Bethel University - Spire Yearbook (St Paul, MN)

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THE BETHEL HERALD 17 work. And we cannot help but believe, that after the war we will also have a worthy task. Thousands will long for the heart-healing gospel of Jesus Christ. It will be our privilege to tell the Story. In an editorial in the “Louisville Courier-Journal” by Henry Watterson, we find in part this striking passage: (We quote “The Christian Workers’ Magazine ) “Surely, the future looks black enough, yet it holds a hope, a single hope. One, and one power only, can arrest the descent and save us. That is the Christian religion. Democracy is but a side issue. The paramount issue underlying the issue of Democracy, is the religion of Christ, and Him crucified; the bedrock of civilization, the source and resource ol‘ all that is worth having in the world that is, that gives promise in the world to come; not as an abstraction; not as a huddle of sects and factions; but as a mighty force and principle of being. The Word of God. delivered by the gentle Naza-rene upon the hillsides of Judea, sanctified by the Cross of Calvary, has survived every assault. It is now arrayed upon land and sea to meet the deadliest of all assaults, Satan turned loose for one last, final struggle. If the world is to be saved from destruction—physical no less than spiritual destruction—it will be saved alone by the Christian religion. That eliminated leaves the earth to eternal war. For fifty years Germany has been organizing and laboring to supplant it with ‘Kultur,’ the genius of infidelity. Her college professors have been obsessed with it. Iler universities have seethed with it. In acclaiming ‘Myself and God,’ the Kaiser has put the imperial seal upon it. When our armies have run it to its lair—when they have crushed it—naught will have been gained unless the glorious banner of the Cross is hoisted even as Moses liftted up the serpent in the wilderness— and the misled masses of Germany are bade to gather about it and beneath it as sadly as they collect the debris of their ruin for the reconstruction of the Fatherland. So in spite of the dark clouds we go out, not expecting to be defeated, but to conquer in the name of the great Commander, Jesus Christ, who sends us on. OIK MINISTER’S SERMON The minister said last night, said he, Don’t be afraid of grlvin’; If your life ain’t worth nothin’ to other folks, Why, what’s the use of livin’?” And that’s what I say to my wife, says I, There’s Brown, the mis’rable sinner, He’d sooner a beggar would starve than give A cent toward huyin’ a dinner. 1 tell you our minister is prime, lie is, But I couldn’t quite determine, When I heard him a-givin’ it right and left, ..Just who was hit by his sermon. Of course there couldn’t be no mistake When lie talked of long-winded prayin’. For Peters and Johnson they sat and scowled At every word he was sayin’. And Hie minister lie went on to say, “There’s various kinds of cheatin’, And religion’s as good for every day As it is to bring it to meetin’. I don’t think much of the man that gives The loud aniens at the preach in’. And spends his time the followin’ week In cheatin’ and ovcrreachin’.” 1 guess that dose was hitter enough For a man like Jones to swallcr. But I noticed he didn’t open his month But once after that to holler. Hurrah, says I, for the minister— Of course I said it quiet-— Give us some more of this open talk. It’s very rofreshin’ diet. The minister hit ’em every time, And when he spoke of fashion, And riggin’ out in bows and things, As woman’s rulin’ passion. And coining to church to see the styles, I couldn’t, help a-wliikin’ And nudgin’ my w ife, and says I, That’s you, And 1 guess it sot her tliinkiii’. Says 1 to myself, the sermon’s pat, But man is a queer creation, And I’m much afraid that most of the folks Won’t take the application. Now, if lie had said a word about My personal mode of shinin’, I’d have gone to work to right, myself, And not set tlier a-grinnin’.

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16 THE BETHEL HERALD ENGLISH DEPARTMENT THE OUTLOOK By Anton E. Sjolund It is only natural for us who are leaving the school and going out on the field to stay to inquire into the possibilities of the future. The war clouds are still hovering over us. The sun has hidden its face and refuses to shino in its former luster. Will this Egyptian darkness forever remain over us, or will the world see another bright day? What of the future?—is the question that now so seriously confronts us. This subject is most perplexing. But altho the war situation today is not as favorable as it might be, it has never entered into our minds that the Christian church should lose, and still less is it true that we have felt like giving up. Should the Church of Christ and we as His servants give up because of the awful conditions in the world at the present time? Never! Wc are more determined than ever to hold fast. The religious condition of our land is far from satisfactory, but as long as there is life there is hope. We need a clear vision and a warm heart. We must also possess courage and faith that can conquer the world. Christian work was not meant for a coward or a lazy man. But above all we should remember that it is God's work, and that He holds the reins in His hands, and for Him all things are possible. To succeed in the cause of Christ one must be linked up with heaven. “What of the Christian ministry, is it doomed? asks Robert L. Kelly. He answers, “No, the Christian ministry is not doomed. It is passing thru a somewhat startling stage of transition and it is facing an opportunity to which the history of the church has no parallel. This sounds really encouraging. Many pity us because we are commencing our career in such unsettled times. It is true that we are living in a time such as the world has never seen, but wc cannot think of throwing up our hands and leave the battle front against the Devil and all his hosts for that. We have reason to thank God that wc are accounted worthy to be Ilis ambassadors in such a time as this. We are not equal to the task in our own strength, but “if God be for us, who can be against us?” It is Christ in us and Christ thru us that spurs us on. And besides this, “the love of Christ constraineth us and his marching orders are “Go! and we must obey our King's command. No doubt the task is great, but the forces which support us are also great. Our churches are and should be willing in this crisis to make an extra effort that the Gospel of Christ might be spread and His kingdom come. We believe there is a bright side to the ministry. Isaiah’s words are true even today: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy Cod rciynctliWe have no reason to be downhearted, we have no sad news to tell. Our message is the story of the crucified and risen Saviour; it is good news, glad tidings. We could not be persuaded to give up our work, for “who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?— Nay, in all this we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” “There is absolutely nothing in the near or distant future which the minister need fear,” said James Elmer Russel some six years ago. The same holds true today. The spirit-filled man need fear nothing. The same author also says, “Not every fully consecrated man can be a Moody or a Philips Brooks or a John G. Paton; he will simply be the best man God can make of him, and will accomplish only, the special work God expects him to accomplish.” But if we are faithful to our trust we will pray God to raise up and prepare men, who can, like John Knox, stir a nation. The present war presents a problem as well as great opportunities in Christian

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18 THE BETHEL HERALD Just (lien (he minister says, says lie, “And now I’ve conic to the fellers Who'vc lost this shower by usin’ (heir fricml As a sort, of moral umbrellas. (Jo home,” says he, “and find your faults, Instead of huntin' your brothers, (Jo home,” says he, “and wear the coats You've (ried to fit for others.” illy wife she nudged, and Brown lie winked. And there was lots o' smilin', And lots o' lookin’ at our pew, It sot my blood ubilln'. Says I to myself, our minister Is geftin' a little bitter. I’ll tell him. when the meetin's out, I Ain’t at all that kind of a critter. —Selected. THE GOVERNMENT AM) EDUCATION By (J. Arvid Hagstrom, 3). 1). There is a prevailing element of uncertainty these days in various departments of human thought and activity, and it is but natural that education shall also he affected. Young people are wondering about the best course to pursue with respect to their education, especially when the call to the colors comes so strong these days. It may, therefore, be of some help to know the attitude of our government upon these matters and so we bring our renders, both present and prospective students, as well as all friends of education, the following information on this important matter. School officials in air parts of the country are asking the Commissioner of Education and others for advice as to what the schools should do to render the utmost service of which they are capable during the war emergency. They desire to know specifically whether they can be most helpful by shortening the daily or weekly or annual school session, by closing down entirely, by continuing as in the part, or by increasing school activities in various ways. With admirable loyalty and patriotism, the schools stand ready and eager to do their full duty, whatever that may be. The greatest need at the present time is for some authoritative statement which shall make the path of duty and service plain. It may be noted that in 1915-16, the latest year for which figures arc available, there were in public and private high schools in the United States 733.856 hoys and 877,340 girls, total 1,611,196. (Rapport Com. of Ed. 1917, Vol. II, Table 1, p. 513, Table 15. p. 527.) Of the 733,000 boys, it has been estimated that approximately 500,000 were 16 years of age and over. The Administration The entire spirit of the Administration in Washington is, and has been from the beginning, that the war should in no way bo used as an excuse for giving the children of the country any less education, in quantity or quality, that they otherwise would have had, but on the contrary that the schools should do everything possible to increase their efficiency, to the end that the children now in schools may at the conclusion of their course be even better qualified than ever before, to take up the duties and responsibilities of life. Both the present demands of the was emergency and the prospective demands of the necessary readjustments inevitably to follow emphasize the need of providing in full measure for the education of all the people. The President has repeatedly called the attention of the nation to the urgent necessity of this special form of conservation. He lias particularly urged young people graduating from high schools to avail themselves of the opportunties offered by the college and technical schools, “to the end that the country may not lack an adequate supply of trained men and women,” and he assures young people who are not called to active military service that “by pursuing their courses in school with earnestness and diligence, they also are preparing themselves for valuable service to the nation.” Later the President again expressed his “very urgent concern that none of the educational processes of the country should be interrupted any more than is absolutely unavoidable (luring the war.” We make extracts herewith from a statement signed by the following: