The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-29

boy as mine? Don't you envy me +?
Pity, the poor kings and rnillionaires
who have no such SON as this!"
In truth, as the story of the Babe
John implies, this matter of infancy
and childhood is antecedent to all at
fairs of state and church. What the
politicians babble about Is absolutely
secondary to the interests of the
babe. Child welfare is the bedrock
of world welfare. All other questions
are first of all questions of where
the most babies are being born; and
how many; and how they are being
trained. France, which seems to be
troubling the world, is herself most
bigger in French thought than rep
arations or imperialism. French wo-
men are not bearing enough babies.
The governments offering premiums
and prizes and rewards for children;
but steadily France see her neighbors
driving her to inevitable defeat by
the strategy of the cradle. Quantity
and quality of childhood is the first
and last factor in all national and in
ternational questions.
Right here we come to the crux of
the Lesson. Are we raising prophets,
dedicated to God? One John the
Forerunner meant more to mankind,
and consequently is given more space
in Holy Writ, than all the princes
born within his generation. Is 1t
still the fashion with parents to
agonize before God in prayer for sons,
and that their sons may become min
listers of the Most High, true servants
of the Lord? Some are concerned
about the shortage of the supply of
clergymen; we need to be more con-
cerned as to whether the nninistering
and Christian spirit is to be carried
into all walks of life. Do we want our
boys to have a mission, or merely to
get along?" Are we willing for them
to have the hard and lonely lives of
pioneers, blazing a new way for the
coming King?
Like Father. Like Son.
The more one sees of this business
of raising sons and daughters, the
clearer becomes the conviction that
it is largely matter OF beings the
right sort Of person ones self, and
then of keeping close to the children.
1t is Christening thought for parents
that it is not their preeepts, but their
real character and ideals and aspira-
tions that work out in their children.
When God wants John the Baptist
he goes to the reyerent. true-hearteo
priest and his rare wife for him. Long
lists have been compiled of distin-
guished sons of minister; for the great
integrities of character are developed
in the manse, where God is henored
and the Bible is exemplified. John
the Baptist was a elergyman's son.
and in him was expressed and full
filled the best of the character of
Zeeharias,
Strange stories are coming from
overseas Of an uprising of central
European youth, determined to find
freedom and a life better than that
of their elders who have muddled up
the world. One group, at least, OF
these insurgent young people have
turned to religion for truer express
sion of their possibilities. Many hearts
are quickened with hope as they read
this news. For IN a consecrated
youth, seeking to live life in accord
with the divine will, is a sure hope OF
new and brotherly and warless
world.
John the Herald was q dedicated
child, He never knew the day when
he was not set apart to do the will
of God. In infancy he was Graded
in a great expectation, His boon com
panion, even in the desert to which
he was sent to be Injured to hardness
and to develop q personality, was
consciousness Of his mission.
Perhaps If we expected more OF our
sons they would do more for the
world. If they were early branded in
their souls with the mark of the Lord
Jesus would they not be likelier to
become His messengers?
copyright, 1929, by The Ellis
SeFYice,3