The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-07-28
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
For July 80 Is 1.-THE Word of The
Cross-"-I Cor. IL to 2:5.
BY w. i. ELLIS
..In Hoe signo yinces.

Cross. II Cor. IL to 2:5.
'In Hoe Signo Vinces."
A wonderful thing has happened.
The note of sacrificial service has
crept into the utterances of the states
men of our day. Thus it has come to
pass. as it never was in the time of
Constantine the Great. that the Cross
is anew the symbol of conquest. No
more significant phenomenon has ac-
companied the intellectual political
and social upheaval of the past two
years than the emergence of this sense
of NERVOUSNESS. The great nations
have been forced to renounce their
selfish ambitions and to accept a pro-
gram of altruism. The dominant
craftsmanship of the day procEaims
unselfish service as its creed The SUI
preme obligation of nations is to serve
the world. Not seifishness, but right
eousness and truth and brotherhood
are now the avowed goals of govern
ments.
We almost rub our eyes at this;
yet the change is clear to every read
er of the daily papers. President Will
son has staked the case of his admin
istration upon this platform. Great
Britain declares to the world, through
her highest responsible ministers, that
she accepts as her mission the stew
ardship of civilization. Russia has
been transformed into new mood of
idealism. The noblest Interpretation
of Germany's mission is none other
than world service. At whatever cost
even the terrible toll of war-a ma
ton and an individual must live for
others.
The Cross has come to it's own.
State papens are eehoing the teaching
of the Book of the Revelation, which
pictures the Slain Lamb in the midst
of the throne" There can be no SOW
ereignty apart from sacrifice. The
royal road leads over Gelgotha; for
civilization we now perceive must
wear the print of the nails.
The Long, Long Advance.
For eighteen centuries princes and
warriors have been proud to wear the
Gross as their emblem. Only now,
however, is it being craven on the
hearts of nations. We do not yet
fully understand the change which
has come to pass. The outlines of
the Cross on government policies are
as yet faint; but they are growing
clearer daily. The highest statesman
ship of the hour propounds a pro-
gram of sacrificial service. Even
nation may walk the way of the Gross,
although that truth is still foolish
ness to the short-sighted and the
worldly minded. 1t is none the less
conquering our generation, as surely
as Calvary is ruling the world.
Too little is made in religious litera-
ture and discussion of these conquests
of the Cross in the realm of thouSht
and diplomacy. Not all who partici-
pate in them understand the full
significance of the process. 1t is diff
cult to realize the long, long way the
world has come in two years-with
the bayonet of war prodding us for,
ward. In a veritable Garden of Geth-
semane civilization has been forced to
learn the supreme lesson of life: which
is that life flowers into beauty ard
power only when it is offered up in
service and in secrafice. This is true of
millions of men in the trenches; even
more marvelously is it true of great
nations. We should not fairly study
this Sunday school lesson of the Cross
without realizing this sublime truth
Strong Meat for Young Christians.
This first of three lessons from
Paul's letter to the Corinthian church
strikes at the root of his preaching and
philosophy. Even to these new be-
levers freshly out of heathendom,
with all its enervating selfishness.
sordidness and sensuality, he dared
proclaim the way of the Cross as the
law of life. 1 quote the passage as
signed:
to them that perish foolishness; but
unto us which are saved it is the
power of God. For it is written, I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and will bring to nothing the under
standing of the prudent Where Is
the wise? where is the scribe? where
Is the disputer of this world? hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world? For after that in the wis
dom of God the world by wisdom
knew not God it pleased God by the
foolishness of preaching to save them
that believe For the Jews require
a sign, and the Greeks seek after
wisdom. But we preach Christ cruci-
fled, unto the Jews a stumbling block,
and unto the Greeks fooIishness: But
unto them which are called, both
Jews and Greeks Christ the power of
God, and the wisdom of God. Be
cause the foolishness of God is wiser
than men; and the weakness of God
is stronger than men. For We see your
calling, brethren, how that not MANY
wise men after the flesh, not many
mighty, not many noble. are called
ButGod hath chosen the foolish things
OF the world to confound the wise:
and God has chosen the weak things
which are mighty; and base things of
the world, and things which are de-
spised. hath God chosen, yea, and
things which are not, to bring to
nought things that are: That no flesh
should glory in his presence But of
him are we in Christ Jesus, who of
God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and
redemption: That. according as it was
written, He that glorieth, let him glory
in the Lord.
'And I, brethren, when I came to
you, came not with excelIency of
speech, or of wisdom, declaring unto
you the testimony of God. For de-
termined not to know anything among
you, save Jesus Christ, and him cruel
fled"
"Pan Is Dead"
The most cynical of modern Amerf-
cans who sneers at any national policy
which looks beyond selfish and ma
terial ACKNOWLEDGMENT could NOT he