The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-10-12

earnest. When these people threw away ten
thousand dollars for the sake of right. no one
doubted the sincerity Of their repentance.
4. We have here fine example of Religion
being used to serve mere selfish ends. At
Ephesus was the great temple of Diana. This
was one OF the seven wonders Of the world
All the cities OF Greece contributed funds for
its erection. Over two hundred years were oc-
cupied in it's construction. 1t was built OF pure
marble. Eight OF the grand columns that once
stood in this temple are now IN temple at
Constantinople. This temple in process OF
time became the repository of all that was
most valuable and beautiful IN Grecian paint
ing aud statuary. The rich men OF Greece
were in the habit OF having their statues carved
in marble, ivory, or gold and then presenting
them to the State. AS soon as the government
accepted these they were placed in the temple
OF Diana, as when our government accepts a
painting it IS generally placed in the capitol
building. Here was the portrait OF Alexander,
painted by Apelles, at cost of nearly two
hundred Thousand dollars. But the chef at
traction Of this temple was the goddess Dana.
This was made OF wood. and is said to have
been a very ugly looking image 1t had the
head of woman but from the shoulders down
it was like a mummy. II was as black as an
African. They believed that it had dropped
down from Heaven. from Jupiter, and they
worshpped it. This temple, containing all
these things so dear to the Grecian heart, was
regarded as sacred. Alexander offered them
the entire spoils OF one OF his campaigns il
they would inscribe his name on'the temple.
but they refused.
| In connection with this worship OF Diana
there had grown up very lucrative trade. Not
all the people OF Greece could be in Ephesus
and worship in the temple itself. Models Of
this temple and Of the goddess we're made
Medals vera struck off bearing the inscription
OF the goddess, as our coin bears the inscrip-
ton of the Goddess OF Liberty. These models
and medals we're called shrines. They were
made Of silver, ivory and gold. The Japanese
make just such shrines now. Tney make lit
| tie square box. You open the door that is on
one side and look in, you see a little image OF
their god Buddha. When the Japanese would
have family prayer he takes down tho box
opens 1t and prays to that image. In tins way
I
from the surrounding couotry to Ephssus
would buy these shrnes OF Diana and take
them home. The making of these models be-
came very money making calling. But the
preaching Of the Gospel injured this trade
And the same day there arose no small STIR
about that way, for certain man named
Demetrius, silver-smith that made silver
for Ill,
, the craftsmen, whom he called together with
the workmen OF like occupation, and said
4" Srs, We know that by this craft we have our
wealth. Not only is this our craft, in danger
to be set at naught, but also that the temple
of Diana should be despsed." Here is strike,
not against capital but against the gospel. See
, how artfully Demetrius pleads his own inter-
est under the garb of Religion. lie cries aloud
"Let us save Diana. Our Goddess is in danger
Religion Religion! Religion!" Aside, he
whispers, " Our craft is in DANGER!
But Demetrius is not the only one who has
acted In this manner. A preacher who is re-
ceiving salary of one thousand dollars, is Of
fered two thousand dollars to preach for a
church in a neghboring city. The next sun
day he says aloud 80 that all may hear -
Dearly beloved. it makes my heart sad when
1 think of what duty and the cause of my
blessed Savior requires OF me. must leave
you. To-day L prescn here my farewell SER
mon. would like to stay. but God calls me
elsewhere" ASIDE, he whispers, {" l will get
thousand dollars moro over there "
When the proprety OF opening the Perma-
nent Exhibition on Sunday was under discus
sion in Philadelpbis, President OF one of the
leading railway companies made lengthy ad-
dress in support OF the proposed measure. He
said aloud, For the sake Of the poor man this
is necessary. Sunday is the only day that the
laboring man can leave bis work to visit the
great show. For the sake OF the oppressed
poor let the Exhibition be opened an Sunday
! Aside, he whispered, Every one OF those
poor men that rides on the cars to the Exhibi-
tion will pay me six cents! "
It is said Of ID. d. Spencer, that poor wretch
who ran away with the funds Of the Bank in
Chicago, that when he was a young man and
went courting no would not leave bis lady
without requesting the privilege OF offering
prayer. He said aloud, 81 am very religiors. "
Aside, he whispered, by playing this little
game will have this lady for my wife "
Demetrius like, people are ever, under the
garb OF religion, furtheling.selfsh ends.
s. Paul's course IN Ephesus is model for
us to pursue IN dealing with people who do not
agree with us. In defense OF Paul the town
clerk said "Ye have brought bither these
men who are neither robbers Of churches, nor
yet blasphemers OF your goddess" Here Paul
preached nearly three years, and yet 1t could
| be said of him that he had not spoken dis
respectfully OF that idol. How is it that the
apostle who Stunned not to declare the whole
counsel of God" could take this course? Did
/ he for tho sake OF policy keep back some things
that migat truthfully be said? Wo affirm that
he did. Al says one, that is not nv style. ]
always speak out just what l thnS. don'e
care who il hits. never mince matters in the
least. Yes. and there is Just where many per-
sons destroy their influence for good. II is
easy enough to know what Paul thought when
he found all Ephesus and the region round
about worshipping that black image. He
1 thoupht IL ridiculous eham0 But he did