The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-02-20

| documentary superintendent, MTs.
Anna Williams, Denison.
Secondary Superintendent, Frank
Woolston, Denison.
Adult and Home Superintendent.
Mrs. Il. w. Pierce, Denison.
Educational Superintendent, Miss
Monetta Jorgensen, Vail.
Supervision Superintendent, T. l..
Hoffman, Denison
Feb. 24-The Progress of the King
dom. Mark 4, 21-34
| We have for our lesson this week a
humber of parallels given by Jesus to
make plain the certain growth of His
kingdom in the world. Considered as
a whole they are wonderful, each hay
ling different shade of meaning, but
all making clear the central thought
that His religion had in it such quail
ties that successful things would be
accomplished.
| Preliminary, Jesus declares that oft
considered truth, that those who pro-
TESS His name must shine forth as
lights in the world; also that His Cos
pei was not to be hid but to shine
forth and make plain things surround
ing. He then adds this important
truth There is nothing hid which
shall not be manifested How true
this seems, even from human expert
ence. AS one looks back how often
facts, plans, schemes. intrigues, con-
spiracies which worldly ingenuity has
attempted to cover up and Keep from
! sight. have been blaZen before the
public. In the present war correspond
ence which the writer's would not for
anything have in the hands of enc
mics is brought to light, and one man
in the Paris courts is sentenced to
death by such exposures for his dis
patches in cipher sent to Germany.
When one considered further that the
secret things of our lives are bare be-
fore Cod there comes the thought that
we must try in every way to have
clean lives, with nothing to be ashan-
ed Of S@ I'D.
In one of the parallels Jesus makes
use of the growth Of the seed from
the little beginnings to the great tree
and the matured grain as representing
the progress of His kingdom in the
world. He tells of seed planted and
then left to the well known processes
Of nature. The light, the rain, the
soil. in a manner none can explain,
|
down, the stem up, both to enlarge to
very great proportions, fruit to ripen,
grain to form, flowers to bloom, seed
to be stored for another year. A vol
ume could be written about this we'll
known process of nature going on from
hour to hour in the summer time. Sill
emily, powerfully, steadily goes on the
work of the bible religion in the
world.
! This presentation brings up the
whole matter for consideration of
what christianity >has done for the
world, its successes, it failures. Just
at this time we hear much in COM
plant of the bible religion, that it has
not taught men better things than this
awful war. 1t is indeed a shame that
in the year when many were ready to
give the highest homage to Martin
Luther for founding the reformation
four hundred years ago; to laud the
greatest man which Germany has ever
produced, that nation should make the
most appalling showing of tramping
on the principles of the religion which
Luther gave his best energies to
make pure and more loving. VI
In considering the effect of the bible
religion on this war, it can be asked
why the free people of the world have
risen up with Indignation over the vio-
| lation CT the Treaty with BELGIUM
and are appalled, at the cruelties and
atrocities committed by the German
army. under orders of the ruling gen.
erals? Is it not because the bible has
educated them to higher standards OF
living; to belief that words solemn.
ly given means something; that need
less cruelties to women and children
are wrong and call for avenging; be-
cause the people now expect honor
even among nations? In times past it
was expected that rulers would stop
at nothing when material advantage
to their country called for a given
course of action. In times past no
surprise is expressed when VIC read Of
idcspOtism trying to. throttle freedom
land self government. but when it is
done today indignation rises in the
breast of every true American and
lover of liberty the world around. The
religion of Jesus calls for the BROTH
crhoOd of man. Paul told of it in the
famous address on Mars hill at Athens
and the entire force of the religion Of
Jesus ccntcrs on that fact. We in
America may not like the fact that
Russia went out of tho war, but all UNI
derstand the thought which caused
the foreign minister to say that his
people did not propose to kill their
fellow German and Austrian brothers
because the kaiser and the men be-
hind him wanted this done, unless
their wills were submitted to in the
treaty Of peace. Even the semi-bar-
barrie Russians have been touched with
the spirit OF the gospel and are stand.
ing for the right of the individual to
life. liberty and the pursuit OF happi-
ness. e,.- .
[ The report from Europe that Gener-
al Pershing advises that three relig-
ious advisers be given every regiment
of American trOOnS: that this conn