The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-06-02

Can Kings Destroy Truth?
Censorship and propaganda are
greater evils in the life of the today
than either militarism or political cor
ruption. If the facts, full and un-
tainted. may not have free course
among all peoples, then nations eau
not act wisely, in the light of full
knowledge. Responsible newspaper
men and other publicists are deeply
concerned over the continuance of
war practices of censorship and news
celebration at its source: the press it
self receives the blame for a condition
which it is almost powerless to change.
There are many signs that thoughtful
persons, in and out of the. profession
of journalism, are aroused over the
existence of this evil, whereby official
or other power and privilege seek to
prevent the dissemination of the truth.
This is nothing new, even tho it rep
resents the most serious problem of
our time. The mighty have ever tried
to control thought. This present Sun
day school lesson brings before mill
lions of persons simultaneously an
ancient attempt of a Jewish king to
destroy a writing which he did not
like The angry monarch with a pen
knife, cutting into shreds of the
parchment scrolls containing Jere-
bit by bit, into the huge charcoal
brazier by which the royal apartment
was warmed is a figure of all the
agencies which today would suppress
political and social facts and intellec-
tual progress. What a lively time
thousands of Bible classes will have
with this theme!
Churches and the Crisis.
Before we take up the romantic old
story itself, it Experiment to face frank
ly the fact that the very issue therein
raised is foremost today in the life
of the churches of North America. A
great and widening cleavage exists be-
tween the group of ultra Orthodox
and premillenniaI Christians and those
who give a more liberal Interpretation
to the Scriptures To the grief of the
cody who are judicious it is openly
proclaimed by some Fundamental
ists'' that they will split the churches
wide OPEN over this question.
The extremists of both groups are
playing the role of King JehoiakiIn.
One party is attempting to cut out
of the Bible all the broad and toier-
ant spirit which it breathes; and all
its figurativeness and human element
and time factor. They would reduce
the Book to bald liberalism in every
part in a mood which their critics say
makes a heather fetch of the Scrip
lures.
On the tother side of this too-bit-
ter controversy are ranged some lib
erals" who. in airy self-confidence and
pTl0S u ENTHUSIASTICALLY MOulQ
the Bible to the level of other great
books. as a. mere piece of man-made
literature, with no authority beyond
the wisdom and weight of its words.
These critics, like King Jehoiakim
with his pen-knife, cut out what they
do not like from the sacred writings;
and what is left is susceptible to the
same sort of revision by the next
group of scholars.
We need not fear for the fate of
hIrf Vxrn ric hi faa
for the men with the pen-knives.
When two groups of Christians de-
velop arrogance and pride of opinion
and intolerance - in their attitude
concerned for the peace and progress
of the church. AS for the Book itself.
we need only recall the golden text of
this lesson and its many parallels.
The word of our God shall stand for
ever. Our greatest alarm should be
over the present tendency to argue
about the Bible, instead of practicing
it, in an era which can be saved from
shipwreck only by obedience to the
clear teachings of the Scripture.
Two Tales of OIden Days.
Every schoolboy knows the story of
the Sibylline books, nine of which
were offered by the oracle to the king
at a high price. He spurned them. |
the sibyl burnt three, and !
offered the remaining six. at the same |
price Again the king refused Three |
more books were burned, and the |
at the same price. This time the |
alarmed monarch bought the three |
scrolls, which became a national treas |
1re and guide.
This other old tale. which is the
days Sunday school lesson, is still |
more interesting, because of the |
wealth of detail that surrounds it, |
and of the more intimate personal |
Slimpses of the historical characters |
kink Jeholakim was on |
the throne of Judah, which was fast
approaching its doom, tho he was |
blind to the fact. jeremiah, the pro-
phet who had spoken for God in the /
time of the kings godly father, was
in prison but as Paul, in like cir |
cumstance exultingly exclaimed ''The |
word of God is not bound" jeremiah |
could not speak in person to the peo- /
pie and the kings. yet again like the |
imprisoned Paul he could write.
What prison doors have been pried /
open by the peni There is no limiting
Or restraining the person to whom
God has given the gift of writing. All |
and of censorship, too. are ultimately
overcome by the written word. 1t is
an awesome responsibility, is this one
IF writing, especially nowadays, when
ant article will be thrust under the
eyes of literally millions of readers.
Just as a reader may throw down L
lis newspaper in disapprovaI or tear
t up, so King Jehoiakim, when the
writing of jeremiah got to him, in
iignantly and contemporary cut the
scroll into pieces, and SO burnt it up,
because he disapproved of the pro-
,het's warnings. But he did not impair
" one jot the fate narrated We can
rot avert judgment by ignoring or de-
ipising the book that contains it. A
hips captain may be angered by the
lews conveyed in a government storm
warming, and he may toss overheard
wireless message; but that act will not
fleet the progress of the storm. Gods
word is true, and will be fulfilled,
whether men scott at IT or not In
case, the prophet simply