The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-18
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
BY wv. T. ELLIS

unto Him, "All men seek for thee
The sight of a city seemed to exer-
else Strangc power over the magma
ton of Jesus He was moved with
compassion when He looked upon
city in its multitude of needs. Once
in Vienna saw a picture of mod
ern French school, Jesus Weeping
Over the City" but it was not the city
of David, with the temple and the
walls; it was a modern industrial city,
with smoke stacks towering higher
than its steeples, and with its tene-
ments teeming with life. We know
that today as Jesus looks upon the
great urban centerS of our own time,
He is moved with pity, even as when
He looked at the Capernaum crowd,
or the multitudes in the capital of His
nation.
The modern movement which at
tempts to stir cities as a whole is in
line with the example of Jesus The
day of parochialism is dead or dying,
Christian leaders can no longer af-
ford to think in terms of the single
church or congregation-altho the
new day will exalt rather than di-
mlnish the real place of the church.
If the Gospel of today is not able to
get hearing from the city. and to
lift up the city's life, then there is
profound inadequacy in our presenta-
ton of the Gospel.
The crowds out of sight in our mod
ern life thrill one with rear and with
inspiration. What of the mob of
rioters who stone and kill and defy
the law? What shall we say of the
lynchers who have never had an op-
portunity to commit a lynching?
Equally out of sight are the hosts uof
good people-the heroic hearts quick
10 respond to a country's appeal for
the war causes, the legions who leap
to respond to the call of brotherhood
Stilf other hidden hosts are those
symbolized by the sick and lame and
pllnd and deaf and paralyzed and 9TH
erWise physically needy, who are
brought to the feet of Jesus for help
The amount of illness which a CITY
shelters is appalling. The number of
men and women who are suffering in
thelr bodies is far greater than the
thoughtless crowd realizes. Other
ana graver needs there are, all hid
zen from the passing eye Beaten
spirits, blasted hopes, covering fears
these thrtng our city life on every
hand, concealed from the undiscern-
ing by outward masks of prosperity
ana hao conventionality. The hungry
hearts all about us are indicted by
the way men and women reach ont
af-er every novel form of religion that
appears. This questing for a lew
lalth which disturbs so many Chris
llah leaders is but the inarticu ate
cry Tor help of multitudes whose need
is deep and real and who. tho tbev
Know 1t not. are hungry for the heal
ing "nich Jesus gave to the sorcIy-
smltten muititudes at Capernaum.
The Helped At Heralds.
This is an era of advertising, vet
we have not improved upon the ex-
perlence of Jesus at Capernaum.
when the grateful recipients of His
healing touch went out and began
70 publish it much, and to spread
abroad the matter insomuch that
Jesus could not more openly enter in
to city, but was without in desert
places: and they came to Him from
every quarter"
A familiar catch phrase expresses
by our loving friends" There is no
form of advertising to equal this. The
Gospel is spread by the heralding of
people who have felt it's benefits Man
to man, the tidings have been borne
that Jesus possesses the power to heal
and help. Because He has brought
salvation and peace to a person, that
person is constrained to tell another
and so the news has gone on spread
ing and SO it will continue to spread
until the fashion of Capernaum has
advertised the Healer and the Re-
deemer to every last man In the
world.
TerSe Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic of the Young
Peoples SocieGeS-ChPistian En-
deavor, etc--FNor Jan. TO-: 'sYoung
Christians Reaching Outward
Gal. 6:1-10.
A consistent life is not the product
of rules. Regulations in matters of
conduct are bound to conflict. The
true consistency springs from dom
inant principle enthroned in the heart
! When a person says, For me to live
is money" his whole course is sure to
| radiate mercenariness. When a per-
son says, For me to live is pleasure. -
| the search for enjoyment inevitably
| peeps out from beneath every action.
But when person can truly say, For
me to live is Christ then his life will
be consistent life, radiating Christ
illness in the workshop and in the
home as truly as in the religious meet
ing.
Too much of our religion is up in
the air. 1t consists of rhapsodies and
J emotions, rather than downright ey-
ery-day Righteousness and exertion.
Religion should have wings. it is true:
but it equally should have hands and
feet and tongue. Only the creed
translated into deeds is of any impor-
lance for either world.
Occasionally the physicians report
a case of arrested development The
chlId has failed to grow, in body OF
yond words. Violent disease or sud
den death is less melancholy than
this And in the spiritual realm
lhefe are analogous instances. Some