The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-10-13

tiny in which John the Baptist lived,
only Jesus Christ can lead mankind
to safety and peace.
The Preacher and the Profiteer.
This man John was greater than
his times. He saw things in the large,
even to their causes His was the long
look and the wide look, that took in
the onmarch of life, and understood
its component parts. There was an
eternal note III his message: what he
said would not have been the truth
for the times if it had not also been
the truth for all times. His conclusions
were general, but his applications were
also particular.
Naturally, general conclusions with
out particular applications are "safe;"
This is a partial explanation of why
SO many writers and speakers run to
platitudes. John, however, drove the
meaning of his message straight home
to ''Thou art the man. Hear him:
HE said therefore to the multi
tudes that went out to be baptized
of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who
warned you to flee from the wrath
to come?
Bring forth therefore fruits
worthy of repentance, and begin not
to say within yourselves, We have
Abraham TO our father: for say
unto you, that God is able of these
Abraham.
"And even now the axe also lieth
at the root of the trees, every tree
therefore that bringeth not forth
good fruit is hewn down, and cast
into the fire.
"And the multitudes asked him,
saying, What then must we do?
"And he answered and said unto
them, He that hath two coats, let
him impart to him that hath none;
and he that hath food, let him do
likewise.
|. And there came also publicans
to be baptized, and they said unto
him, Teacher, what must we do?
And he said unto them, Extort
no more than that which is ap-
pointed you.
And soldiers also asked him, say
ing, And we, what must we do?
And he said unto them, Extort from
no man by violence, neither accuse
any one wrongful1y; and be content
with your wages
No trucking and no demagogry
there. The Herald pierced to the mar
of the grating tax-collectors and of
the unruly proletariat. There is no
comfort for the class conscious in what
this desert preacher said. Had John
been alive today we know he would
have excoriated the profiteers and the
pussy-footing politicians and the
shameless law-breakers. No truth is
vitality true that does not apply to
present life and present persons.
After All, the Executioner.
A vengeful and designing woman,
and a sensual and spineless king,
ended Johns life by the sword, so
that his head was served up on a
platter by a shameless dancer for the
jeers of drunken courtiers. But that
was only an incident in a career of
consummate success. 1t does not mat
ter to a real man whether he dies or
lives, so long as he is true to his
duty. The Baptist lives in myriad
lives today; and Herod and his para
mour have for centuries been deep in
the pit of the worlds contempt and
eXecration.
Courage is the first and last quality.
When courage goes, all is gone. Be
cause John was brave, his wisdom
became effective. He dared make
enemies of the mighty and of the
mob; but at the same time, he made
friends with God and truth and pos
terity. High among the mightiest OF
all the men that ever lived stands this
rough messenger from the desert,
who was so humble that he deemed
himself unworthy to unite the sandals
of the Coming One; and so fearless
that he dared rebuke the king on his
throne and the crowd in its sins. He
was a, preacher with a social message
If ever there was one.
In the slack age, when the popular
teaching is that which echoes the
words of the serpent in the garden,
Eye shall be as gods" and when men
and women are fond of magnifyins
the glory and freedom of their own
personalities, we welcome the shock
of Johns needed message, Repent
Mankind must face this clear call ere
it can see daylight in dark time. Ma
tons and people have got to repent
of their sins and turn to the Lamb
of God-eternal symbol of sacrifice
and sufferin g-before they can find
the peace for which the whole crea-
| ton hungers and tInirsts.
Copyright, 1922, by The Ellis
Service.)