The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-27
Political promises before electio

All OlItCC-1OlueES FRAZER.
Political promises before election
are common and cheap; opportunely.
We have today the story of the vows
of one, who was already in office.
High responsibility had awed him,
and he was overpowered by his own
inadequacy, as has been many an
other person in like circumstances
The world will not willingly forget
the familiar story of young Victoria,
Ensland's throne, registering the
solemn vow, Il will be good" Solo
mon was neither the first nor the
last person in responsible place who
came to his noblest self by assuming
great burdens.
Everybody who reads, or who is
familiar with literary illusions, knows
the story Behold in how few words
the record is written:
I'm Gideon the Lord appeared to
Solomon in a dream by night; and
God said, Ask what I shall give
thee. And Solomon said, Thou hast
showed unto Thy servant David my
father great mercy, according as he
walked before Thee in truth, and
in righteousness. and in upright
ness of heart with Thee; and Thou
hast kept for him this great king
dom, that Thou hast given him a
son to sit on his throne, as it is this
day. And now, o Lord my God,
Thou hast made Thy servant king
instead of David my father; and I
am but little child; 1 know not
how to go out or come in. And
Thy servant is in the midst of Thy
people which Thou hast chosen, a
great people, that cannot be num-
bered or counted for multitude.
Give therefore Thy servant an un-
Outstanding heart to judge Thy peo-
pie, that I may discern between
good and bad; for who is able to
judge this Thy so great people?
And the speech pleased the
Lord. that Solomon has asked this
thing. And God said unto him,
Because thou hast asked this thing,
and hast not asked for thyself long
life; neither hast asked riches for
thyself, nor hast asked for the life
of thine enemies; but has asked for
theyself understanding to discern
Judgment; Behold I have done &C
cording to they words 10. 1 have given
thee a wise and an understanding
heart; so that there was none like
thee before thee. neither after thee
shall any arise like unto thee. And
have also given thee that which
thou last not asked, both riches,
and honor so that there shall not
be any among the kings like unto
thee, all thy days. And if thou wilt
walk in My ways, to keep My stat
utes and My comma ndments. as thy
father David did walk, then 1 will
lengthen thy days"
What Do You Want?
First and simplest of the applica
tions of the Lesson is that which vii
be made by every class of boys an
girls, men and women, who study j
this week; If you could have anythin
you wanted. what would you ask for
The idea runs thru a hundred of child
hoods fairy tales 1t is a common
fancy, and even tiny tots play with il
Yet it is a profound test of character
There is no other more searching. !
life is measured by it's desires. Tel
me what you want and 1 will tell yol
what you are.
Every Waterman on the world
walls, from the pope down to tn
humblest editorial writer. is speaking
nowadays upon the manifold evidenc
that today the world seems to wan
the wrong things. Nations, as well a
persons, are seeking secondary thing
first. Because the European power
want to increase their own territorie
and trade and prestige and domination
rather than to bring justice and peac
and good will to the whole earth, on
world today is in bloody way. Il
humanity's decisive hour, they hav
made the wrong choice. Their desire
are material, rather than spiritual.
Over against the people the sam
indictment lies. Our day has gon
money-mad, and luxury mad, an,
pleasure-mad, and pride-mad, an
flesh-mad. Girls would rather hav
rich husbands than beautiful charac
tiers; boys want wealth and idlenes
a
cation and noble characters. VIVA
IS the world coming to ?" is a question
mat is being asked on every hand, a
serious minded persons study tn
trend of the time
Listeners and TelIers.
Sometimes the revisers suggest
Worio OF new meaning in a ramilia
Blble passage by the change of a sin
gle word. There is one such instanc,
in this narrative. According TO tn,
old rendering, solomon asked for .al
understanding heart The new yer
SION makes it "a hearing heart" Tha
let's in flood of light 1t is the listen
ing, learning, teachable mind that il
this the test of a growing versus {
life.
Once I Travelled for some days with
Ambassador Bryce and well known
American author, since dead. The
most illuminating fact about the ex-
perience was the contrast between
these two men. Amba ssador Bryce
was forever asking questions and seek
ing information about the new coun-
try thru which we we're passing; the
other man was constantly telling US
things, because he had got into that
habit of mind. The new scarcely in
terested him at all: he preferred to
bring out of his storehouse old treas
ures. He did not have what this bit
of Scripture calls "a hearing heart"
Needless 10 say, that man was dead
in the worlds eyes long before he
was laid in his coffin; whereas Lord
Bryce continues TO bring forth fruit
in his old age, and. altho past eighty
is still force in the world
Solomon showed that he already
possessed, in q. degree. the wisdom for
which he asked when he pleaded for
a hearing heart. He wanted to be
among the vital ones who are listen
ers. rather than among the large com
pany who try to tell without having
first heard.