullest Prophet, then
it was incumbent upon them to carry
his revelation to the uttermost man
they could reach. In a far greater
sense If Jesus Christ be the Son of
God, and mankind's only Redeemer,
then all the world must be told the
good news; and no other concern
in life becomes so important as the
bearing of this message.
The Imperialism of Christianity
dates from the Resurrection. The
down after He had broken the bonds
of death. His fullest and final in
structions to His disciples were i'm
parted from this side of the tomb.
The work of winning all men to
Him is bound up with the kingship
of Christ. AS runs the old saying,
Christ will not be Lord at ALL un-
less He can be Lord in ALL"
World War Under Peace Prince
Doubtless, the most disturbing
thought of the world to-day-and one
that is being discussed in khans and
tea houses and at caravan camp
fires, and in Oriental palaces and
schools and pagan temples and Chris
tian churches-is the thought that
Z Christian civilization has apparently
broken down in the present world
war; and humanity has resolved it.
self into its original barbarism.
The christian nations" are heart
deep in the bloodiest war of all the
ages. Before this overwhelming pas
sion of war lust, the Civilizations of
brotherhood, charity and peace seem
to have vanished. Christ's clear
commands are ignored, and His Lord
ship is nullified. All the while His
name is being invoked as if He were
a man-made, national idol, to be car
ried forth to battle along with the
standards of the armies.
Sauarely facing all the myriads of
alert minds which will study this
present lesson, are the words of the
text, "All authority is given unto Me
in heaven and EARTH" Confronting
this truth is the admitted fact of
the apparent repudiation of Christian
ity by the older Christian nations.
What shall we say? Has Christian
ity failed? Is Christ or Satan ruling
this earth?
Into the scales, as we weigh this
question, must be thrown the two
thousand years of Christian history,
and the patience of God which they
reveal We recall His word, that
with Him a thousand years are as a
day. and my thoughts are not your
thoughts, neither are your ways My
ways" The conviction of many of
xhe most thoughtful persons is that
this is the last war. The present
Frisis is climateric.
SCrowding into this holocaust of
Slood and horror are all the lessons