The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-09-01

ical seminaries are attached to uni
versities the teachers and students in
tho former are a negligible factor in
the life of. this group apf young men.
Nobody expects the young theologues
to be foremost in community activi-
ties, the leaders OF other young men;
just as nobody expects the seminary
professors to be outstanding person.
alities and intellectual lights. Yet the
leading of men and the shaping Of
standards is the very life mission of
the divinity students. Some day this
whole matter of the dearth OF real
leadership in and by the church will
have to be frankly faced.
Nehemiah was a <leader and a
builder. As ''practicaP' man he un-
derstood the power of a rallying cry, a
slogan. A good watchword is half
the success of any cause. So Nehe-
miah called upon his compatfiots:
BE not ye afraid of them; remember
the Lord who is great and terrible,
and fight for your brethren, your sons
and your daughters, your wives and
your houses With such leadership
is it any wonder that 1.-The people had
a mind to work"
'.Lers GOT"
Across the Atlantic to France oar
soldiers took the slogan, Lets Cor
What commander after their own
heats Nehemiah would have made
His wisdom was that of the 'deer. The
cure for most ills of society and in
dividual is Get busy" So he set his
people to working, even when they
had to hold a weapon with one hand
and toll with the other When foes
tried to inveigle him into fruitIess
conferences he tersely replied. I'm
doing a great work, so that 1 can't
come down" When traitor-led friends
attempted to- entice him from his
work into Sanctuary. where he would
be safe from danger, he retorted,
Should such man as 1 flee?"e The
work was more important than per-
sonaI security.
This fascinating patriot of old seems
to stand on his wall and cry to every
one of US today: BE a builder. for
your country's sake, for the/s sake of
Don't stop work to argue or fight over
obstacles and difficulties and enemies
go right on building, over against
your own house. Stop dreaming about
celestial cities or castles in Spain,
and get to work right where you are.
The best answer to fear and unrest is
simple industry.
Every stone you lay, for the sup
port and defense of your own family
is a contribution to national safety.
The citizen who owns his own home
and rears his own children to fear God
the country than the man who runs
around making reform speeches.
Start right in where you are to be a
builder, a constructionist, a doer.
rather than a critic or an agitator.
Fight, if you must, but don't stop
building for fighting. The best way
to meet most enemies is to keep right
on with your own task
A glance at present religious con-
diuons indicates the Nehemiah phil
osophy. What is the strength of the
church today? Does it lie in the elo-
quent speakers, the famous preach
ers, the board secretaries, the big
meetings? Everybody knows that it
does not. The real power of the
church which makes it the stabilizer
and the preserver OF the nation, con-
sists of the millions of godly men and
women. plain. everyday persons, who
are quietly and modestly living their
lives in the fear of God and in a SIM
pie purpose to practice the Christian
virtues of good will and neighborli-
ness and right conduct. Each stands
in his own place. like Nehemiah
workers, and builds over against his
own house-and, 10, the battiements
of Christian citizenship are reared for
the whole country.
This is the heart of the Nehemiah
story, in so far as it touches us; no.
body need wait for great opportuni-
ties of great powers; start right in
where you are to be builder for
God and country.
Copyright. 1922, by The Ellis
Service.)