The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-15


not bracket well Saintliness is more
of strength than OF sweetness. Friends
of Jesus develop strong personalities
like His. 1t is only when we are half
way into the Christian religion that we
are slaves of the passive virtues,
rather than jubilant opponents OF
| the Gospel of the strong Son of God.
Characters who count. will. like Him,
have both friends and foes
The craving TO be popular. rather
than the purpose to be right, is sign
| of immaturity. Also it is a sure road
I to unhappiness. A truer, standard
than the praise of any crowd-for all
crowds are fickle-is the approval of
God. Jesus set himself this rule:
Il do always those things which
please the Father" As a consequence.
while he had strong friends and bit
/ ter foes, as has every other virile per-
son also, he became ultimately the
/ fairest Figure in history; the admired
and adored of the race The surest
road to real and lasting popularity is
/ to be loyal to a great and permanent
/ standard Of right.
That EnviabIe Home.
FIapperism is already a failure, be-
cause it quickly became apparent that
despite all it's surrender of reticencies
| and reserves, it does not lead to the
marriage altar. 1t misses the goal
which every woman, however mod
ern" and radical" deems most de-
sirable. To smoke, to drink, to defy
conventions to be a ''paP' to men
in their less noble qualities, may seem
clever and advanced, for a period,
but it seldom results in standing up
before the minister to listen to the
solemn words which every true wo-
ed woman, who was strong in the
eternal feminine qualities Of home
making and idealisIn, is the ultimate
refuge of every man.
in T11 n
the world are most honored-the
mother of Jesus, and Mary and
Martha of Bethany, whose friendship
and sympathy gave true hospitality to
this homeless Teacher Today Beth
any is only an insignificant village of
mud houses. just around the shoulder
of the Mount of Olives from Jerusa-
lem, but every pilgrim to the Holy
City visits il as a shrine; for here was
the most enviable home, where Jesus
was familiar guest 1t fairly startles
US to think what Mary or Martha
and Lazarus would have missed If
they had not been ''given to hospi-
tality.'
True, Martha was the kind of
hostess who let her hospitality show.
The wheels of her domestic machinery
sometimes creaked. She was so busy
about the busting and the dinner that
She even grew irritable, and let the
shadow of a family disagreement fall
athwart the serenity of the Presence;
for she called upon Jesus to rebuke
Mary, who was giving the Master
what he most coveted from this fam
lily of dear friends-an understanding
fellowship. 1t is poor hospitality to
bestow lavishly upon a guest fine
food, but scant friendship.
Don't fretr' is the lessons message |
to the whole world of priceless Mar |
thas-and We must not forget that it |
was Martha's efficiency which made
for the tired Son of man. She merely |
forgot, on one occasion, the relative |
Importance CT things; and that the 1
spirit of Jesus needed refreshments
more than his body needed food. Mary
is not loved of all women; but she had
an understanding heart, and minis
tered to the deepest desire of the Mas
ter. We can never forget that the sub
sequent record runs, 'Now, Jesus
loved Martha, and her sister Mary"
''Out of the Depths.
'I had a friend" said Kingsley, in
apswer to an inquiry as
10 the secret of his success. We have
caught a glimpse of Christ in company
with his friends at Bethany; and we
are given a look at him in. communion
with the best Friend: his Father in
heaven. Life was stormy for Jesus;
he had to turn for refuge to the very
heart of God. His power was some
how mysteriously linked with prayer.
So one day, discovered by his dis
ciples, in the act of praying, one of
hem cried impulsively, Lord, teach
is to pray" In answer he gave them
he Model Prayer, which we call 1.-THE
Lords Prayer" and further illustrated
he characteristics of prayer by para
Die and precept. This is not the oc-
,asion for a discussion of prayer, save
% remark that every strong life
Knows that it has needs beyond all the
power of friends or things to satisfy.
Speaking Worst of the Best.
Because he was always helping peo-
ole-a characteristic of Christians
hat is surer a test of their disciple
;hip than any theological formula
Tesus incurred the criticism of the
'laves of convention. Religion, like
arity," and the rigid ecclesiastics did
lot approve IF this outburst of vital
They could not deny the
good works of Jesus, so they insinu-
tied that he cast out demons in the
lame of Beelzebub, the prince of
lemons
The logic OF the critic was bad, as
usually is when spleen poisons
Judgment: for Jesus pointed out that
atan divided against himself could
ot retain his power. A recent illus
ration, for the reader so minded, is
he collapse of the allies in Constan-
inople because of the lack of unity. !
In this connection Jesus laid down j
principle which should be memoir '
zed by every Christian in q day that I
ends to schism and impotence:
He that is not with me is against
le'' Z
Lurking in the shadows of the story :
( this last year Of the life of the
ord are the scheming, plotting, re-
entless enemies of the ecclesiastical ,
established order. They wanted to I
Him in His words, and they !
7anted an excuse to destroy His life. l
nee a dinner host Of the Master so
ir forgot himself as to sneer at the :
allure of Jesus to go thru the Gus
)mary ceremonial cleansing rites. I
Stung to answer. the gentle guest re-
lied: Now ye the Pharisees cleanse g
ne outside of the cup and OF the plat J
#; but your inward part is full of
CtortiOn and wick NdneSS.