The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-14

A proud Roman and a prouder Jew
one day lost their historic prejudices
and became not only tolerant of what
was on the other side of the high wall
which divided them from other peo-
pie, but they actually crossed the wall
| themselves. This lesson tells the
story. Crowded with incident, it re-
veals an angel talking to a heather; q
| pork-abhoring Jew who learned that
all meats are clean: and a strict fol-
| lower of the law of Moses visiting in
the home of a Gentle Roman, and
telling him a story that brought a sec
ond Pentecost.~
T. Such a great experience is we'll
worth studying, especially when the
blasts of war are breaking down old
| diversions and divisions and prejudices
| and at the same time creating new
! ones Never was a lesson upon toll
erance and brotherliness timelier than
now. The Christian church has not
always been tolerant of tolerance. It
is only of recent years that we have
understood the Christian virtue of
bearing with another's beliefs which
are different from ours Now our
horizons have been pushed out, and
we know that we fare all members
| one of another and we sing:
For. the love of God is broader
! Than the measure of mans mind !;
And the heart of the Eternal
| If we want another "Pentecost like
unto the Gentiles'' as the old church
fathers called the experience in the
| house of Cornelius, it will come only
after fresh awakening to the truth
| that God has present-day messages for
US; and after a new vision of the in
clusiveness of the Gospel
The present popularity of the
preaching of the Gospel for all the
world may have consequences that
will extend far beyond our conven-
tional understanding of a foreign
mission revival. Our petty regulations
| and codes and insularities and preju-
dices will have to give way to broad
| er understanding of the world of God
A Seeking Soldier.
Travel, observation, reading and
maturity of thought all play havoc
with petty prejudices. There is no
class or calling or race or nation that
a wise man is willing to condemn. 1t
will go hard with some students of
this lesson, SO strong is a certain an
| tipathy TO militarism, to realize that
God sent his angel to a soldier. Cap
tain Cornelius was a military man,
stationed at Caesarea, a town on the
Mediterranean coast some thirty miles
above Joppa. His duties were alto
gether those of a soldier, and out
wardly his life was controlled by the
profession Of arms. Withal, beneath
his breastplate he concealed a heart
hungry for God Spirituality belongs
to no sect or group or condition of
mankind Our contract with Corne-
Illus should teach us that Goodness is
a universal aspiration.
This seeking soldier did more than
aspire. He prayed and he served. Both
his charities and his prayers came up
before God; for to such n soul God
would not deny himself. He followed
the light he had-and it is to be re-
called that although reared among
Roman polytheism, Cornelius believed
in one God, and so was given more
light.
To him an angel appeared and babe
him go to Joppa for Peter. Little as
it may accord with our notions of q
Roman centurion, this soldier was of
the sort to whom angels appear, and
he could look unabashed into the face
| of heavenly visitant.
\ jew Who Broke Caste.
t Nobody discards ancient prejudices
or convictions in a minute Peter had
been slowly prepared for what was
coming to him. Pentecost had broad
ened his horizon. SO that at Joppa he
soJourned with a tanner, whose call
ing was prescribed to the Jew. The
naturalness of the vision that came to
Peter is apparent. He was hungry.
He went to the common oriental
1ounging place, the housetop, to wait
".
he fell into a trance and had a vision
of food-a great sheet let down from
heaven. containing all manner of
beasts and reptiles and birds A voice
babe him Rise Peter, kill and eat"
As man is prone to do, Peter remon-
/ strated with God; for 81 have never
yet eaten anything unholy or impure
Foolish braggart, hurting his phari-
saical righteousness into the teeth of
God The voice answered again,
What God has purified you must
not regard as unholy'' Three times
this was said, and then the vision was
| Withdrawn.
A twentieth century fault was that
of Peters. He was over-fastidious
We are in danger of being refined into
inefficiency. The church is so inter-
ested nowadays in her grammar and
in her manners that she is alienated
from the toiling, dusty, sweaty crowd.
That, If anything. is proved by Billy
Sundays successes. 1t is less impor-
tant that the church be correct in her
outward forms than that she be close
to people.
Clearly, though, our day is learning
the lesson that the program of God
is broader than the prescriptions or
our creeds, and books of church gov
eminent. We find n-Episcopalians
in Episcopal pulpits; unimmersed
Christians at Baptist communion
tables; and women in Presbyterian
pulpits; and Unitarian hymns in
orthodox hymnals. On the whole, our
time is learning with Peter the lesson
, of tolerance.
Condolences That Are Providences.
A certain man was accustomed to
pray, 80 Lord, prepare me for what
thou are preparing for me-" God
works both upon the field and the
force. 1t exalts our thinking to recall
the universally and the immanence
of an all-knowing God. who makes
ready the man for the work and the
work for the man. He speaks at one
and the same time to Cornelius and to
Peter.
Cornelius's messengers were well
coined by Peter. He went with them
the next day. He took a chance of
being unconventional He dared to be
different. To him it had been taught
that the open-minded teacher was per-