The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-20

this most of the world has for ages
been kept in subsection. Even within
the memory of readers of these lines,
employers boldly dictated how their
workmen should vote, on peril of los
ing their jobs. The subservience of
the soul to the stomach is the most
ancient of slaveries "A man must
live" resounds Satan's slogan-whicn
Jesus answered in the desert.
GA man must live We Justify
Low shift and trick to treason
high.
A little vote for a little gold
To a whole senate bought and sold,
With this self-evident reply.
"But is it so? Pray tell me why
Life at such cost you have to buy?
In what religion were you told
/ "A man must live?'
There are times when a man must die
Imagine for battle cry
From soldiers with a sword to hold,
From soldiers with the flag unroIled
This towards whine, this liars lie,
"A man must livei'"
Where Statesmen Fall.
Because statesmen and politicians
yielded, after the armiStice, to the
second of the foundations addressed
to Jesus, the world is in its present
agony. The lust for power and i'm
perialism is one of the weaknesses
of the great. 1t has probably caused
more woe to mankind than any other
single sin. aside from the love of
money. 1t took possession of Europe's
plenipotentiaries at Paris; so that
they broke solemn pledges to the
world and to tkeir own soldiers: dis
regarded signed agreements between
themselves; and. after bringing Eu-
rope to the brink of complete eco
nomic collapse, it has now plunged
civ inv he
Near Eastern maelstrom.
This present tragedy around the
Mediterranean would have been
avoided if diplomatists had not sue
eumbed to the Establishments of the
tempter who says, ITO you will give
all this authority and this splendor
If therefore you do homage to
me, it shall all be yours Ambitious
imperalists paid the devils price for
world privilege, political and CONNER
cial; and behold the settlement, in
fire and fear and blood and tears
and hate and misery immeasurabIe;
Not only nations fall at this point,
but men and women also, who seek a
short cut to greatness. If there were
space, instances out of real life could
be cited. The book of contemporary
politics is crowded with tales of men
who sold their souls for the sake of
office-and then did not get or could
not keep the office!
In the swift-stern answer of Jesus
to the tempter, we have the one rem
edy for the pitiable plight of the ma
lions. They have gone wrong because
they have done wrong. Now only
return to the clear way of righteous
ness, which is loyalty to the living
God, will deliver our Ieasnarled world
from its terrible entanglements If
simple allegiance to the clear will of
the Almighty takes the place of the
sinuous sophistication of statecraft,
we may hope for the rescue of the
race. Would that we could inscribe
council, and at the head of every
treaty, ITO the Lord thy God thou
shalt do homage and to Him alone
shalt thou render worship"
Trivial Tests of Religion.
"a papoose question:" retorted old
John Eliot, first missionary to the
American Indians, as some smart
braves tried to entangle him with
cunning queries. "Papoose Questions!"
find my mind echoing as I listen
to the talk of some men upon re-
ligion. 1t lacks reverence and dignity
and a sense of seemliness. Back in
the Appalachian mountains, it is said,
OF theology; altho the essential rev.
erence and piety of these mountain
GERS is beyond doubt.
Most of US have learned, tho, that
Christianity is not matter of display
or competition. We see the sophistry
of Satan's summons to the Saviour to
throw Himself down from a pinnacle
of the temple, in the expectation that
God would safeguard him. Faith is
for hours of need, and not for idle
exhibition. There is such a thing as
abuse of Providence If in the course
of real ministry, the Master had fallen
from the temples height, he would
have been succored; but His rebuke
of the tempter that he should not
make idle trial of God was sufficient.
Answered by Scripture@the sure
sword of victory for every tempted
one-Satan departed for the time: and
angels mir1istered to the tested but
triumphant Jesus.
Copyright 1922. by The Ellis
Service.) .~s