The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-18

.
their faith for tomorrow upon mill
tary prowess, 1t is vain to expect
mankind to lift itself by its own boot
straps.
| One of my Paris friends is an
archaeologist who has the distinction
of having discovered the old archae-
illogical man-that Is, the human
remains representing the remotest
known period within which the race
had progressed to the stage of having
personal possessions. II was much
disappointed to find" sand he, that
We have not advanced a particle upon
, this oldest civilized man. In brain
power aad in physical structure he
was quite the equal of man today.
had to abandon all beliefs in human
evolution as a means of social prog
ress. We have not got anywhere es-
sentlal by physiological processes OF
years"
OF all the futile words with which
bookishness deludes the race the most
fatuous is the teaching that human
society viii evolve by natural growth
INTO better and finally into the per-
rect state. We haye to look elsewhere
man TO the scientist for the message
that VIII save the world
As the President Said in Rome.
More than five thousand books were
taken to Paris by the American COM
mlssioners. Only one, tho, is needed
to speak the word of words. which
is that power for the new life for man
individually and in the mass. comes
from without and is divinely Impaired.
AZ is the truth of the resurrection; the
old power of death defeated by the
risen Christ, who gives to all who will
snare it his own resurrection power
TO conquer evil nature and to win to
d resurrection life of strength and love
and ministry.
When President Wilson was in Roma
he asked the Protestant pastors to
meet with him in conferences; and an
INFORMAL little gathering was held in
the vestry of the Scotch PRESBYTERIAN
church. 1t lasted longer than the
presidents interview with the pope. A
Fellow believer, the president told these
ministers that he could not have
done the work that has been given
MIN TO do without divine aid and
without the prayers of Christian peo-
pie.
Slowly the Christian world has
Weakened up to realization of the
now hold mankind everywhere in dis
cipleship, ara nothing more nor less
than the application to present condi-
tons of the Gospel of the Risen
Christ What he is now saying, in a
language new to statecraft, is really
the message that has been echoing
from ten Thousand pulpits. The world
is being led back to the hills of GaIilee
and judea, to sit again at the feet OF
Jesus, by this son of the manse, who is
religious teacher before he is any
thing else. es -
What the Church Misses.
In the presence of the great hour
that overshadows the world, with
problems modern and ancient concern
trated in one momentous meeting in
Paris, the human heart instinctively
longs for an enlightenment and an as
sistance more than human. Baffled
by our thronging perplexities, we turn
to religion and. 10, we find the &C.
clesastical leaders of the organized
church pattering and puttering about
money-raising projects, and the other
conventionalities of the old routine. Is
if humanity had not been afresh in
Garden of Sorrows, and as If the PEN
niless Christ and his equally poor
apostles had never founded a church
upon something more worth while
than silver and gold. Church work.
has become almost a synonym for
raising funds.
1t would be brave thing If the
Christian church would dare to try TO
get along for at least a year without
any money-all the army OF salaried
workers turning aside to some sort OF
tent-making. Perhaps such an ascetic
experience would enable ecclesiasti-
cism to discern how real is the dam
ger that we may enshrine a golden
calf upon our holiest affairs. "A few
days ago the greatest of our chaplains.
as he is of English speaking religious
leaders, declared to me that organiza-
tons like the Y. M. c. A. must divorce
themselves from dependence upon
and men of wealth.
overwhelmingly, the church so
often misses her opportunity. as do
also we w o are her members. She
has a spiritual gift The resurrection
lie
power. In a time that is dying for
lack of life-panting for spiritual sat
we are as dumb as the deaf
concerning the sublime reality. why
do we not press pre-eminently the
truth OF a living, Srisen. sufficient
christ? it is not a new religion that
we need. but more of the Son of God
who lived orr life and died our death
that he might enable Ms to share his
resurrection, now and forever.
A Remincerl Prom Rome.
Rome is city of ruins that remains
o remind us OF imperial Caesars.
What toppled over that unparalleled
.ruci6ed, risen Savior. One of the
sights of Rome which
$ somewhat grotesque from an artis-
ic standpoint, Is yet full OF symbol
SIN: the pre-Christian obelisks and
'illars that have been surmounted by
rome crosses. Paul in the Manner
inc prison, a dark and terrible dun
-eon which the visitors today NAV
ee, had more power than Nero in
rs golden palace; and he is today
eld in great honor For he spoke "a
wing message. whereas Nero merely
fielded material force.
What all the world needs TODAY
bove everything else SIS to know tn.
ruth of the Gospel that transforms
lie into newEess and love and Dover
nd beauty; which is the resurrection
iessage. Our times do not call for a
ew religion. but only for a new ex-
ression of the old reality that Christ.
no rose from the dead, can take
1ese poor. grave bound lives NJ or.