The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-06
THE SOLDIERS COLUMN
chaplain w. Marion Jeschke in
charge, 164th Depot Brigade.)
The Way of the Cross.

The way of the cross is an old way
and a long way; for no one remem-
bers its beginning and few have de-
serted its triumphant end. 1t is a
hard way: for even the Lord of us all
did not climb its summit unaided and
it is scared by the treading of count
less feet. 1t is universal way; for
the brave have passed the cowardly
thereon, and prince and pauper have
marched abreast, and little children
have trudged by the mighty, while
youth and love walked with age and
grief.
Doubt and disaster may do their
worst, toll may tyranniZe, sorrow may
overwhelm, and courage drain life's
chalice, while death stalks the earth
clings with celestial fidelity to the
Crucified and goes the way of the
cross. We cannot fall SO low but the
cross attracts US. Our refuge from
the commonplace Is in that ransom
The valiant wrap their colors around
high but we carry it with US.
Dante conceived of the first heaven
that lies completely beyond the earth's
pale as having in the midst of the
cross. AS it overshadows the graves
OF the heroic dead, is 1t unlikely that
they rise in its grace and reign in its
glory?
N1ilitarism and Civilization Are In.
compatible.
If the result of the war is to destroy
in Germany the popularity of the war
for before the war, 1914, the prospect
or war was popular, at any any rate
in books that were widely read there
without resentment, if not with ap-
proval-if war is felt even in Ger
many to be hateful; if as a result of
this war men of all nations will desire
in future to stamp out the first sign
of war as they would a forest fire or
the plague. then the world may have
peace and security that it has never
yet known. t5-
If that is ont the result. then the lot
of mankind in this epoch of Its his
tory Will be more desperate than in
the darkest and most cruel ages, for
civilized nations will prepare and per-
feet the destructive inventions of sea-
ence, and these will be used to the
point of mutual determination. Mill
tarism and civilization are now n
compatible, and nations must attain
some greater measure of international
self control than has previously been
thought possible II civilization is to
progress or even to be preserved.
Home or Nation.
Family life is the normal thing in
normal times, but when war comes,
then a new relation springs into ex-
istence. Home ties must be broken,
no matter how cheerful the fireside
or how strong the pull to stay. The
citizen must become soldier to pro-
tect the state which guards and pro-
tects his loved ones. 1t is fair that
each family should make its contribu-
ton.
Enlistment in any great cause de-
mands this higher loyalty Christ
pictures one of the greatest refusals
as being made by a man who said he
had wife and could not come.
A man is almost certain to face
some misunderstanding and distrust
Of motives, but these are transitory.
Jesus faced them: For even IL his
brethren did not believe on him" In
the Civil war many brothers fought
against each other in the Blue and in
the Gray. In the end if a man be
true. doubts will vanish and give place
to a higher love. The principle still
holds that He that findeth his life
shall lose it and he that loseth his
life for my sake shall find it,
Our Country's Prayer.
Protect us by Thy might
Great con oiIr King