The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-09-18

worked out into MISUNDERSTANDING,
divisions, expressions and militar1sm.
Now the new ideal, which is really
that of Christian missions, is, our
country for the world" In other
words, only as the unselfish ana
master of our ideals can we hope for
state of society truly Christian.
new note has come into the
worlds poetry during this war. The
glorification of arms has been heard
scarcely at all. Battlefield heroes go
unsung. Instead, our poets are attun-
ing their Tyres to the vaster human
God The following example, by Al
fred Noyes, is almost typical of the
day poetry; he calls it "A Prayer In
Time of War:
Thou, whose deep ways are in the sea,
Whose footsteps are not known,
Tonight world that turned from Thee
Is waiting-at Thy throne.
The towering BabeIs that We raised
Where soothing sophists brawl,
Inc little Antichrists we praised
The night is ON them all.
THE fool hath said-the fool hath said,
And we who deemed him wise,
we who believe that Thou vast dead,
How should we seek Thine eyes?
How should we seek to Thee for power
VINO seoTned Thee yesterday?
LORD teach us how to prayi
Grant us the single heart once more
That mocks no sacred thing,
The sword of Truth our fathers wore
Wnen Thou vast Lord and King.
Let darkness unto darkness tell
u Our deep unspoken prayer,
For. Wn1le our souls in darkness dwell
We know that Thou art there"
Perhaps a shrewd farmer would say
no - D. L.
the worlds field, rather than the hour
or sowing or of harvest. Certainly
there is a stirring up and a breaking
up OF mems minds. Who can tell what
the planting will be? Beyond ques-
ton, the human race, at the close of
this war, will be reader than ever
before to receive new ideas. There
fore the present is a high hour of OPP
portunity for the church. She can, if
she will, determine the sort of world
ideals that are henceforth to predom-
mate. This Is such a time of oppor-
tunity as has come only once or twice
before in all the worlds history. HUI
man ideals are in a fluid state: Chris
tianity can reshape them, if Christians
will.
We change the mind of the world
by changing the mind of individual
men and women.
1t is easy in these days of noisy
to get ones ideals mixed.
Millions are clamoring for peace and
other millions for justice. Now
which comes first? Does justice
spring from peace, or peace from JUS
tice? This is one of the al1-important
questions of the day. Shall we work
for righteousness, and even suffer for
it, or shall we seek peace, at whatever
cost? The Bible order is clear: JUS
tice first, then peace. There can be
no true or abiding peace that is not
in righteousness. The
wisdom that cometh down from above
is first pure, then peaceable.' The
gospel has caused many wars by its
insistence upon the pre-eminence of
truth and Righteousness; but these
wars have all helped to prepare the
way for permanent peace.
Only good inhabitants can make a
good world. Regenerated lives are
the one and only hope for an ideal
social order.
Is it possible to find a plan for our
country's future in the purposes of
God? 1t should be. Gods major de-
signs are clear. He loved the world
All mankind is dear to Him. Its well
fare is precious in His sight. He sure
ly is determined TO secure the highest
welfare of all people everywhere So
If we would have our nation fit into
Gods purposes, it must be made a
ministcring nation.
To the extent that we are serving our
time, in nobleSt ways, we are falling in
with the divine design. Thus we see
that the highest patriotism is the same
AS the missionary spirit. To serve the
world is to save ourselves. We rise to
our own greatest height when we try
to measure up to Gods standard for
us.