Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-04-11

vel SdtlOu tnaI 1Ol-
lowed Was something like this:
Sir. can you tell me about the
beautiful life?'
Doctor Parks answered, ''Du you
wish to talk with me about religicn?"
No, sir; | merely wish to inquire
about the beautiful life"
"Haye you ever read the Bible?'
Yes, | have read it some, but l do
not like your Bible"
"Haye You ever attended church
services?"
Yes, l have been to church two ,.r
three times, but l do not like the
church. l AMI trying to find the beau
tiful life. ] notice that many of your
American people lie and cheat and do
mean things like the japanese, and vet
You are all Christians No, l do not
think it is your religion; but there is
something that | Walt. do not know
what it is, but I call IL the beautiful
life"
Where did you hear about it,"
asked Doctor Parks.
i never heard about it at all, but I
saw it first in San Francisco. I spent
three weeks in a boarding house with
an old man who had it. He was not
an educated man like myself. l havs
studied at our japanese universities,
and ! am now studying at one of your
greatest American universities. But
this man | speak Of was uneducated
and very humble. He was a poor
man, but there was something mex
pressibly beautiful about his life He
was always helping others; he never
seemed to think of himself at all but
he was always going about doing good
to others. l had always thought that
there might be something of the kind
in the world, but | had never seen it,
Since then | have seen a few others
who had it in some of your American
homes. | do not think it is your re-
ligiOn for all do not seem to have it."
Doctor Parks opened his Bible 10
| Cor. Is. and read tn him Paul's won
derful description of the love that fail
eth not.
rs that What you are looking for?"
he inquired
Yes, L think perhaps it is. At all
events, it sounds like it. But, sir, can
you tell me how to get it: | must
have it at any cost
Then Doctor Parks told him the
story of Jesus, and gave him a New
Testament, and sent him away, telling
him that he must study it and pray
that light might be given him to live
this beautiful life
Doctor Parks heard nothing from
the japanese for year or two, but
finally received letter from him, say
ing that he had been called back to his
country to fill an important position;
but he had something to tell him, and
wished to see him.
When the Japanese arrived, he was
In great hurry and, drawing out his
watch, he said, My train starts for
San Francisco at two o'clock, where l
take the steamer for Japan; but l
want to tell you that | have found the
beautiful life, l have found Jesus
Christ"
The japanese thought it was not the
Christian religion that he was seeking,
because most Of the Christians he saw
did not seem to possess the beautiful
life; and yet every life that is hid with
Christ in God ought to be winsOme
and beautiful.
A few years ago a student at the
Moody Bible institute worked his pas
sage to England ON a cattle steamer
for the express purpose of leading his
brother to Christ. He resolved that
he would not introduce the subject of
religion at first, but would see what
could be accomplished by Christlike
life. He had not been there long be-
fore his brother said to him: Crank,
what has come over you since you left
home? You are SO different from what
you used to be! Whatever it is, !
want it. Now tell ME how to get it."
With this introduction, it was an easy
task, of course, to lead his brother to
Christ