The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1890-02-14
SUNDAY SERMON.
Rev. s. q. Updylee Delivers Il i1u-
lnn,,r ON the lInI.iAl. SNiNNhNn.

Rev. s. q. Up,iyllc Delivers u i1ti-
logy ON the Martyr stephen.
Rev. 5. G.. Updyke OF Brookings
again preached at the Congregational
church Sunday. The morning sermon
was an eloquent eulogy on the martyr
Stephen. The text was Acts 50 land
devout men made great lamentation
over him. This was the epitaph OF
Stephen. lie was the first martyr of
the church. He was the predecessor
of Paul. Many had called him the
architect OF Paul's career lie was a
man whose pious living invited criti
cism. Like Arnold Wiukelreid he
gathered in his own bosom the shafts
of the enemy. The Jews were Won't
to make him the oi ject of their at
tacks because he eNempliied so Won
derfully the Christianity they detested.
OF Stephens early life little was
known. He lived in humble obscurity
until a crisis came When seven We're
chosen to heal the diSsensions of the
little church at Jerusalem Stephen
was among them. For two years he
was the leader in the councils of the
church. lie was the first great Christ
ian layman. He possessed consecrat-
ed tact and ju(licious zeal. His work
was successful. The church was re-
stored to peaceful unity. In this was
taught the lesson that special work
required special laborers. The !ayman
was as necessary TO the church as the
| pastor. The business affairs of the
churches today made imperative the
services of clear headed laymen. The
work required was special work for
the performance of which they were
the special laborers.
| Stephen came to his death like Lin
coin, unexpectedly, and when he had
reached, seemingly, the srmmit OF
his usefulness. What brought him to
the synagogue where he met his death
was not known. II might have been
plot prepared by The Jews who hated
him. AT any rate he was there and by
twenty disputatious Jews was pro-
voked to controversy. lie proved a
Christian Cicero. Lis associates We're
in argument confounded. Their de-
feat resulted in strong purpose to
bring about his death. lie was
brought before the Sanhedrim charged
with blasphemy and with dishonorlns
the teachings of Moses. With invinc-
ible logic and glowing eloquence he
not only cleared himself but all
Christians as we'll. More than that he
pressed his argument to show that II
was not the Christian that dishonored
Moses but the Jew. This resulted in
his doom. Through The same gate
OF the holy city, where four years be
fore his Master was led, stephen was
taken to his death. Saul OF Tarsu;
was there consenting to it. lie sa"
the martyr fall asleep. But Thirty
years went by when that same sau
dying for the self same faith hat
shaped the faith and martyrdom o
Stephen into grander church.
Stephen was happy in his nam
which meant a crown, and happie
still in his impress on the church. IL
was the embodiment OF intelligen
zeal. Both zeal and knowledge wer
necessary. One might be terme'
the wind which moved ship-th
other the rudder which guided il
They should be joined. Zeal guide
by knowledge was the Christian idea
which balancing like the centripeta
and centrifugal forces Of the uEiyers'
: worked evermore the glory of God i
the enlargement and edjllcation Of tn
church.
Blessed is Peter the burning zealo
!. and blessed is Stephen tine first grei
= business man of the church.