The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-04-11
INTERNATIONAL
SUNDAY SCHOOL
LESSON
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

For April Is is Christ Our Savior"
John 1:35-51.
Il The Goal of All.
Written on the surface of the
worlds social unrest. and yet unrec-
ognized by those who are supposedly
most concerned, lies profound mes
sage for all of life. Bolshevikism has
challenged the old order, and has TAX
en- possession of great nations; yet
most people are blind to the first sig
| nificance of the facts.
| What means this marvel, that mil
| lions of men and women have cast OH
all their old allegiances and their for
mer fashion of life and become revo-
lutionists? How may we interpret
these slogans of brotherhood and in
tternationalism and freedom that are
reaching around the globe?
| Not since the world began has there
| been such risingiup of mankind TO
| lift aloud the battle cries of emanci-
| patton and of better manner OF life
| for all the weary and heavy laden
Even the most ancient and sluggish
peoples, as well as the newest and best
| organized, are resounding with songs
of revolution. Whether they are mis-
led or not is aside from the point I'M
der discussion at the moment. Sheer
and stupendous rises before our very
| eyes the marvel of a worldwide, radi-
cal seeking after boons which are pri-
marily spiritual. Deep in the heart
of humanity. even the most stolid, il
literate and unfavored groups of hui
mainly. dwells a passion for a new and
better life, a life of freedom, a life of
brotherhood, life of justice for all
the weak and over-burdened mortals
of earth.
Something has set that master
chord to vibrating. The portentous
social upheaval of our time is at basis
a spiritual quest. 1t is more than q
desire for ease and possessions: it is
a longing for life, full, abundant, un-
fettered life.s Man-soul is crying aloud
for satisfaction of it's deepest and di-
vinest Instincts Heart-hunger has be-
come not only vocal, but clamorous
Blindly. the whole earth is cropping to-
ward that which Jesus called the king
dom of heaven. Every custodian OF
spiritual truth, every leader in relig-
ion, whatever his creed or organiZa-
ton, should be startled by this mighty
human tide which is surging outside
of all church. 1t is a veritable Mes
sianic passion in modern guise.
Studying Our Own Time.
Occasionally we catch glimpses be-
meath the surfaces of mems lives, See
ing what lies deeper than the struggle
for position and possessions and pleas
ure, and we are surprised (though why
should we be?) to find the rich and
the learned and the powerful, as well
as the poor and the lowly, dominated
by a strong spiritual yearning. Dis
satisfied with material things, they
! hunger and thirst for they Know moi
what. The Llama and the similar
Seekers in Kipling's kim are rep
resentative of other lands than India
Sometimes it is workingmen, like An
drew and John, the Galilean fisher
man. who have turned aside to probe
the message of a new teacher: some
) times it is the sage and saint, like
Simean and Anna, who acclaim q
Coming One. Let any vital voice be
; lifted anywhere, whether in a Fifth
} avenue pulpit or a wooden tabernacle
, or aecollege hall and men and women
who are lonely in their souls will
, throng to hear it.
Whoever does not discern this
new sense of spiritual search in uu1
, own day is superficial observer II
, | radiates from the trenches of France
and from the newly sacrificial spirit
cf the families of soldiers. In the
utterances of the greatest statesmen
, and of most editors and writers il
echoes consistently. AS 1 have already
, declared, it is what is real at the cen
ter of the CHASTITY imitation of frater-
nifty and liberty and justice called Boil
: shevism. 1t is simply because they
: have been unable to find the real thing
i that so many deluded millions have
, accepted this painted pretense.
The Qucsters.
l Ours is the day of the questers
Everybody has his search. Wrap
ped up in the one big word, Recon
struction'' all of us hope to find the
: fulfilment of our most cherished de-
: tsires Wars heavy price having beer
paid, we now look for a commensur-
/. ate boon. 1t is in the heart of hui
| manity to believe that the long-sung
and over-expected good time coming
Z is now almost here. Soldiers are look
I.-s.-
long dreams while in exile and in bat
tie. Reformers see the possibility OF
I the friction of their desires and 1abors
in the new mind of mankind. Prophets
acclaim this as the day of truths OPP
portunity Because there has been
unexa implied Expecta ton, there should
be commensurate Realization.
Few are so dun as not to have
learned somewhat of the lesson taught
in France, the lesson of suffering. OF
! NERVOUSNESS. We have all been in
! the school of the broken heart. That
is why we are reader now than ever
| to listen to the word of the Finger
board Prophet as he cried. behold
the Lamb of God!'' 1t is the Lamb OF
sacrifice, the innocent Sufferer. the
Buyer-back. or Redeemer. that meets
our mood just now. No splendid fig
ure in shining ormor. or world-con-
queror or king. can satisfy the desire
! of this generation. Our bruised hearts
cry for great Sacrifice. a great Love,
a great Reconcilor.
Even John and Andrew. who first
heard and needed the words of the
Baptist. scarcely appreciated the signif-
: icance of his Characterization of Jesus
as do we today: Behold the Lamb
of God" They were looking for a
. Messiah; had, in truth. journeyed all
the way down from Galilee upon
hearing reports of the new prophet
who was speaking vital words by the
!, - TCrQ oil =
! long expected king: it took some radi-
! cal adjustment of their minds to be
satisfied with Lamb of atonement.
The Expectation OF the Ages.
Il Stay-at-home philosophers, who
have not felt the deep tides OF France