The Place o f Human Suffering I N a recent issue o f Time, the story of Rev. Hanns Lilji was told. A Lutheran pastor during the war, Pas tor Lilji held firm against the Nazis and because o f his failure to submit, came to know what the inside o f a Gestapo jail looked like. One great fact out of that terrible tribulation seems to be outlined firmly in Pastor Lilji’s mind. He describes it by say ing: “ The longer our imprisonment ■lasted, the more evident it became that there was another power amongst us. It was much stronger than that of the common political resistance; that power was the Christian faith. It was significant to see how one after an other realized this fact; once it was admitted, our sense o f its power in creased.” During his imprisonment, Pastor Lilji was transferred to another jail where new depths of suffering were encountered and death seemed immi nent, but at this stage o f his utter helplessness he found his sense of God’s personal presence more sure. He writes, “ At this extreme limit of hu man life, it becomes clear why God is with those who are despised, outcast, tortured, imprisoned, disinherited and solitary.” He began to understand that God can only reveal His mercy to a man who is in the depths o f suf fering and desolation. Hence, those whom God has lead into this school of knowledge can only praise Him for this experience as the most wonderful spiritual gift he has ever received. This is new light on the age - old question o f human suffering. Most of us quite frankly shrink from it, yet the privilege o f knowing God more intimately, more personally, and more genuinely is the richest experience of human life. To only a few o f God’s children comes this privilege wrapped, to be sure, in the garments o f suffer ing and trial, but inside containing the most sought-for experience o f all life: to know God. Christianity on the Campus F OR nearly the past score of years, a great and good work for God has been conducted just off the campus of the University o f Califor nia at Berkeley, under the leadership o f Mr. Vernon Morgan, a graduate of the Bible Institute o f Los Angeles away back in 1913. Brother Morgan came by his association with the Bible Institute very honestly. It was his w ife’s father who was one of the two men o f God who were lead, in 1908, to establish this great work in the city o f Los Angeles. Mr. T. C. Horton and Mr. Lyman Stewart, one o f God’s _________________ T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
tradiction, we say greatly outdis tances any and all weapons that have been invented up to the present day. It is a weapon o f both defensive and offensive possibilities. It reaches both armies and civilian population. It can be used on any front. It requires very little preparation and it is foolproof, sure, and unfailing. You have already guessed that what we are speaking about is prayer. How very simple a matter, and yet how vastly far-reaching, for prayer has as its heart the moving o f God’s arm. The essence of prayer is to pour peti tion into the ears of an all wise, all powerful Heavenly Father. Times without number, prayer has been ef fective. When all other methods have failed, prayer has won out. When ob stacles seemed impossible, prayer has accomplished the impossible. Let no one think that because o f prayer’s simplicity it is not at times the most intricate matter in the world and yet the most simple to effectively operate. Here is a weapon of supreme impor tance! Here is a weapon of unques tioned power! But how can America use this weapon? Ostensibly our military o f ficers disdain it. Our political leaders hesitate to use it. The rank and file o f our citizenry know little or nothing about it. But, thank God, there is a spiritual remnant and scattered over our land are groups of prayer-believ ing and prayer-practicing Christians. Let these use the weapon! Let God be importuned by even a few o f His peo ple and results will most surely come. But, better still, let America repent and confess her sins. Let America kneel at the old-fashioned altar. Let America remember that righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people. Let America call upon a God who has made America great and, from president to citizen, let Americans bend the knee and enter into public and private prayer and demonstrate again the amazing effi cacy of this secret weapon. God help us to do i t !
Evangeline Booth Promoted A NOTHER one of God’s great warriors has been called home! Born in London on Christmas Day 1865, the life of General Evangeline Booth almost parallels the growth of the Salvation Army with which she was associated. At her birth, this child o f destiny was dedicated to God by her parents, and when but a little child, she shared in the problems and trials that accompanied the early growth of this great organization. Upon the retirement o f her father, General Booth, she became the stand ard bearer o f the Salvation Army, be ing elected Commander of the World Organization in 1934. She had many striking traits and characteristics. Al ways a woman o f commanding pres ence, she was a splendid platform speaker, eloquent and convincing, born to lead. However, her leadership was always one o f insight, sacrificial love and far-reaching service. Under her guidance, the Salvation Army rose to heights of testimony and use fulness never known before. The Army’s great purpose o f reaching men and women with a very practical gospel was certainly brought forward under the inspirational and challeng ing leadership o f this great woman. Secret Weapon A S this issue of The King’s Busi ness goes to press, newspapers and radio commentators are speaking o f new and more destructive weapons to be utilized by our forces on the Korean front. It was to be expected that the vast experience received un der actual fighting conditions of the last great war would bring the manu facture o f many new and more terri fying engines of destruction. The race this day between nations seems to concern the invention and manufac ture o f faster war planes, larger guns and weapons o f great lethal abilities. Yet there is a weapon o f such great possibilities that, without fear o f con-
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