The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-16

SON for October II is elisha Heals
Naaman the Syrian."-II Kings,
chapter 5.
CRY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
How the newspapers nowadays
bridge the gulf of the centuries. 1ney
link the old Bible right UP with the
events of today; Bible places figure IN
the latest news and Bible incidents are
paralleled in current events All OF us
have been reading about Damascus as
military center in the presen1 mn.,
the civilian French, British, hussian
and Italian were interned py 1ne
Turks before they were called OH 10
yniI1ions of Sunday school members
are studying about this same Danias-
cus-the oldest diving city on earn
in connection with FAMOUS nilllSaiy
general a little girl, and preacher
The incident is one of the most famll-
lar and interesting stories or the Olo
Testament -.
in history leads us to accent the part
borne by the little Hebrew serving
maid in the miracle of the healing OF
Naaman, the leper. Because sne va
not ashamed of her race or her rsh-
gion. and because she did not harpor
any petty resentments, she did great
service for her nation ana LOT ner
faith, and became one of the lmmor-
tails of history. At the present Tune
there are thousands of Aremenian
Ills heinS carried off from devastated
homes and murdered families INTO
Turkish harems. II we oS can i seekinS
TO save the life of Enver Pasna we
shall have a fair analogy of the
ancient story.
"a Great Man, But"
Every biography has its but.
dF H9 was He was brilliant, but un-
raiiahle" s'She had charming man
ners. but was insincere. 'Tney were
wealthy and cultured: but tneaF son
these handicaps, these skeletons IN
the closets. The great Naaman, com
mander in chief of the Syrian armies
the brains or syrian Of K Esa,eS BEN
hadad. was great man Out
he was a leper."
That terrible fact took the sparkle
from the Jewels, the glitter from the
gold the flavor from the feasts, the
Qualification from military and po-
iitical honors. Nothing else IN al
Damascus, or in all the world reaiIy
mattered to Naaman alongside OF tne
fact that he was a leper. so sin, ano
its consequent sense of separator
from God, mars all the successes ant
Joys that come into a mans me-
man with q wasteful son, or an uh'
happv home, cannot get any peace ou
of prosperity or public honor. Littlt
cared Naaman for the HUMANS tina
streets of Damascus; he saw the loot
of compassion in the eyes OF tn'
crowd, and no strong man wants TO o.
pitied.
A Little Girl to the Rescue.
Nevertheless. it was the compassion
of a Kolden-hearted little Hebrew
maiden, a slave girl, torn from he
home and people and a mere menial II
Naaman's palace, that effected ms de
liverance. A rare character was Tn
rFfQvanTGG
exult in the ill-fortune of her master
Her religion was uppermost In ne
mind. While busy about the tasks o
her mistress, her thoughts were OH Il
Israel and she Toasted her memory o.
the words and deeds of the prophet
of God among her own people OnI
such a broad-minded child OF JehoVa
could have been chosen to 90
notable a deed for her faith. This los
is a famous illustration of the trut
that it is possible toll i've a great If
in a small place.
No mistaken modesty kept this He
brew maiden from bearing witness I
her faith. Doubtless "her heart wa
in her mouth as she said to Naaman
wife would that my lord were VIII
the prophet that is in Samaria! the
would he recover him OF his leprosy
That ray of hope flashed throug
Naaman's household, and into tn
most sacred precincts of the roy'
naIace ITSELF and reached the ears {
the king.
OF course the king knew only or
way of putting the idea into exect
ton: he sent a formal embassy TO n
king of Israel. That is a blundt
They think that all things can be a.
compIished according to the anciel
royal rules of order. official pr
cesses. sometimes called red tape
bind them hand and foot. They
not understand that the simple, dire
measures of democracy, ana OF u
quiet, unobserved relations OF Il
common people, are often more potel
than the mandates of royalty. I'll
greatest force in society today Is n
the DEGREES of governments
CONSERVATION fell upon Israel wh'
this extraordinary embassy came Iro
Syria, with its message tnat NaaIn n,
should be cured of his leprosy. II
king in terror, rent his clothes, CT
ing Am God, to Kill and to ma
alive?'' Politically. the whole alta
looked like a trick to embron the Je'
in war.
The General at the Preachers Door
While panic possessed the cou
Elisha, the successor to Elijah, stepp
forward with the audacious word
which nevertheless brought rel1ef
the king-"Let him come now to II
and he shall know that there is pr
phet in Israel" Whenever the repE
sentatives of religion are prompt a.
bold and outstanding, and ready to g
sume their obligations and 1eadersh
the good repute of the Cause rises
once Elisha, like q true proph
seized every opportunity to vindics
his God.
Now let us summon our imagin
ton as we look upon what follows
Elisha was more of q settled propf
than Elijah and he had a house.
wat not much of a house-t
preachers residence is not likely
be pointed out for its pretentiousnt
probably ii was a single-stori,
mud-brick dwelling, without windoy
1t was an average home for tho