The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-10
INTERNATIONAL SUNDAY
SCHOOL LESSON
For November II is Worlds Temper
ance sunday. 14:13 to 1873.
Millions VIII Observe Temperance
BY w. t. ELLIS.

IemDeEancG
Sunday.
This is one of the occasions when
Christians are reminded to think in
millions For thirty million members
or the Sunday school, not to mention
other church folk, viii observe No
vember IL as Worlds Temperance
Sunday. Such a concentration of at
tentton upon a single theme is of pro-
found significance. 1t shapes i'm
pulses and convictions that will have
unmeasured consequences. There is
no way of knowing what part these
regularly-recurring studies of temper
ance in the Sunday schools of the
world have had in the remarkable
progress of temperance sentiment:
certainly it has been great.
1t is jubilant host that is TODAY
facing the question afresh The past
year mas been the most triumphant in
the history. of the temperance move
ment- Russia's results from the total
abolition Of alcohol are clearly known.
and wholly glorious. Rumania has
Followed suit. Germany is openly
grumbling over the use of grain for
peer that is needed for bread. Britain
mas increased her restrictions upon the
SAFE ana use of alcohol. Two great
provinces of Canada. British CoIun,i,io
and Ontario. have gone "dry." Al this
Wr1tlng i've American states are pre-
pairing TO vote upon the abolition of
the saloon Even the liquor men them
serves know that the traffic is DOOM
81 H. Indt loea has come to be a set
ued conviction in the public mind.
When, a few years ago. the Rev Dr
francis Z. Clark, leader of Christian
Endeavor, raised the cry for the
United States and Canada, "a saloon
less nation by 1920" the slogan was
not taken seriously. The press either
ignored it or laughed at it. Now the
cry is being raised by reformers ever
Wnere. victory in the long, hard fight
with rum is almost in sight. So TO-DAY
II oenooves the Sunday schools, as thew
consider the annual temperance les
large. '--e
Catching Up With Paul.
II heaven ever laughs at earth, Paul
must indulge in many a chuckle- as
he sees the ''progressiye'' modern
world catching up to his program. The
last word in the temperance reform
To-Day Is economic efficiency: alco-
mol hurts a mans productiveness and
tilpalrs mis- social value. He is being
1o-ceo 10 give up the glass for the AXE
OF the general welfare 1 have under
my hand at the moment a sparkline
booklet against booze issued nv a hi9
manufacturing concern. 1t is Of q
piece with the new kind of temperanca
literature. q Se
inf n
tune with this Sunday School Iesson
Wrltten nineteen centuries ago. Catch
I the modern" note in these phrases
LET no man put stumbling block in
ms orother's way. If thy brotbar
pc grleVed with thy meat thou walkest
no longer in love. Destroy NOT hin,
Win tiny meat for whom Christ died
1t is good neither to eat flesh
nor 10 drink wine, nor anything where,
oy thy, brother stumbleth or is Offend
eu or is made weak. We then
snat are strong ought to bear the in.
Ilrmlties of the weak. and not to please
ourselves For even Christ
pleased not Himself
Ihere you have the Law. the bieb-
er Law. Society is repeating The
lesson after the old apostle. Wit h
cruel blows the present war has
beaten the same truth into human
ity: No man liveth to himself and
no man dieth to himself The old
individualism of selfishness has he
come uncomfortable. As John Stuar;
Mill said sixty-five years ago. "My
liberty ends when it begins to in
volve the possibility of ruin to nv
neighbor." Before the Judgment
seat of Brotherhood, which is the bar
of God, strong drink has been con-