The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-09

Bedrock on the Social Problem.
| Like a long arm reached out to all
the world, thrusting vast problems
under the eyes of every nation, the
Washington conference on limitation
of armament and problems of the
Pacific has aroused peoples every
where to the gravity and the acuteness
Of certain great issues. The vast con-
Germs of peace and right and fraternity
have had first-page position in the
press of the whole earth. The educa-
tional value of this widespread pre-
sentaion, and consequent discussion
of vital themes is one of the ways in
which dem ocracy works out its will.
Now into the thick of this interest,
with that timeliness which seems
nothing less than providential, is pro-
| jected this Sunday school lesson which
many millions will study. The text is
one of the shortest books of the Bible,
the letter to Philemon. a wealthy
/ Christian of Colossae. written by Paul,
from his prison in Rome, and sent by
the hand of Onesimus. a runaway slave
belonging to Philemon, who had be
come a Christian under the apostles
! teaching
In this brief personal epistle, of six
hundred words, so tender and init
mate, that it has often been called
Paul's love letter, we find combined
H.
a criminal problem, an ethical problem
and a religious pEoblem-and a solu-
ton for them all.
The Runaway's Romance.
No cold blooded, impersonal. theo-
Logan was this veteran preacher,
traveller. statesman, the apostle Paul,
whom we here find a prisoner in
Rome. AS an oriental wine-skin drips
good wine wherever it is pricked, so
the life of Paul. wherever touched,
bleeds rich, red, human interest. How
full of personal greetings are even his
most philosophical writings. We know
that nothing could ever keep him
from his life work of presenting Jesus
Christ to people. So we are scarcely
surprised to leafn, that along with the
soldiers and other percons who found
their way to the prisoners presence to
talk over the new faith, there was a
runaway slave from Colossae named
OnesimUs-a word that means help
fur or "profitable,' and one upon
which a. pun is made in the letter be-
fore US.
Rome, with its unspeakable slums.
was the haven of the runaway slaves
of an empire. The larger part of the
city's population was made up of these
miserable creatures. Young and ad-
venturous OneSimuS got to Rome, and
probably encountered hard times In
some way he learned of the famous
in the city. He recalled him as be-
loved and honOred guest in the home
of his master, Philemon, the Christian,
of Colossae. Any face associated with
home would be dear to the suffering
exile, and so the runaway sought for
Paul, and found him a friend and
father. and under his gentle guidance
became himself a Christian, a member
Of the same household of faith as his
master.
Ii 70
lens indeed. conversion to Christianity
is the great settler of all problems
Now that he had become a Christian,
Onesimus was obliged to do what was
right. By the laws of the time. and
by the prevailing ethics, he belonged
to Philemon, and must return. Right
eousness is always retroactive, and
calls for restitution. True the slave
was useful to Paul and he belonged
to the new brotherhood; but still,
right was right, and he could never
have peace or joy in his religion until
he had returned to his legal master.
Back to Bondage.
Like a faded letter found in an attic
trunk, that CLEANS and CLOVIS with all
the fire of living passion so this little
epistle of Paul to Philemon seems
still to throb with the pulsation of
warm blood from a beating heart
He loved Onesimus. for the young
man, in gratitude and affection, Law
ished service and loyalty upon the
lonely old prisoner. He also loved
Philemon, the splendid Christian gen
tleman, memory of whose hospitality
frightened the darkness of the Roman
Imprisonment. He also loved Christ
supremely, and he wanted to heed the
claims of all three loves.
So, in phrases that still repeat them
selves, in the letters of friends to
friends, Paul sent Onesimus back to
ell
more than a slave, a brother beloved"
He did not deny the masters right to
own the slave; but like his Master
who put himself in the sinners place,
Paul could write, IF then thou count
est me a partner, receive him as my
self But if he hath wronged thee
at all or owest thee aught, put that
to mine account"
1t would be less fair to forget that,
even in the days of American slavery,
Christians, dwelling together in mu-
tual affection. Onesimus was going
back to bOndage-tho the system of
slavery received its death knelI with
the coming of the gospel OF liberty
but PauFS reasoning was that this re-
lationship between owner and slave
was to be transformed by the higher
relationship of both to their mutual
Master, Christ. A bad system op-
Grated in a Christian spirit, may pro-
QuCS DeLLeI results imam 1Q6dI SyS-
tenn operated by un-Christian motives.
The will to peace" means more than
the enactments of an international
conference.
Down to Bed Rock.
In the heart beats of this brief let
ter from an aged prisoner TO a dis
tant friend concerning runaway
slave-whom Roman gentleman
would ordinarily scarcely have deigned
to notice-we may hear the music of
the new era when our social and in
dustrial and political problems will
have been solved. For Paurs thesis
is that loyalty to a common Christ
supersedes all lesser relationships ana
obligations. When two persons, both
sincerely want to do the will of Jesus
there will be no clash between them
on account of class or social distinc-
tons. The world is going to find
stability at bed rock only by accept
ing as supreme thes will OF the Lord.