The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-10


major theme of universal thought.
All sorts of voices are uplifted IN plea
for this Better Day, which men vari-
ously interpret. Gilbert K. Chester
ton, the British author. expresses the
common passion in this prayer:
"Oh God on earth and altar
Bow down and hear our cry,
Our earthly rulers falter,
Our people drift and die;
The walls of gold entomb us,
The swords of Scorn divide
Take not Thy thunder from us,
But take away our pride
From all that terror teaches.
From lies Of tongue and pen,
From all the easy speeches
That comfort cruel men,
From sale and PROCLAMATION,
OF honor and the sword,
From sleep and from damnation,
Deliver us, good Lord.
cite in living tether
The priest and prince and thrall
Bind all our lives together,
Smite US and save US all:
In ire and eXultatioB,
Aflame with faith and free,
Lift a living nation,
A single sword to Thee"
Chesterton, in spite of his paradoxes
and WITNESSES, sees straighter than
most. Sensitive to popular unrest, he
yet perceives that it is not something
to be allayed or overcome or extermi-
mated, but to be satisfied. Therefore
he turns to the great Source and Goal
Of life from whence alone can come
the answer to mankind's expectancy.
A Worthwhile Passion.
Recently 1 addressed q forum meet
ing upon cosmopolitan conditions. and
answered questions afterwards. a
few professional forum-goers were
there, apostles of unrest, critics of all
n
pointed because the speaker did not
prove to be a common scold, and had
enthusiasms as well as regrets. Their
point of view was really pitiable, for
damnation for the whole general
scheme of things. They made the
| common mistake of assuming that
mere fault-finding is a great virtue.
Their idea of social reconstruction
seemed to be entirely to rail at the
| existing order. They had no construc-
| tive conceptions whatever.
Really / fancy that / am unhappier
| over some existing conditions in the
world than these untraveled and mar
row minded critics know how to be.
They are incapable even of imagining
such misery as these eyes have looked
| upon. But 1 part company with this
whole breed of calamity howlers-
| they remind me of the packs of jack
ais that make weird noises amid the
|
city of Kerbela, in Mesopotamia-be-
! cause have a glowing faith in peo-
pie, and in some institutions; and l
| have a program which is able to make
right all that is wrong in the world.
Take the Express Train.
That program and passion is for the
kingdom of heaven. established by Je-
sus, and still growing over all the
earth. Why should a person devote
his energies to any lesser and merely
superficial scheme of reconstruction,
when he can go right down to the root
| of things with the word and spirit and
method of Jesus? Why take a slow
and uncomfortable local train, stop
ping at all the wayside stations of re-
form, when it is possible to take a
thru express to the terminal Of regen-
7 Grafton?
A babe may follow the logic of the
| kingdom idea The things that are
wrong with the world today all have
their cause in mistaken or evil Ideals.
1t is mans inhumanity to man that is
making countless millions mourn. II
lit were not for the pride and greed
and selfishness of the imperialists, the
profiteers and the huge mass of self
engrossed persons in the world, there
would be no political or economic or
social tragedies. Because mans heart
is not right toward his neighbor, our
of unneighborliness. So, says Jesus
get your heart right. Changed spirits
will quickly produce changed world
All reform that abides must work from
within outward. Therefore, 1.-THE king
dom of God is within you Passionate
devotion to the kingdom is surest serv-
ice of all human needs.
seeing Red or Seeing Straight.
Perturbed persons everywhere are
turning toward Russia as a possible
land of hope for the new era. 1t i:
the fad among so-called ''intellectuals'
to espouse the Russian type of radical
ism as the panacea for all ills. One Of
the rather amazing phenomena or oui
present world is this widespread turn
ing towards Russia for a new gospel
Those of US who have lived under tbs
red flag in Russia know that the ad-
vent of Bolshevism has meant even in
creased tyranny, indebtedness, In
tolerance and widespread suffering
, physical, mental and spiritual. Sorry
, Is our plight indeed If we have no
where else to look for the Good Time
Coming than to Russia
Happily, we have a better place to-
ward which we may turn eyes of hope
Not out of Russia. but out of Galilee
comes the assurance OF the New Day
AN mems good
Be each mans rule. and universal peace
Lie like shaft of light across the land
And like a lane of beams athwart the sea
Thro' all the circle of the golden year
When we cease seeing red, and be
gin to see straight and far, we per
ceive clearly that only the kingdom
! of heaven programme. as studied il
: the present Sunday school lesson. il
: adequate for remade world Oul
days problem is so vast that nothins
less than the Transforming power O
, a divine dynamic can meet it. HUI
5 mainly will nave to be changed il
+. its very heart before all the undeSir
able conditions of society can b.
: changed. Jesus is the only sufficen
Leader who can meet the unequallet
! task of the times.
! What is the Kingdom?
Even as it was in the days of Hi
l flesh. the learned and the eminen
l are inclined to be offended in Jesus
= saving whence hath this man thi