The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-21
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS
For June % Is Jesus Triumphant
Over Death."-Mark 1920
Flowers in the Trenches.
Over in France there is a battered
trench that has a permanent place in
my memory. 1t is possibly mile long,
it seems much longer. because of the
rough fragments of slippery limestone
that cover its bottom, and because II
winds over a hill. Possibly, also, the
fact that it was under bombardment
every time I traversed it may have
heightened the impression of its
length. Not primarily, tho, because
Of its heaps of shell debris, or OF its
battered edges, or of the roar of bonn
bardment, will L remember this par
ticular trench. Partly because it led to
the scene of a brilliant victory by our
troops. and partly because of the
flowers which bloomed luxuriantly on
its edges, this trench stands out from
all others that 1 have known.
1 named it in my mind the Trench
boil of life after death, of victory amid
battle. Clustering thickly upon the
edges of this battlefield highway grew
the sumptuous. fragrant violets OF
France, in gorgeous patches. Besides
them blossomed the delicate hepaticas
ana OIL dDeIIlOIleS- ASSNCA LAC Z
wild flowers seemed more beautiful or
significant. They reckoned not of the
reign of death and destruction that
fell all about them. Huge shells
might blast the sides of the trench. but
the flowers needed them not at all.
From the woodland there also crept
softly down over the SCARED sides oil
this stony trench the lovely green
leaves of the ground ivy.
Nature was setting her seal of as
surance and of permanent reality
upon the scene of conflict. After wars
woe has ended, the scars Will be COW
cred by the kindly processes OF spring
time The upspringing life of the
earth will win the victory over all the
signs of mans strife. Enduring beyond
the worst that the heavy artillery car
do is the beauty of the wild flower
Gods pledge of peace and resurrec-
ton. After death comes life. The
flower is more potent than the big CUR
shell. The trench is not the end, bu'
only an episode.
Flowers From the Battlefield.
AS that one particular spot in thu
extended battlefront is typical or
great and beneficent principle, so tn
war itself has come to represent. IL
| the minds of most OF US, a construc
tive, rather than a destructive force
We see that the conflict is not al
end. 1t is a process, way out. Ter
rible as are many Of its aspects, it new
| ertheless stands for a great deliver
| ance from an old and intolerable or
der. Only because we regard 1t as tn
| purging fire of just and beneficen
and far-reaching God, to whom tn
| right is more precious than peace, cal
we be reconciled to this overwhelm
| ing tragedy. Beyond the portals o
! this death lies a spiritual and nationa
| resurrection for the peoples of tn
| earth. Humanity is now undergoing
! great and terrible Becoming. This i
| the faith that sustains the world
and puts an adequate motive into al
| our enduring and sacrificing and suf
fering. 1t is the flower OF the resur
| rection truth blooming amid the war
| blasted trenches. 50 tr r.
| An observer returns from the bat
| tlefields, filled with the glory of tn
4 new life that is coming to our mel
! "over. there" and he finds somethini
Of the same experience Detailing her
also. Life is being lifted up to nev
level. Cowardice and craven selfish
ness and petty indulgence are out o
| fashion. Helpfulness and cheerfulnes
and sympathy and brave sef-denia
have become the vogue. Large con
siderations of patriotism and of worl
| interest have caught up counties
lives that once seemed small. an
| enobled them into newness. Both a
home and among the troops, heart
have become tender and more com
| radely. Fellowship and brotherhoo.
have been won to a degree surpass
ing the dreams OF the sociologist of ,
decade ago. We have seen the sancti
flying power of a. great experience. +;
great purpose and a great hope
Human hearts have become plastic
and so, consequently. has the world
1 Te y,ot q
this a foregleam of the power of tn
resurrection principle in life?
Making Death Glorious.
| In Britain and France was over
| whelmed to find that practically ey
erybody has suffered personal be
| reavement in the war. Countless FAN
| lily lines have been cut off. Entir
shop windows would hold only mourn
ing wear. One great motive operat
| ing against a premature or crave
peace is unwillingness to let the BRAY
| dead have died in vain. These myriad
! of the fallen are a new fact in all u
our thinking. They are with us as
force to inspire and to restrain. I'll
| flower of our life is blooming some
where beyond the grave.
| Without controversy or discussion
or theological debate, this war IN
| brought an immeasurable re-enforce
ment to the truth of the resurrection
| In the presence of unparalleled scr
| row, we have simply waived asid
speculations and negations and agnos
| ticism concerning the future life. !
seems as if the world has quietly as
scented to the conviction which reside
as great hope in every norma
| breast, and which is so clear teach
| ing of Scripture that it must be &C
cepted unless all revealed religion b.
rejected that our dead shall live again
| The risen Christ shines above tn
| horizon of our minds in new majesty
| Soldiers on the battlefield are conf
F, dent that death does not end all.
| Is it too much to assert that thi
| war has revealed a new glory in death
as well as a new shame in mere self
preservation. That our mobiles
achievement of existence may he 1