The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-03-27
CBY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.)

From the great war have come
many messages to the people who sit
in safety in this Western continent.
None is more stirring than the ex-
amples of patriotic devotion With
real heroism, and sublime passion,
men and women have surrendered
their all. in shining loyalty to the
cause of their nation. 1t does seem
as eff this war has been purifying
fire, to cleanse commonplace lives of
ignoble purposes, and to make re
splendant the gold or sincere patriot
ism. The master passions OF religion
and patriotism have come to first
place. All of this should not be lost
upon us Americans. Patriotism Is as
urgently needed in days OF peace as in
nights of war. In all soberness, we
declare that the present need of our
nation for the passionate and exalted
devotion of her people is as great as
that of any of the European powers.
A deep and sincere concern for the
highest welfare of America is the duty
of every Christian in this hour.
The church purifies and strengthens
the state: that is still the greatest of
all home mission opportunities.
Not all mission work is to be done
through church boards. These are
indispensable, in enabling us to go
representativeIy where we cannot go
in person, and to do forms of service
that are beyond our own powers. New
ertheIess. it is the direct personal
touch. the ministry which has a life
behind it, that counts for most. Aims
lovingly given to the neighborhood
poor. a guiding word to the perplexed
school class taught, visit made to
the prison-these are the forms OF
home mission ministry which count
for most
A moral wave seems to be sweeping
our land, for the cleansing of politics,
for the eradication of vice and for the
abolition of the liquor traffic. Clearly
it is real home mission work, as well
to put every ounce of his influence
square1y before these movements. The
country is coming to the conviction
that voter cannot at the same tune
be a good man and supporter of
bad politics. Odium now attaches to
the churchgoing. personally pious man
who is the friend and assistant and
tees. And when the gangster can no
longer count on the help of the
churchman, he will have to fold his
tents and depart.
Every immigrant is some Chris
tian's opportunity to serve Christ and
country.
mission service is the door into the
prayer closet.
A reader of the days problem
literature" of which there is so great
an abundance, is bewildered by the
tasks of human betterment that need
doing in our land and time. Clearly,
he can not do all Of them. His peril
Is that he will do none. substituting
vague sympathy for definite service.
After all, though. every Christian
may help keep the Gospel, with all its
social implications, pressed close to
the teeming perplexities Of our time.
The cross is still the sign of conquest
in all our battles for the worlds bet
terment. 1t symbolizes service, sacri-
flee and salvation. Crusaders who
wear the cross hidden in their hearts
are the de1iverers of our land.
Sense and sentiment must go hand
in hand. If we are to count at all in
service, we can not do everything.
Perhaps one reason why we church
folk are such putterers in taht we at
tempt too much. Take the immigra-
ton question as a present and press
ing case in point. Shall America open
her gates to all people who want to
enter, irrespective of their capacity
for citizenship? Some sentimenta1ists
say so. What, then. is to become of
the homogeneity and solidarity of the
nation fifty years hence? Would it
be real service of the world to de-