The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-08-23
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
For August IS Is Speaking for
II Christ"-Luke 12:s-12; Acts ILL., s.
Flying the Loyalty Flag.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

mitted in any degree.
LIES great lesson of loyalty is be-
ing taught afresh to the world All
the trimmers and truckers and dill
etantes are forced to take a position,
squarely and openly. The mental Iazi-
ness and indecision which masquerade
as superior culture have been rudely
jolted into knowledge of the eternal
truth that a hallmark of every genu-
Inc character is loyalty. The man who
faithfulness to a friend, a conviction
or cause is an outcast. The war has
taught us to fly our flags.
III you have a friend worth loving.
Love MIN, yes, and let him know
That you love him, ere life's evening
Ilnges MS brow with sunset glow.
Why should good words ne'er be sai6
OF frieud-Sll he is dead?
'.If you hear song that thrills you.
Sung by any child of song,
Praise it. Do not let the singer
Wait deserved praises long.
Why should one who thrills your heart
Lack the joy you may impart?
IF your work is made more easy
BY friendly helping hand,
Say so: Speak out brave and truly,
Ere the darkness veil the land.
Should brother workman dear
| Falter for word of cheer?"
And Old Poets Wise Word.
The sort of mind that squirns I'M
, der the necessity of coming to an open
decision finds these hard times to he
alive. The spirit of the world war
! has taught US that we cannot be neu-
trail when moral issues are concerned.
| Neutral nations, even as was true. of
America before she entered the war,
have profited in worldly wealth by
their position. but they have suffered
spiritual and moral deterioration
When a great Cause, comes forth with
its challenge, all noble souls are bound
to align themselves on one side or the
other. Loyalty is the tombstone of
/ character
+ An ancient Hebrew poet summed up
the case, as respects religion, N the
terse exhortation, Let the redeemed
of the Lord say soi''
That is an adequate program for
the growth of the kingdom of God,
Say so!"-and by that testimony the
number of witnesses will continue to
increase In geometricf ratio. Never
mind about preaching an elaborate
system of theology. or promoting an
Intricate ecclesia stical organiza ton:
simply SAY SOL" if you are a friend
Lof Christ. Thus His crowd will grow
and grow. until the last man on earth
thas entered this fellowship. There. Is
no other method of propaganda to
Eequal the simple testimony of those
who, know what they are talking
about.
| Hard Times for the Pharisccs.
Something like bitterness marks
the attitude of men in the army
against anything savoring of phari-
saism. They are as fierce as Jesus
himself against paraded self-rieht-
| eousness. Piety that poses as super
ior to others meets with ssant colr-
! tesy from soldiers. Goodness" gets
rough treatment. Hosts of self-con-
| scious Christian boys have been cured
of prigsishness in camp. They have
had to learn, in a rather severe school,
that there is all the difference ia che
world between pose of piety. pain
and a simple, modest, genuine faith
that is a thing of the heart and of
the conduct. They have been taught
that Christian testimony which Is rot
tactfui, and respectful to the other
! mans personality, is really odious.
Saying so.'' among the friends of
Christ in the army. is not matter
Of sanctimonious phraseology. 1t is
rather a sunny, imperturbable adj
Inference to Christian standards and
a display of the Christ-spirit in every
day life. The three cardinal sins, In
listed as % cowardice, CD selfish
ness, (3) self-conceit These things
are the antithesis of the genius of
Jesus: and Christian may Say So
/ ",
modesty and his comradeshfp.
This is the special light that the
war throws on the-fesson. It Is not
new, for Jesus indicated It in His
tremendous philippics against phar-
isaism. which is but self righteous-
vertise the Christian religion nova
l,days has got to put the soft pedal
on himself. Likewise, he must be con-
siderate of the rights and beliefs of
the other man. Consciousness is no,
saintliness, on the contrary. Jesus Is
advertised by His loving friends--lov-
ing towards others, as well as towards
Him.
! Tripod by the Tongue.
Sages of all times have dwelt upon
the power of the tongue for evil and
for good. A few days ago I was con-
fronted at Atlantic Gity with an
opinion which I had expressed in Sar
Francisco a dozen years ago. Those
lfew idle words had been treasured
by friend as my creed upon a vital
public matter; though they are al
variance with my lifelong convic.
ton. Either he had misconstrued
my words. or had been careless and
susceptible of misunderstood ing in my
utterance- No special harm had beer
done; but it was startling to realize
In this concrete fashion. the power OF
chance flung sentence.
" The homeless tongue, so small and weak
Can crash and kill declares the Greek.
" The tongue destroys a greater horde
The Turk assents. than does the sword
THE Persian proverb yisely saith,
A lengthy tongue-an early death
! OR sometimes takes this form instead.
Don't let your tongue cut off your head
/. The tongue can speak a word Whose
speed
Say the Chinese 'outstrips the steed.' =
while Arab sages this impart.
u The tongues great storehouse Is thu
/ heart
From Hebrew wit the maximum spring.
| Tho feet should slip. ne'er let the tongue.
The sacred writer crowns the whole
Who keeps his tongue doth keep BIZ
SOUL