The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-06-30
have not forgotten Armenia, true to

the death.
The City of the Open Mind.
Trouble is a chariot. it either runs
over you and brushes you, or else 1t
carries you on in royal progress" With
the echoes of that bowling Thessa-
lonica mob in their ears, surely Paul
and Silas would have been warranted
in lying low for while. Seclusion
and rest were surely now their right.
They had done a great deed: why
should they not sit safe somewhere
and contemplate it? Or they might
even have been discouraged and de-
feated by this riot. What about it,
friend Paul? Forgetting those things
which are behind. .....I press"
Driven out of one city, these mis-
sionaries deemed the fact but an in
vitation to some other place. Every
door shut behind their backs SET them
to seeking the one that was sure to
be opened before their face. A riot
was merely the eagle stirring up the
nest, to incite flight. So, mobbed out
of Thessalonica, they made their way
to Berea.
Cities have characters, even as peo-
pie have. No cosmopolitan person Is
unaware of this fact. There is nothing
an open-nninded city, tolerant,
thoughtful and of an INVESTIGATING
turn of mind. They were receptive to
the new teachings. The marks of the
modern scientific and scholastic spirit
were strong upon the Bereans. They
searched the Scriptures for them
selves.
Most of us take our Bibles second.
hand. We get it diluted and inter,
preted and expounded from the pulpit
and from the printed page. Sage
saints and sturdy do otherwise. They
follow the Berean method and inves-
tigate the Bible for themselves. L
would rather have ten Bible-readers
in a church than fifty mere Bible
hearers. The glory of this Book is
that it yields its choicest fruits to
first-hand study. The humblest saint
may get more from it himself than
the most eloquent preacher can teach
him. There is no expositor of Scrip
ture than can equal reverent, person
al perusal OF the sacred pages.
When the ernissar ieS of trouble
reached Berean, they found converts
among them many noble women
grounded unshakably in the faith. The
Apostles could leave the city with Sc
rene minds. The infant Berean
Church was pillared in the Book.
Bed Rock Patriotism.
Terse comments on the uniform prayer
meeting topic of the Young Peoples
societies. Christian Endeavor, etc,
for July 2 is How to Make Ours an
Ideal Nation."-I Peter 2:1-10
How can we best serve our nation
Just to lift, with shoulder sure and strong
Your part; to rid the world of sin and
wrong.
Just to take up the ballot sheet and say
Thy Kingdom come" and help 1T come that
Just to stand true. to fear not gain or
loss"
Countless are the ways of serving
our country and making it an ideal
nation, but underlying them all is the
power and will to think; to ponder.
study and reflect upon ones obliga-
ton to the nation, and upon what will
make for her real welfare. A think
ing people are the best bulwark of ma
tional defense.
Patriotism is a deep thing, and vast
ly more than an outburst of enthusi-
asm for the national colors. Follow
out the principle of patriotism and OBJ
serve how it condemns the holding of
office for private gain. See how in
| dissoluhly it is bound up with ODE
dience to all law. Understand it's re-
lation to the ballot box and the school
house. In a word, become a wise as
We'll as an earnest patriot and you will
find Il thousand opportunities for the
exercise of patriotism where you
thought there was one
The first requirement of good pa
triot is that he be man and good
neighbor.
They are most worthy of our coun-
| try's past who are living to make its
future better.
| The greatest secular agency for the
| promotion of true patriotism and for
the protection of the nation is the
public school. The education of youth
insures the safety of the nation. The
builders of he republic planned wise
| ly when they placed free schools at
the foundation of our system of gov
eminent. We work most directly and
| effectively for the elevation of the
country when we uplift the public
| SCHOOL Whatever is done for its bet
terment is bound to show in the ma
tional life of the future.
! Bravery helps make an ideal ma
ton. A nation of towards cannot be a
strong nation. Men and women who
dare fling themselves against great
odds for the sake of their convictions;
who do not shrink from crying out
against any evil that may menace the
purity of the government; who will, il
need be, sever all political, social and
financial ties for love of country
these are the heroes to whom a ma
ton resorts in her hour of need.
Courage is first and last of what we
need
To mould a nation for triumphant
sway.
Thomas Wentworth Higginson
A pure people are powerful.
Personal integrity is a first fruit OF
patriotism. For the sake of the ma
ton all her sons should be true men
he ant
ity of our nation cannot be secured by
changes in our laws Legislation car
do much. but it cannot make people
righteous, and we know that right
eousness alone exalteth nation. Thus
we perceive that our country can be
for itself, it's best self, only by being
for Christ. When we win our land fol
Christ we win it to true national sue