The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1923-11-22
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared especially for The Republi>
can by Rev. U. S. Wright, D. D.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25.

Of all the nations. Matt. 2S:19.
TIE MISSIONARY'S BADGE
Great days were those into which
the Disciples came when Jesus was in
the brief period before the cross and
before the crown. 1t would be His
last chance to speak what was in His
heart for them and for His world and
each word carried the passion of God
upon it. The upper room is prelude
to the mountain Of commission and the
phrase taken from His prayer for
these men and all of US is His eXpla-
nation to our Father of what we are
for in this world. They were to carry
forward His work, to be as He had
been in the race. To realize that, is
to have the heart Gripped with
choking hunger that passes speech.
Bishop McDowell's story is familiar.
1t was at a breakfast table in Madi-
son, Wis, where a young fellow sat
down opposite the Bishop who
promptly said, Good morning" And
the youngster plunged Immediately
into the thing that possessed his
whole thinking as he said, I'm a
travelling man." 80 am l." echoed
the Bishop. And the dialog continued:
"This is my first trip out in the pres
ent relations" at is nos quite my
my first trip; I'm an old man." I'm
in the jewelry business $50 am l.
I'm in business with my father $50
am l." my father started the bust
ness" 80 SO did mine" For long
time my father hired me- $50 did
mine" ''Now he has taken me into
partnership" $50 has mine" Il
used to get wages. but now l get a
share in the profits" $50 do I = I've
got new interest in the business
since I went into partnership. I want
to make a good report when | get
home" "Bless God" said the Bishop,
$50 do l want to make a good report
when ! get home By this time an
explanation was in order which the
Christian was not slow to give and
two hearts were aglow that morning
with new passion and a new rcaliza-
ton Of what was the chief business of
a follower Of Jesus Christ. 1t was
something of which He had prayed,
"Your business is like mine
Now it is much easier to catch the
Masters program than it is His pas
sion but it is the latter that is the
believers badge. It was slow pro-
cess with those early followers who
were 50 intent upon their own plans
that they could see nothing else. DR..
Jowett writes: when I see the cross
life is changed from a holiday into a
crusade 1t had somewhat the same
effect upon those earlier believers and
as The days Of fellowship went on and
the Spirit fell upon them even their
enemies ''Took knowledge that they
had been with Jesus" They were the
wearers of the badge. Are all your
Christians men of burning hearts ?"
asked a Chinese convert of an Ameri
can-he knew what the badge was.
The pity is that so many Of US fail
to wear it openly and unashamed.
THE MISSIONARIES CHECKBOOk
That was a great gathering upon
some mountain in Galilee where Jesus
kept tryst with His followers. There
were more there than the Eleven for
II l. +tan 1nt1+ n4
every question about the persistent
life of this Man of their love. Paul
writes of five hundred brethren at
once who saw Him in His resurrec-
ton life and it must have been this
occasion in Galilee to which he had
summoned them. Some doubted but
not that inner circle. Men still refuse
to accept the plaihest evidence of
their senses not because they question
them or their witness but because
they refuse the conclusion to which
the will more often than in the intel
1ect. That is why man may be saved
from his doubts but never in them.
That is why Christ said 'Do and you
shall know" 1t was to that group
that Jesus made the imperial declara-
ton, "All authority hath been given
unto Me in heaven and in earth" He
was saying to those men and to US,
any resources are sufficient for the
enterprise. Draw on Me for whatever
is needed" He dares men as He
dared these to make the supreme ven
ture of faith upon His naked word.
Why then the delay? Why the con-
tinuous appeal for funds to carry on
the work? Are we wrong in refusing
to enter doors wide open, to answer
voices calling in strident tones for us
to come unless money is in sight to
pay the bills for the trip? And men
have dared and have found His word
true. But is His authority over the
money of the world acknowledged
even by the Christians in it? Is His
authority over the governments of the
world acknowledged even by the