The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-03
International
SundaySchoolLessor
BY WILLIAM T.. ELLIS.

For June 5 is, Making the Nation
Christian. "-Ps. 1872; Prov. 14:S41
Romans 1910.
The Higher Patriotism.
There is statecraft which goes be-
yond politics and diplomacy, and deals
with the springs of life. In Russia
the Bolshevik leaders have shown this
overwhelmingly by attempting 20
abolish religion. From their stand
point, this course is both right and
necessary. Otherwise they cannot sue
Fcee6 in their big program. They see
clearly that it is simply impossible for
Russia to remain at one and the same
time both Christian and Bolshevik.
The two teachings are not only nln-
tUally antagonistic but also mutually
exterminative.> If Russia turns again
wholeheartedlYto the church, she VIII
inevitably cast out Bolshevism; II, on
the other hand, Russia accepts the
original program of Bolshevism as a
national policy, then not only the
orthodox church, but also Christian
ity, will be driven from the borders OF
what once was called Holy Russia.
For the foundation of Bolshevism
is hate, and the foundation of the
church is love.
If public men and Christian leaders
watched a little more closely what is
going on in Russia, there would at
once be a decided effect upon the Ire
of this western would. For in bloody
red letters, huge and staring, it is writ
ten across Russia that the salvation
of a nation is it's Christian faith: and
that the destruction OF a nation is the
enforcement of selfishness, class or
individual. AS was said long ago, IN
the words of our Lesson text. fright
eousness exalteth a nation; but sin is
a reproach to any people" Again,
Blessed is the nation whose God is
Jehovah"
Waking Up to Realities.
Again and again attention has been
called to the Providential timeliness OF
these International Lessons, studied by
upwards of twenty million persons in
North America, and by thirty million
turnout the world. In the present cri-
sis, with patriotism being attacked IN
every land, and with the entire con-
ception and basis of national life be-
ing challenged by audacious and AFRO
CANT radicalism, it is of grave and well
come significance that we should have
this lesson upon the nation With the
subject being discussed in every city
and hamlet on the continent; with
countless sermons and addresses be-
ing delivered upon it; and hundreds of
articles written upon it, there are
bound to be started currents OF
thought that may have consequences
beyond all calculation. Only God can
school study.
In and out of the Christian church
thoughtful persons are waking up to
the practical relation between reli-
gious teaching and the state of the ma
ton. No alert person nowadays is so
foolish as to assume that what en-
cages the Sunday schools is merely
"pious talk" On the contrary, it is
being freshly understood that popular
ideals are being shaped and fixed
! thereby; for the Sunday school goes
down to the very springs of character.
If the thinking of our land is to be
stabilized, in this time of uncertainties,
the agency of the Sunday school must
be utilized
There is no need of new organiza-
! lions to preserve our united life from
| he ravages of goddess radicalisn1. The
churches and their agencies, the Sum
| day school in particular, are adequate
for the task, if given the right support
| and cooperation. They go right down
| to bed rock, and build up from the
bottom a structure of Christian char
acter. And Christian character is
what made this western world great in
| the beginning, and it is what will save
| it in the end.
The Cry of the Great.
Here let US call in witnesses. There
| is no need to go to the bookshelf to
| find quotations from historians and
l
the strength of a state is the faith of
its people. One recent and entirely
pertinent document will suffice-an
| utterance that is not as well known
as it should be. 1t is addressed ITO
our fellow citizens of the British EN-
pire." and it is signed by all the pre-
miers of the British domfnions. The
! document will bear reading, in con-
nection with this lesson, in every
Sunday school in the world:
foundations of ordered civilization.
has driven thoughtful men to exam
inc the bases of national and inter-
national life.
at has become clear today. both
thru the arbitrament of war and thru
the tests of rebuilding life of peace,
that neither education, science. d.
plomacy nor commercial prosperity
when allied with a belief in material
force as the ultimate power. are real
foundations for the ordered develop
\ ment of the worlds life. These
things are in themselves simply the
tools of the spirit that handles them
"And the spirit of goodwill among
men rests on spiritual forces; the
hope of a brotherhood of humanity
lfeposes on the deeper spiritual fact
of the Fatherhood of Cod In the
recognition of the fact of that Father
hood and of the Divine purpose fol-
the world which are central to the
} message of Christianity, we shall dis
cover the ultimate foundation for the
reconstruction of an ordered and har-
monious life for all men. That fecog-
milton cannot be imposed by govern.
ment.
at can only come as an act of fres
consent on the part of individual mer
everywhere.
Responsible as we are in our sepa-
II rate spheres for a shaSe in the guild.
} ance of the British Empire as s.
faces the problems of the future, va
. believe that in the acceptance OF
these spiritual principles lies the SURF
basis of world peace. We would
therefore commend to our fellow citi
gems the necessity that men OF good
will. who are everywhere reviewing
l Ia