The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-01-07
Intern 1fionaI
SundaySchoolLesson
BIZ wu.IdAM r. ELLIS.
For Jan airy Is. Jesus Teaching
Forgiveness lS:2l-S5.

Forgiveness. Matt lS:2l-SS.
Peters Question, Revised TO Date.
Once n the long ago. hot-spirited
Simon Peter asked a famous question
of Jesus concerning forgiveness. A
sort of revised version of the ques~
ton, in the setting of this present time,
presents itself for first consideration,
as we look upon hate-scorched, VEN
geanee-torn world TO be made livable.
Says Peter the American. 1.-THE Old
World has wronged me. Because
believed its high professions of love OF
liberty and justice, 1 sent my sons by
the millions to bitter war. After the
battle, tho. find the old wrongs
marching on under new flags; and inn
perialtsm, oppression, and the all
devious diplomacy of selfishness a,
busy as ever. How often shall for
give Europe? Is it not better that We
should henceferth be strangers"
Says Peter the Canadian: MY big
brother to the south has forsaken his
associates and shirked his share of the
wars aftermath We paid a price be-
yond his understanding in the great
struggle; and now he is loudly pro
claiming that he IS thru with helping
10 bear the common load of the ma
lions. and that he wants to walk alone.
I, p L
often shall ! forgive him ?"
Says Peter the Frenchman: Ger
many has wounded me in the heart.
may be doomed to slow extinction
All the earth has rung with the her
rors she has committed upon my soil
and my people. Shall 1 forgive her.
and not have revenge? Or shall not
make her pay even to the third or
fourth generatien?''
Says Peter the Italian: "Engian..
now has fourth of the earth's sur
face. and measureless stores of ell and
other precious things, as a result of
the war. My people cry for bread
We SILVER from lack of coal Our
trade has been wounded, perhaps
the war: yet the prizes of victory so to
France and England. Shall 1 forgive
| them?"
Says Peter the Englishman: Be
hold Russia the recreant, She has
failed US in battle; SHE has~deprived
| life; she has menaced the peace of all
Asia; she has filled the whole world
with her propaganda of bolshevism.
Shall 1 forgive Russia %
Says Peter the Russian peasant:
For generations have been bent be-
sion and poverty, all that an idle aris-
| tocracy might play and sin in leisure
| and luxury. At last have cast off
my old yoke. 1 have .despoiled and
Impoverished and imprisoned and
slain the people of privilege. With
them would east down to destruction
all the prosperous ana favored bour-
| geoisie of the whole earth. Capital
! ism's day is done. Shall forgive those
who have wronged my class?"
! This Way to Reninde World.
1 81,
lions and get recital and counter
recital and intricate tales of wrongs
and grievances everywhere. One
| spiritsshrilaks appalled, frorlx the spec
taclessof hatred and ili-wiIE that fills
| the whole earth. Conflict and class
seem literally worldwide. Many per-
sons are saying that after-the war
| conditions are worse than the days OF
battle. Nobody can fairly face the
political and economic facts of his
time without heaviaess of spirit.
And the remedy? 1t is at the heart
| of our Lesson. There will have to be
I! born a new spirit of forgiveness, OF
rnagnanimity and tolerance. before we
| can have a remc lie world. No form
of political arrangements or econo-
| mic establishments will suffice. Only
spiritual remedies can avail Unless
| there is qIiekened in the souls of the
l
(! cialiy of the governments, an entirely
new mood. there can be nothing
of humanity except catastrophe,
All other routes to remad world
| are impossible except the way oil
Jesus. His doctrine of forgiveness
| clean states and fresh good willis
4 the one way cute Let no man say
that Sunday School Morals" are i'm
practical; they are the most work
able of all conceptions for the re-
organization of society. That is why
thoughtful persons the world over
pectancy to the spiritual forces OF
prayer and penitence, faith and for
gfveness. for the recreation of Chris.
| tian civilization.
The Man With Grudge.
A few evenings ago there approach-