The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-05-02

cost when the Spirit came, so it may
be said of music-lovers at any classic
gathering, no matter who the artist
or what the selection, 'And every
man heard them speak in his own Ian
guage = the wonderful works of
God" Art Is a universal language
Perhaps it is more limited than music,
but its appeal is primarily to the soul,
which needs no language but that of
signs Literature is a universal lang
uage. Perhaps it is least so of all we
have mentioned. The classics are in
ternational in their appeal. They are
not. interned aliens, but have their
very home In the appreciative hearts
of every cline.
Literature makes for Democracy.
Real democracy would be more near
ly come-hand In hand with the king
dom of heaven-if the world could
only understand a common tongue.
Unfortunately when history dawned,
man had already developed countless
languages, widely different, and ex-
pressing as ideals many totally differ
ent cultures. To this sad confusion
the modern world has fallen heir.
Men do not yet quite understand one
working as a leaven for nearly 1000,
years! We are still laboring on the
ruins of the old Babel, to reach our
respective heavens, and in our tum-
ult and disorder are still asking for
stone and mortar in a language no
one understands and to which conse-
quently no one gives any heedI
~. Christianity gives US the true
conception of culture.
1t SENS that this world war is a
war OF conflicting Cultures. The OBJ
Ject of true-that is, Christian Gull
ture, as announced by God in the be-
ginning is that man Is to appropriate
nd subject the whole world unto him
self! God said, "Let US make man In
our image, after our likeness, and let
them have dominion over all the
earth" Later He said to them, "Be
fruitful, and multiply, and replenish
| the earth, and subdue it." 1t is in
this sense and in no other that the
righteous shall inherit the earth. %
The entire earth is to be mans ma
terlaI and intellectual property, and
he must set about to subdue and get
possession of it. History records how
well or how i'll 1t Is being done. The
means for earth's subjugation are
| physical and mental. The first form
of culture is Agriculture. This
takes the command literally. The last
and highest form of culture Is In the
| realm of mind. This takes the COM
mand spiritually. Between these two
extremes range all the various forms
OF external and physical dominion
over matter; namely, handicraft,
manufactures, trade, science, art, mu-
sic, literature, etc. Education, ac-
cording to this point of view, is moth
-lg more nor less than the develop
ment and appropriation of our own
natures. The appropriation comes
| through the development or Culture
n education we acquire dominion ov-
er ourselves, the highest form Of con-
| quest, and the most difficult. 1t can
easily be seen that true culture turns
towards Christianity as the flower
turns towards the sun. The ideal is
found only in the Christian Scrip
lures, in Christ HIMSELF Christianity
offers the best motive, the largest
field, the profoundest inspiration for
-eIvlce and enjoyment
But this means effort True cul-
ture is obtained not by absorption but
| oy>labor. Blotter methods gather nc
results in this field. Toll is the pre-
requisite of highest enjoyment En-
joyment depends to some extent upon
production. One must not only lis
! ten to music, one must help to create
and contribute to it If possible. Tru-
ly to understand, and to enjoy
through understanding it, is to helI
to make it; at least in the subjective
sense. This is true of literature.
know of no poet who so well repayS
the student for his effort as doe:
Browning, our most religious poet
not even excepting Milton and Ten
nyson. The value of Browning to the
student is that when the student fin.
ally understands the poem under con
sideration, he has practically writ
ten it himselfl Here too our motto
for Kansas students is Through diff.
culties to the stars" Here too Christ:
words apply, ''Strive to enter the
straight gate" Here too It Is true
that through much tribulation we en-
ter the Kingdom"