The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-12

Christian message and a simple exem-
plification of the Christian character
! is the need of the church herself. The
most devout disciples are the first to
confess this Until the breath of God
has blown into fire the smouldering
embers of Christian devotion we shall
continue to witness the rebuke of hav-
ing men and women seek for the living
Jehovah outside of His church. What
Jesus said about the centurion's faith
was a fact about Israel as well as
about the Roman soldier.
Since our world is so full of pill
grims after God, who pass the doors
of the churches we Christians should
walk softly and charitably and in con-
slant determination, without a shred
of arrogance. This is no time for self
Righteousness or consciousness. The
church's only concern is to know how
she may better make known the true
God to the world. SO that all seekers
may find Him Whom to know is life.
For Jesus so made the Father known
by His works and by His work.
A Leader for Democracy.
During the early days of the revolu-
ton in Russia 1 often heard stereo-
typed phrase from the lips of English
speaking Russian aristocrats, and from
foreign diplomats, when alluding to
the workmen and peasants. Two years
later, in Cairo, I heard exactly the
same words over and over at the
demonstrating Egyptians by~British
officers and civil servants-"Damn
swine! Damn sWinei"k
Not a nice phrase, that. 1t revealed,
tho, the state of mind which caused
the revolutions. Failure to enter sym
pathetieally into the spirit and needs
of the masses has ever been the car
dinal defect of aristocracy. The jew
ish sanhedrin displayed it when it
snarled at Nicodemus when he feebly
tried n oh1rnninn TPcIIG stThiG n1nlfi-
tude . is accursedi'
How a person views people is the
test of his character, and also of his
qualities for leadership. Jesus was
moved with compassion upon behold
ing the multitude. His heart ever kim
died at the needs of the mob. In this
second part of our Lesson we have the
key to the qualities of Christ which
made Him leader in His own day
and a Saviour for the whole world.
Weymouth translates the central pass
age thus:
"And when He saw the crowds He
was touched with pity for them, be-
cause they were distressed and were
fainting on the ground. like sheep
which have no shepherd"
One of our modern poets depicts the
Apostle PauPs similar attitude toward
people:
"oft when the worlds on me to deliver
Lifts the illusion and the truth lies
Desert or throng, the city or the river,
Melts in lucid Paradise of air.
"Only like souls see the folk hereunder,
Bound who should conquer, slaves who
should be kings
Hearing their one hope with an empty
wonder.
Sadly contented in a show Of things
"Then with rush the intolerable craving
Shivers turnout me like aftrumpet-call-
oh to save thesei to perish for their saw
ing,
Die for their life, be offered for them
air.
Snobbishness and selfishness have
filled the world today with blood and
menace and a universal class struggle.
Relief can come only thru the spread
of this spirit Of Christ which actually
loves mankind and is full of yearning
for their welfare. There can be no
real leaders in the bays democracy
who have not this passion for people.
This is the touchstone for teacher-and
preacher and politician and editor.
and, for evel.- other person who would
serve his generation.
Love for folks is the bequest of
Jesus to all who would be His disci-
pies. TheNcall Of the lesson, for labor
ers in an over-ripe harvestfield, may
be translated into social and economic
and political and industrial terms;
our day needs men and women with
the shepherd spirit.