The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-13


son for February IA is Samuel
Called to Be Prophet Sam.
1:24-28: CHI. 8.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
A distinguished scientist was speak
ing to a large company of influential
men. and as he met one eminent citi-
zen after another he was visibly i'm
pressed. The scholars embarrassment
was rather amusing, for, after all,
these men to whom he spoke were at
the wrong end Of the seventy-year span
to be permanently influenced by his
message. He might more reasonably
have been overwhelmed had he been
talking to the same number OF chill
dren. For 1t is the person who in
fluences childhood who affects the fu-
ture of the world.
That scientists mistake is being
daily repeated by the organized
and mighty. She is more pleased to
have the partial appreciation OF a
millionaire or a statesman than to
have the life devotion of a child. Down
in Augusta, thirty years ago. two per-
sons were taken into the Presbyterian
Church; one an old man of seventy,
and the other a little boy. Pastor ana
elders were delighted over the acces-
sion of the old man: 1t was victory
for the Church. The other was only a
DOy. lie OlQ IIldu IldS uACu iOiAo
but that little boy is the leader OF the
organized 1aymen of the Southern
Presbyterian Church, who are assem-
bling this month in two great conven-
tions in the Southland. A Scotch min,
lister once said to a friend, who asked
him about his accessions at the pre-
ceding communion. only boy. But
that boy was Robert MOffet, the great
missionary.
The beautiful story from the Old
~ s1H i< a
school lesson calls us back to funda-
mentals and the relative Importance
of the mother, the child ana the
Church, the three greatest factors IN
civilization. study OF TINS ldyi may
freshen our ideals for our own times,
and turn some persons back to a read
Ing of the stories of the Old Testament,
which make a permanent impression
on the Imagination of childhood.
The scamy Side Of POlygamy.
Our latest problems may gain light
from this old, old story. There is no
denying that the tendency today is to
loosen up historic family ties. and to
return, outside OF the law. to the laxer
code Of the polygamist's days ana
lands. Advance thinkers on social
questions who are talking SO ioosely
about the relation of man and woman.
volved in a plurality of wives. or a
multiplicity of "affinities."
The under side of polygamy is
scum-covered with the worst senti-
ments of which the human mind Is
capable. jealousy, rivalry, fear ana
deceit go hand-in-hand with plural
marriage or its equivalent. Elkanah
had two wives. Hannah, the child
less one, he loved the better-for no
man ever loved two women alike. The
rival jeered and taunted the childless
favorite, and none of the clothes and
Jewels that the husband lavished on
her could compensate for lack of a
child at her breast.
What the Shrincs Signify.
Hannah is normal type of wom-
aphood, not only in her religious in
stincts, but Also IN her yearninE for
her own children. The woman who
wilfully turns aside from motherhood
is a worse citizen to her country than
the bewhiskered anarchist who throws
bombs and breaches revolution. That
type of wOmanhood is cOmmoner in
these artificial, modern days than ever
before.
The deepest desire of the women OF
the world. taking them in the large
is to have sons. Before my mind
there pass pictures of the shrires at
which I have seen the women Of many
races praying for this supreme boon
One Japanese shrine in lovely Mike
was broken down with the weight OF
inscribed wooden prayers heaped upon
1t. The women of BabylOnia make
pilgrimage to the reputed tomb OF
Ezra on the Tigris river, below Bag
dad, to pray for sons. I have seer
black Sudanese parents travelling to
the antiquities at Cairo to make the
same prayer.
The Answered Prayer.
Many childless women are as griev.
ously misunderstood as Hannah wher
she was worshipping in Shiloh. Every
mastering petition. In the outer court
of the tabernacle she was praying with
such intensity, that she forgot hel
surroundings. Her lips moved but nc
words came forth. Watchful old Eli
the priest, thought she was intoxi.
Gated and rebuked her. Thus may
H., lowest motives be attributed t6
truth. he like every true minister
comforted the disconsolate worshiper
Hannah's prayer was answered ant
she covenanted with Jehovah that hel
son should be His for divine service
all his life. Multitudes of men are IL
the gospel ministry today because
their mothers dedicated them in child
hood. 1t imparts new sanctity tt
motherhood to train her child for Goo
and country. This high service exalt!
life and calls forth the noblest pas
sions 1t was only yesterday that
father told me that he had given two
Of his sons to the army of one Of tn,
nations now at war and the youngel
to the deadly artillery. He said, wv,
believe 1t Is a sacred cause"
The Child in Church.
The beautiful picture of the chill,
Samuel ministering in the tabernacl
is loved by artists and story-teller
and teachers and childhood. It is al
obvious reminder for our own da
that the child should be in church
Youths fair flowers are a better tenn
poral offering than bullocks or goat
or doves Surely God would rathe
hear the childish voices Of prais
raised in His house than the traine,
notes of high-salaried choirs. Grea