The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-03-05
A WINNING WAY.

WlNNlNU WAls
The apostle Paul was a gentleman
and scholar. His speeches and letters
show that. While he was at Athens
.'his spirit was provoked within HIM, as
he beheld the city full of idols" But
when, in response to the citizens invi-
tation. he spoke to them on Mars Hill,
he did not suffer the natural irritation
of theist against idolaters to dictate
his words. On the contrary, ne put
himself for the time in sympathy with
them, and began, as it reads in the
original:
aye men of Athens, in all things |
perceive that ye are somewhat relig-
ious.n
The apostle was as wise as he was
courteous. His knowledge Of human
nature had taught him that he who
would convince man should begin by
finding some ground, common to both,
on which they could stand. His sense
of the fitness of things, that is, his
courtesy, forbade him to begin an argu-
ment by denouncing the faith and wor-
ship Of the man he would lead to a
higher life. He is anxious TO win him
for a friend, therefore he will not make
him an antagonist.
In reading an English magazine, we
met with an anecdote about mission
ary in India, who seems to have been
influenced by the courteous spirit which
pervades the apostles address at
Athens. The anecdote is given in an
English Judges account of converse
tion he once held with q Brahmin, the
clerk of his court. The Judge, while
travelling on an elephant with his clerk,
vcntured TO talk with him on religion:
Il began by asking him what he
thought OF Christianity-dd he know
its doctrine and had he considered its
claims? The ordinary reply was given;
1T is good religion for Europeans,
just as Hinduism is a good religion for
myself.
'Iasked; Have you ever heard a
padre preach?' '0h, yes, but was only
once impressed by what heard. Gen
orally the padres who come here do not
sufficiently know the language, and
speak to us through an interpreter.
How little do they imagine what the
man saysl Often he Just issues short
orders, as il repeating messages from
master to his servants such as "The
padre says you must pray every morn
ing and every evening"" "The padre
says you must not tell les" "But,
sahib, one day there came very differ.
ent padre. He was pale, and had a
broad black hat and a beard, and wore
long coat which came down to his
knees, and he stood in our bazar and
spoke to us in our own language. | shall
never forget what he preached. lie
began: 81 was yesterday at R.
how very different the people there are
from you The temples found in good
order, and there were many doing pu.
'ah (worship), and every one had his re-
lgious marks on his forehead, and
seemed TO think Of his god and lead Q
religious life. But herel Look at the
temples-they are out of repair and the
floors dirty, and the shrines neglected
There are no worshipers, and you
seem 30 live as II there were no God ant
no life but the present one. Can this b
right? come to remind you thai
there is a God, and that He require,
from you worship, and / bring you from
Him books that you may know wha
you are to do TO be good and happy ans
have happiness in the life TO come. >
"'We all wondered as he spoke tous
He said nothing against Vishnu, ol
silva, or Luchmee. or any Of the gods
and nothing against the Brahmins, bu
only that we must worship God and b,
good and holy men and women.
"And he went on: Snow you wht
do prayp expect you just kneel dowr
and say, Ram! RAM RAM and 90 OF
saying this and nothing more. Is tha
praying?
"'"Suppose you had poor crop
or had wedding, and spent all you
had saved, and wanted the zemindal
Qandlord) 10 take of some of the rent
would you 90 TO him and Just say
'Babu! Babu! Babup and nothing
else. MOI you would say: 'Babul
the crop has faile1.' or Babu!
have just married my daughter and
spent all my money or 'Babu! / an
so heavily in debt with the money-lend.
er that j can not just now pay my rent
Yor are rich and generous and noble
have pity on me and forgive me my
rent this time, AMI I will bless you
8 $3.50 when you kneel to God. say
not Just Ram, Raml RAM but tell
God Of your sins, and say: oh, forgive
me! or tell Him Of your wants, and
say: 'Oh, grant me what ] need;'' or tel
Him Of your troubles, and say: oh,
help and comfort me-
"And then, looking seriously and
tearfully the Brahmin added: Yes,
sahib. / shall never forget that padre.
! do not know his nano, or where he
came from, or where he went, but
u LII ...... ...... LII hin, iall him