Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-03-29

"a NiiNiJ Aldillohtu ny Ills DlCSStu lett.
Now that Palestine has become an
active center of war interest, it will
be studied over by the whole world.
ThiA quarterly review of the activiI
tieSbf our Lord furnishes a conven-
lent occasion, since all the teachings
and deeds of Jesus were localized.
This is a time to study the old map
OF Bible lands, and to mark on them
the new railways that have been
built, and the course of the present
military campaign. 1t may be not
inappropriate to mention that the
present indications are that the next
stand of the Turks will be made at
Nazareth, the boyhood home of Je-
sus; for it is there that the hill coun-
try gives way to the historic plan of
Esdraelon.
E. Great Issues in the Lords Land
AS this lesson goes to press there
is a large joint unit of British and
American Red Cross workers mostly
missionaries, on the way to Pales-
tine, to take up relief work for the
civilian population in Jerusalem and
elsewhere. Destitution and distress
are very great Since Jesus no longer
goes about in person, healing and
feeding and teaching, His work is
being done by these friends of His.
How his tender heart must yearn
over\the lot of the people in Bible
lands to-day who bear His name
the Armenians, the Syrians, the
Greeks, and the other Christians.
Since the war began there have been
uncounted martyrdoms on this hal
lowed soil. The transition from the
quarters Sunday school lessons to
the present light of the people,
Christians, Jews and Moslems, is
easy and proper. 1t would be entire
ly out of accord with the spirit of
the great Teacher himself to dwell
upon the Scriptures of nineteen CEN
turies ago and ignore the conditions
of to-day.
Aside from the definite and de-
tailed sufferings of the people of
Palestine to-day we perceive that the
land of the Lord is the scene for the
decision of great issues of the war.
PrussianiSm wants to lay it's iron
hand on all the territory compre-
hended within the scope of the Bible
narrative, from the Garden of Eden,
down Bagdad way to the scenes of
the Apostle PauPs labors at Salon
lea. They would make this all
tributary to the materialistic and
anti-Christian conceptions of Metz
schism and German rationalism with
their ruthless selfiShness. Blocking
them are the clear words of Presi-
dent Wilson, the voice of the allies,
declaring that all these long-suffer-
ing little peoples are to have self
government. No longer may they be
exploited by either Turk or Prus-
sian.
This issue has become central to
the settlement of the war. 1t is
enough here to say that whoever
would accept any terms Of peace that
10 ~ 60. oil 81,
old question of the Bible Lands, by
delivering the small Christian ma
tions from the power of the Turk,
has a very different idea of peace
from that taught by Jesus.
The New Fulfilling the Old
These are days for the open.
minded and the alert eye. God ha.
smashed all our old schedules anG
conventions. lie is bringing great
things to pass so quickly as to dazt
the beholders. The ancient goals of
the Kingdoms of Heaven are being
| fulfilled in ways undreamed of five
years ago. The teachings of Jesus
are having sudden and strange frui-
tionS.
How else can we interpret in
Christian fashion, the new passion
for human rights and freedom and
brotherhood that is dominating the
| world? Christ's conception of mans S
loving relations to man is sweeping
all of society. Whether we say
democracy or the Kingdom of Heav-
en- nowadays we are likely to mean
the same thing. The audacity OF
Jesus, in seeing and declaring a
transformed social order, is being
dramatically indicated. There is not
! a wide-awake and thoughtful man
alive to-day who does not believe that
the world is rapidly entering upon a
new area of social and international
relationship that will spell peace and
good will. God forbid that needless
Christians should permit any god
less substitute to take the place of
the great reality indicated by Jesus.
How Jesus Would Now Work
OF old, Jesus sent forth his disci-
pies after the fashion of his land
and time. He hurriedly worked in
accordance with the costume of
Palestine in the year 80 A. d. He
pictured in parallels the coming of
the new order which He alone en-
visaged. All that He said and did
looked forward to a large service and
large results.
To-day Jesus is sending out His
disciples in Y. Nj. q. A. and Red
Cross and chaplain's uniforms. They
die ldClHS elelnenldl human nature
and needs. Much that is customary
and conventional in church life is
sloughed off in their activities. And
surely Jesus approves. He would
not have His servants, in a crisis
like the present, busy themselves
about denominational names or
usages or prestige. Can any sound
thinking person conceive of a Pres
byterian detachment and a Method
list detachment and a Baptist de-
tachment and an Episcopal detach-
ment and a Lutheran detachment
each Jealous to care for it's own de-
nominational interests, going out to
the Holy Land with the present re-
lief expedition? There are many
welcome signs that professional ec-
clesiasticism, and narrow sectarian-
ism, are, to be among the major
casualties of this war. But the
Christianity of Jesus is emerging in
new power and honor.
So the present review should also
be review. Starting with the spirit
and teaching and example of Jesus
in the lessons of His early ministry
that we have been studying for three
months, and having in mind the new
geographical significance of His
country, we should look ahead into
the new day that awaits us; to con-
slider how the discinlac nf tho Mastar