The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-04-20

OTenCneQ Dy the costly anu fragrant
sacrifices of love; and while womans
devotion is expressing itself Ly gifts
of its best to the cause of country and
humanity, we are opportunity called
to consider again the sweet old story
of how one woman loved the man
whom she called Master.
Niggardly prudence and self--n
terest may grumble at the rnstinted
offerings of life and treasure today
being made in the name of loyalty and
love; but the clear word of Jesus still
sounds, as of old IN praise of the I'M
calculated and seemingly reckless gift
of the best treasurers, in the name of
friendship and faithfulneSs. Never
was the nation in better mood than
now to understand and accept the
royal spirit of Mary of Bethany, when
she anointed her Lord with the treas
ured flask of pure nard, her costliest
possession. AS the fragrance of her
glorious deed fills the world, SO the
sacrifice and service of millions to-
day, for cause which they deem
sacred, is rising like sweet incense
over the earth. Marys spirit of exal-
tation, and of penetrating spiritual
vision, expresses the nobleSt feel1ng OF
our own hour So we go to the study
! of the incident with enthusiasm. First,
| let US read the story as John, an eye
witness, wrote il.
A~Beautiful Old Story.
Jesus therefore six days before the
! passover came to Bethany, where
Lazarus was, whom Jesus + -sed from
| the dead. SO they made him a supper
there: and Martha served; but Lazarus
was one of them that sat at meat
with him. Mary therefore took a
pound of ointment of pure nard, very
precious, and anointed the feet of
Jesus, and wiped his feet with her
hair: and the house was filled with
the odor of the ointment.
''RI1t midas TSCa riot of his dis
ciples, that should befray him. saith,
| Why was not this ointment sold for
three hundred shillings and given to
the poor? Now this he said, not be-
cause he cared for the poor; but be-
cause he was thief and having the
| bag took away what was put therein
Jesus therefore said, Suffer her to
keep it against the day of my burylng.
For the poor We have always with you;
but me We have not always.
| THE common people therefore OF
the Jews learned that he was there
and they came, not for JeSuss sake
only. but that they might see Lazarus
also, whom he had raised from the
dead But the chief priests took coun-
sci that they might put Lazarus also to
death; because that by reason OF him
many of the Jews went away, and be-
1ieved on Jesus"
Beneath the Shadow of the Cross.
All this happened close under the
shadow of the cross. Calvary was but
six DAYS and three miles distant The
/ ca rthly life of Jesus was drawing to
an end. The bounds of hate were
closing IN upon Him. His raising OF
Lazarus had settled the course of the
i ecclesiasdcs, and now HIS death was
! but a matter of successful schenliug-
! Only the Victim saw ahead OF Him
the agony of the Passion, the Garden
and the Cross. Stay; there was one
other who, with love-touched spirit
hn
| disciples were dense and undiscernlng;
! they refused to see what Jesus tried
to show them. But Mary knew. Trust
woman TO understand. Therefore
she made ready, with sublime audac-
ity of ina gina ton, her grave-ofterinc
for the doomed Master. He, in turn,
made quick and grateful recognition
of the gift and its significance.
Gratitude spread the table in the
home of Simon the healed leper, who
gave the feast, at which Lazarus sat
with Jesus, and Martha and Mary
served. Yes. even up to the end. Jesus
was a guest at feasts; no ascetic or
anchorite He. 1t was a notable dinner
party, and its signs of festiv1ty brought
the curious crowds. The best belong
ed to their Beloved: nothing is too
good for the Master.
/ Course after course, of appetizing
Syrian viands was served to the guests
seated on the floor, around little ia
I DleS. linen, at the close Oh the u1llHeI,
| which should have put even coVetous
Judas in good humor, there came
the sensa ton of the hour. Mary drew
| near to where the Guest of Honor re-
clined and producing from her flowing
robes an alabaster flask of liquid nard
a precious perfume, such as the East
prizes to this day, she anointed the
head and feet of the friend who had
brought back her brother from the
grave; and, in an excess of passionate
devotion, disdaining the conventions
she wiped His. feet with her unbound
tresses.
A Woman's Sensation.
Even as the fragrance of the costly
perfume quickly permeated the whole
house where they sat, so the .sensa-
tional deed at once filled the air and
set all tongues to wagging. Such q
gifti-why it was worthy of a Ro-
man officials feast. Guests caught
their breath at the 1avishness of it
No such signal social honor had beer
paid Jesus since the Wise-Men of the
East brought lie precious gifts te
His manger- cradle.
Love that is not lavish is not love
We would rightly despise the thrift
of lover who economical on his
gifts of flowers and sweets and pleas
ures to his beloved. Flowers and pic
lures and books are not extrayaeance
they are of the very warp and wool
of love- Myriads of wise husband.
and fathers bring home to their fam
lilies every week some token of tender
affection. even tho they must econo.
; mise in the so-called necessities"
Love always gives its best, with su-
perb abandon. We follow in Mary's
train when we build beautiful
churches to Christ; and rear stately
monuments to our heroes; and cree
noble Buildings for our government.
, heard a friend, serving in the Ameri.
, can Ambulance Corps in France, tel
. how he had borne the news of a sol
diers death to aged parents. only tc
, | discover that he was the fourth sor
they had given for France; and they
were proud to have had four sons tc
, | offer their country.
Wise beyond all words was Mary ir
that she gave her fragrant offering