The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-02-20


The sons of Eli had corrupted the
people. Their. self-indulgence had
made a scandal OF religion They
stopped at nothing in the way Of
shameless, open sin. They were not
ministers, but were ministered unto.
The old eptgram Is recalled, ''Once the
church had golden bishops with woed-
en- crOziers and then the Shepherds fed
the sheep. Now we have wooden bish-
ops with golden croziers and the sheep
lob had been profoundly impaired by
these sinful sons of Eli. Their evil
had eaten like gangrene into the
life of the people.
When the Church Cannot Win.
The background Of this lesson is the
battle between the Philistines and Is
raelites. When the armies were Joined
IN array Israel was smitten and four
thousand Israelites fell. 1t was a dark
day for the Chosen People. In panic,
runners were sent quickly to Shiloh
to bring to the battle the Ark of the
Covenant, that emblem of victory at
which the Jordan had parted, the
symbol OF the presence Of Jehovah.
The fame of the God of the He
brews was in all the land, and the
Phfltstines were scared when they
heard OF the approach Of the Ark
They expected to be routed by this
the shouts of the expectant Israelites
rolled over their camp as the Ark
drew near, the Philistines were afraid
and cried: God is come into the
shall deliver us out of the hand Of
these mighty gods? These are the
gods that smote the Egyptians with all
manner of plaques in the wilderness"
were these Philistines, and they ex-
horted one another, BE strong, and
quit yourselves like men, o We Philis-
tines. that We be not servants unto the
Hebrews as they have been to you:
quit yourselves like men and fight
Tragically. the Ark proved impo-
tent. To the amazement of everybody
the victory remained with the Philis-
tines. Thirty thousand of the Chill
dren Of Abraham fell before the vail
ant swords of their foes. The Ark
came upon the battlefield mid shout.
ings of joy and hope; it left in the
hands of the foe, amid the wailings of
the wounded and the prisoners. The
symbol of the Presence had been in
effective The calamity of calamities
had fallen. upon Israel. Its religion
could not make good in the supreme
test.
OF course the significance of the
story is plain to our day. The out
ward forms of religion are not enough.
Signs and symbols are insufficient
The church and power are not neces-
sartly synonymous, as we know to our
sorrow. The most corrupt city po-
litically on the continent is the most
famous for its churches. Unless the
symbol is supported by a pure priest
Presence which it is supposed to rep
resent is invoked in vain. The church
fails when it relies on its churchliness.
Ecclesiasticism Is mighty today. 1t
has money and brains and social pres
tige. But it has not power. The
Christian church has twentieth CEN
fury ingenuity but it has not first
century victories. From the battle
lesson that the church is powerless,
except she be true to God and His
law.
Piety and power are not synony-
NOUS, unless the former is pure. Re-
iligion means righteousness. or else 1t
is hollow mockery. Real godliness is
irresistible. The forms of godliness
may be futile and vain.
In our own time the Christian
church is facing her greatest prob
lens and greatest tasks. She has foes
; within and without. Diversified ene-
mics confront her. Can she win her
battle for God and human welfare?
Yes. but only If she be true to Him
, as the form thereof
, The Books We Re-read.
Terse Comments on the Uniform Pray
, er Meeting Topic of the Young Peo-
pies SOcieties-Christian EndeavOr,
etc.-for February 21.--"Favorite
Chapters Of the Bible. and Why
Ps. 23:1-6.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)
I have read Kipling's kim at
| least a score of times; Drummond's
| Greatest Thing in the World" re-
? peatedly: Barrie's Sentimental Tom
| N.Y. half a dozen times: and Maclar-
, ems For Conscience Sake" in his
Aud Lang Syne'' equally often. No
book Is worth reading once that is not
worth reading often. We naturally re-
turn to favorite passages. That is why
, every earnest Christians Bible Is
/ thumb-marked on certain pages, and
opens almost of itself to loved por-
: lions. Not all of the Bible Is Of equal
value and interest Nor do the same
: parts always make an appeal to all
persons. Each of US has his treasured
topic provides something in the ma
, ture of an experience meeting, where
!, every one may tell Of his finds to
others.
Certain chords on the piano will set
;. the chandelier to vibrating. So parti-
! cular passages from literature-and
!. from the Bible especially awake on an
: swering response in the readers own
!. heart.
.. OF all the treasured words in this
= Book which has been more assidu-
: ously and intimately studied than any
other, doubtless the most generally
priced is the Twenty-thfrd Psalm. the
shepherd Psalm of David. What ii
: has meant to uncounted millions OF
Gods people throughout thousands OF
: years passes the Imagination to grasp
n Hunted martyrs have pillowed theil
: weary heads upon it and slept in
peace. In the dark of dank dungeons
: 1t has been a song and stay. Aspir-
ing youth and spent age have alike
. found sustenance in its beautiful pas
I sages. This immortal song meets hu-
. manity's common need for a refuge
a protector, a guide: we are all sheep
and these words turn us to the Shep