The farmer and mechanic., 1914-08-25
LIES LARGER LOYALTIES.
The International Sunday School Les
son for Aug. 80 is. "A Day OF
Questions" Matt p: 1922.
IRX WILLIAM II ELLIS,

(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS,.
Every close reader Of history,
whether it be written in books or
in the daily newspapers, has been
struck by the pitiableness Of the
spectacle Of the opposition which
great statesmen and leaders have
met that was not sincere and disin-
terested. 1t interposed partisan, per-
sonal and petty objections to public
programs, merely to harass a foe.
The trick is one of the Oldest and
most modern in public affairs; and
it is still as contemplate as it was
when the shrewd politicians of Jesus
day used it in an attempt to CON-
found and discredit him.
The crafty bosses of the Pharisee
party sent their underlings to the
Teacher for whose feet they were
laying snares Of death with a set OF
questions. In truth, SO eager were
these hounds in pursuit OF the
Quarry that the Pharisee pack join
ed numbers with the Herodian pack;
although, except when some great
common hunt like the present was
afoot. these two packs howled at
each other and fought at every meet
promise; and il the Nazarene was to
be caught, both Pharisee and Herod-
ians had to swallow their scruples
against each other. The present war
in Europe illustrates how a common
foe makes strange bedfellows.
The hostile questions-so smooth,
80 plausible, SO religious. so ap-
propriate!-which these emissaries
propounded to Jesus were not sim
cere. An honest doubter, beset by
perplexities, has sympathy in heaven;
but crafty, pettifogging, insincere
twister Of truth has fellowship only
with the lower regions. These false
n1yn I,I -
darkness. Their ends were evil, and
they deserved the approbrium which
the gentle Gaililean heaped upon
themf
Diplomacy" Or Plain Living?
Displaying all the outward signs
Of respect, these enemies drew near
the Teacher, saying, Master, we
est the way Of God in truth, and
carest not for any man; for thou re-
gardest not the person Of any man.
Tell us therefore, What thinkest
thou? Is it lawful to give tribute to
Caesar or mott"
Sometimes that sort Of thing is
called diplomacy" or "jollying'' OF
truth 1t is plain lying. These men
were saying what they did not be.
lieve, and saying it for low, self
lsh purpose.
How they must have jumped-anG
how we would jump, too, if our du'
directness and candor-when Jesus
in the straight-flung words Of tht
fearless and sincere soul, came bacl
at the obSeQuious questioners on tn,
instant with eye hypocrites.'
That was victory number one: ;
blow from truth that sent the pre-
tenders staggering. Nothing is 81
n1oi n
integrity. Truth triumphs. That i
why the so-called "Shirt-sleeve
diplomacy" of America, which mean
telling the Simple truth, has wol
such notable achievements in recen
internationalism.
OF course the question was a poser
Not in vain had the shrewdest Law
yers of Jerusalem framed it. II Jesu
said, categorically. PAY tribute t
Caesar" all the Jewish patriot
would turn against him; that grea
multitude of followers whom hi
enemies feared. If, on the othe
hand, he bade the people refuse trit
ute to Caesar, then Rome would ma
short shift Of him, as rebel and
traitor.
An obtect-teacher and a picture
teacher to the last, Jesus asked h
Questioners to show him a denariu
coin, worth about sixteen cents. Agai
Jesus spoke: Whose is this imas
and superscription?
Caesars"
"Render therefore unto Caesar II
things that are Caesars and un
God the things that are Gods.
silence. Crestfallen looks. A col
SuAed retreat, while the crowd gri
Hed. The sharp lawyers had bet
Saught In their own trap. The ru
PAQ Jailed. BY lifting up hts answ
70 the plane Of a great principle, al
illustrating it. Jesus had put the ca
where even these hair-splitters cou
not gainsay it.
Defining Our LOyalties.
Everybody is debtor. We spe.
Q1 paying our social obligation
when we mean observing the pc,
fUnctillos Of cards and calls and di
EefD and receptions. Our real soc
Obligations are vastly larger Th