The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-27

u
son for February rs Is samuel. the
Victorious Ladder Sam. 7:3-17.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
Informed folk are amused when
they hear persons talking OF the Billy
Sunday meetings in Philadelphia as
IL they were quite a new thing. In
truth, revivals are as old as the his
tory of religion. They far antedate
Christianity. The present Sunday
school lesson deals with a notable one
experienced a thousand years before
Christ. While the nation often
slumped afterwards, 1t was neverthe-
less more thoroughly nation. be-
cause fused in these hot fires of spir-
itual emotion.
Revolutions never go backward.
History advances by series OF con-
vulsions. Where the flames or ardor
burned yesterday, the crust OF con-
ventionality repressec today. Fire is
followed by Journalism. This Is brok-
en- up by the inevitable revival which
creates a fresh Standardization, and a
new and personal apprehension OF
God.
Samuel led the ration in a spiritual
revival at Mizpah, and cOnsecrated
Israel to Jehovah's service. This
the newspapers of America are giving
more space to religion tLan ever be-
fore in the history of the world.
Frying That Was Punished.
From the cities of the Philistines
the Ark was carried to Beth-shemish
In Israel. where the people suffered
for their irreverent treatment OF II.
The careful reader is struck by the
high importance which both the Old
and the New Testaments attach to
reverence. Sins of irreverence. small
and trivial in themselves. were re-
peatedly smitten with punishments
apparently out of all proportion to the
offence. The reason for this appears
upon deliberation. Reverence is fun
damental The first of Ill command
ments is Thou shalt have no other
gods before Me-" In the summary of
the law given by Christ the preemin-
ence of God is made basic.
Our day needs to peculiar degree
this lesson of reverence. There are
subjects and objects too sacred to
touch with light and careless hand.
Even preachers are prone to 1rrever-
ence and sacrilege. The common
speech of some persons who count
themselves cultivated is lightly sprin-
killed. with the name of the Diety. Re-
ligion Is treated flippantly. and made
a subject of Jest. The supposedly hu-
morous papers deem a touch of ir-
reverence sufficient point to make a
joke. To all such the episode at Beth
and reverenced Is His name
Rallying to the Standard.
That troublesome Ark of the Cow
enant-troublesome as truth is trou-
blesome-was at length removed to
the house Of Abinidab in kiriath-
jearim. Apparently there was a Lee
vite there, and assuring the safety
and prosperity of the family the Ark
was cared for reverently for twenty
years.
That was a dry spell spiritually in
the life of Israel. 1t seems to have
been a sort of between seasons. Sam
uel was in seclusion. ministering, of
coure. but ripening for his greater
work. He had to achieve maturity of
life before he could be ready for the
tasks that awaited him. Our bustling
day is impatient of these quiet times
of preparation which come to men and
t. nations. Apparently the prosperous
recent years of our national life have
been making ready for the great
crisis which we seem to be facing.
When the hour struck. Samuel
called the assembly of all the people
To Mizpah. 1t was a summons to rally
to the standard of Jehovah. He
evoked their national consciousness
timents. The occasion revealed the
patriotism of religion and the religion
of patriotism: each virtue supple
ments the other. The convocation al
Mizpah was a national assembly as
well as a religious revival. The flag
and the Bible always go together
Every battle front in the present war
reports religious quickening. The
two great thoughts of God and coun-
try are Siamese twins.
When the Preacher RebulkcS Heercrs
Some folk seem unable to enjoy the
Billy Sunday revival in Philadelphia
because it makes them uncomforta BILE
They are not permitted to rise into
idle transports and ecstasies. Just al
the point when they are getting ready
to shout. the preacher says some per-
fectly rude things about the church
members who are the confederates OF
corrupt politicians and the bulwarks
of bad big business, and straight
way all the pleasure goes from the
revival for those who want their re-
ligion to be a sort of spiritual luxury
not connected with the realities OF
every day. If you've got religion, rea-
sons the evangelist. get out and work
for God. If you haven't, hit the trail
But before you go up the aisle yor
must be prepared to give up all thai
would be Inconsistent with the Chris.
tan life.
One of the distinct contributions OF
Billy Sunday to the religious life o.
our day is his excavations of un.
Righteousness. He is notably hard OF
the ineffective church member. in tho
pulpit and in the pews. The limit o.
his rather extensive and effective vo
cabulary is used in penetrating thu
self-complacency of the professet
Christian who is living in sin. Ye
Billy Sunday could point to old Sam
Vel on this occasion at Mizpah as {
precedent.
The prophet demanded that Israe
give up the worship of Baalim ant
Ashcroft. and turn with whole
heartedness to Jehovah. The bedrock
or the message was that one could no
live in sin and be acceptable to Je
hovah. The holy God demand,
Righteousness.
Tho ssI3ap Nicotine