The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-02-24
International
SunddySchoolLesson
u WILLIAM q. Ellis

| A<~%sSS~~%i4 A~f(AS -
By WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
For February 20 is "EIisha,s Heaven
~ Defenders IL Kings $3.50.
Eyes for Our Allies.
Eyes and no eyes. based on an an
c;ent story of a discouraged and fear
full man who could not see his allies,
is the theme of the present Lesson
which, opportunity, in time of de-
preston, many millions OF persons
will be studying. The tale touches
everybody's life. Its message has
been phrased in a thousand forms.
In a recent issue of the Christian Gem
tury, Frederick Hall put it into the
form of a workaday experience:
Here at the window all day long I stand.
Eight hours day. six days week and
Stamps and weigh packages, and things
child comes in and wants postal card.
A blonde stenographer wants two cent
farmer $ wife has eggs to parcel post,
How much il cost send this to Budapest:'
So it goes all day long and every day.
One day a woman said, I want to get =
Eighteen Kenosha stamps You'd never
What twas she meant. Yes, there are
funny spots :,
Light the routineZbut it's monotonous.
Some day III drop and then-another
At the same window, doing the same
In the Same way, for the same pay
about.
Sometimes tell Janet I'm just cog,
In a machine. Then she bursts INTO
flames;
Why. Diekie. boy you're not, you're no
such 4 thing!
You stand there at your window and you
The web of life Think of it! Christmas
Engagement rings. and bits of wedding
cake,
Letters from home to far-off boys and
Letters from boys and girls to folks at
Letters from friends, and lovers, hus-
bands, wives,
Pass thru your fingers like the warp and
or a great, golden tapestry of love-.
Tucked close around MS all to keep us
cog! Why. Dick what makes the world
go round
Is just such strong and faithful cogs
A.. as you
"of course, that's only Janets jollying
but-JoIiylng, too, helps make the world
To see our task, and its relation to
the universal and eternal forces, is to
have the vision that brings courage
and success. What is chiefly wrong
with our own time is that a large
number of persons have not a broad
enough perception of life and it's re-
lationships. Like Elisha's disciple,
they are aware only of the nearest
apparent fact, and nothing more.
Allies AMI Victory.
The historic background of the
Lesson is simply stated. Intermittent
war was in progress between Syria
and Israel, with the odds usually great
ly in favor of the Syrians. They made
foraYs at will into the territory of
Israel; and trapped the Israelites al
most at pleasure. All the military ad-
vantages seem to have been on their
side. But the king of Syria found his
strata gems thwarted, time after time
in a mysterious manner. His ambus-
cades, and salffes became known in
advance to the Israelites. 1t seemed
as if there were treason in the Syrian
camp.
An investigation was started by the
king. One of his informed officers
gave the true explanation. 1t was the
prophet of Israel, Elisha, who made
known the Syrian plans in advance to
the king of Israel. Thereupon the
Syrian king, a man of action, decided
to try to capture the prophet himself,
whom his spies reported as dwelling
in Dothan, a dozen miles north of the
capital city of Samaria. If he could
get nOiQ the DEQpDSl- ne WOGlQ nave
the king at his mercy-an early Inv
stance of the German method of try
ing to capture the intellectual and
spiritual leadership of a nation. So a
Syrian host was sent to invest the city
of Dothan by q secret night march. NO
chances would be taken this time.
Daybreak revealed the surrounding
army of chariots' and horses and war
riors to Elisha's disciple, who came
running in panic, crying, ALIAS, my
master! how shall we do?" The sacred
narrative continues: And he answer
ed, Fear not; for they that be with us
are more than they that be with them
And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I
pray Thee open his eyes, that he may
see And the lord opened thekeyes
of the young man; and he saw; and,
behold, the mountain was full of
horses and chariots of fire round
about Elisha" The record goes on
to tell how the Syrians were deliv-
cred completely into the hands of the
king of Israel, who treated them mag
unanimously, and brought a. period OF
peace to the warning countries Vic
tory and peace both belong to those
who have God on their side.
Pity the Blind!
What ails our day? Many things,
but blindness, chiefly. 1t has no eyes
for the essential things. As wise old
Saint Peter once wrote, They are
blind, seeing only that Whlch IS near.
The foolish young girl of the city can
see the effects of cosmetics, but not
the results of a kind and cultivated
mind\ Your sophisticated young man
can see the latest wrinkle in hats and
the latest fit in clothes and the lat
est fashion in dances, but he cannot
see the>power and happiness of 1nanS
hood of efficiency and integrity baseu
upon industry &And character The
''liberaI' writers of the day can see
the interest of shameless sensuality
and unbridled passion, which they
glorify by fine phrases such as the
right to self expression" but they
seem unable to see the beauty of
holy love that is true to one man or
woman thruout life, and which makes
for happy homes and noble families.
The radical can see an imaginary adj
vantage in tearing down the present
structure of society, but he cannot
see the true good will and patriotism
and tolerance build up all mems good.
The sordid speculator can see the
sea sxy uanuat7fs that seems so near Int