The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-11-06
Rev. AIR. Schactier ut Luther Chapcl-Ii>
Third Ecclesiastical Year, and the
Life of ST. Paul,


On last Sunday morning Rev. Mr..
Schaeller, Of Luther Chapel, made re-
view of his pastoral work of that charge
for the year just closed, being the third
year of his ministry in Ncwberry. The
! sermon was unique! The thoughts of
the speaker presented a picture to the
mind S eye of the hearcr. The group
! ings were such as are found in the
ministerial work of Il devoted pastor.
The bright foreground and tar-away
perspective, with its sOftening lines,
declining light and taintly-sounding
| bells. Here the baptismal font, and
there the type Of a scene once cele-
brated in Eden and ratified at Cana
and again confirmed with the Ioseate
hues Of another spring-time, and yon-
der the darkllng fringe rs the sh;dowy
form Of the reaper passes to the silent
river!
0 the flight of time as upon "Slippers
of list" bearing all things tcmpor0L to
decay, dissolution, oblivion; but the
sermons, Sunday after Sund%y,-what
of them, as they come freighted with
spiritual truth and fadeless llght?-re
peating the lesson of undying love and
words of "admonition, reproof, warn
ing and rebuke.n At the close of his
sermon, which showed a prosperous
condition Of the church, Mr.. Schaelfer
very tenderly requested the prayers Of
his congregation, remarking that while
in the providence of God he felt called
upon to minister in holy things, ne
was but human and needed the prayers
and sympathy Of the church i'll his
work.
At night he began a series Of ser
mons on the Scenes in the Life of st.
paul-the opening discourse being upon
the childhood of the great apostle to
the Genties.
Mr.. Schaeffer took his text from the
llth verse of Paui's matchless eXordium
on charity-the 18th chapter of first
Corinthians. He regretted that there
is so little biography Of child-life to be
found in the Bibie-so few evange!s of
child history. The great life-work OF
these colossal characters overshadowed
all else; but little is related of them
selves, and from the meagre text and
from the context, we may conjecture
much by Inference and implication, as
we prayerfully read between the lines.
Even the life of our Lord is veiled; but
little is known Of his childhood beyond
his lowly birth, the flight and subse-
quent marvellous display of wisdom in
the temple.
Paul was not born full-grown-he
had an infancy and cooed and laughed
as the dimpies came and went from
the cherub b-cheek, just like any other
babe upon the mother breast. He grew
to be a rollickipg boy, brave and buoy
ant boy-every whit boy.
We find him busy little Jew. .greedily
devouring the rich intellectual repast
prepared for him by the learned CANA
liel. He was full Of the fire of fanati-
cism. As Jew, he was the straitest
of the Pharisees; as Roman, accord
ing to the law, he demanded bis rights
in the franchise. He did nothing by
halves. AS Jewish churchman he
despised Christianity, and pursued and
prosecuted its followers with an untir-
ing and relentless hatred, thinking he
was doing Gods service. Hence it is
easy to perceive that when converted
the fanatic gave place to the aroused,
ever-active,. Jealous and enthusiastic
Christian.
But Paul had a childhood, and never
forgot it. He bridged the space be-
tween the adolescence Of the child and |
the ripening years of his manhood. And |
we must infer, continued Mr.. Shaeffer,
that, as the apostle put away childish
things" he reverted Otter and tenderly |
to his younger days. He did not forget |
that he was once boy, as many of US
may sometimes do, and these refec-
tons brought him very near the great, |
loving soul of the Master, who had
alway so large and warm place in his
heart for little children. r. H. G.