St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-29
st. Paul Was by Nature
Made a Leader Of
Men.
Though a. Prisoner, Christian
and Pagan Bowed When
He Broke Bread.
Its Moral Opens the Sapphire
Gates to the Toilers Of
the World.

| age to Rome. 1t is geographically de-
scrlbed in poetic language, and draws a
moral for burdened toiIers Of the un j.
| verse.
No greater novelty can be introduced
into the Christian pulpit than plain,
historical account Of the incidents con-
nected with some man whose history
mas been so enwrapped in the fog OF
mysticism that his real character as
! man has never been known. Such a
man is st. Paul. In his voyage to Rome
| prisoner, appealing TO the highest
tribunal. we have lesson that seems to
me unique, set in picturesque outline,
and not only valuable but entertaining.
Therefore l shall try to give his story,
and allow the story to preach the SER
mon. l will let the truth bud and grow
from this narrative just as it comes
along in the course of proper develop
ment. We will begin at the time when
the trials before the lower courts have
all been completed and officers
are ready to go to Rome with the
prisoner for the final trial and
decision. We will stand on the
dock While the waters are tapping the
tlmbers beneath our feet, and the level
sea is stretching away under a clear
sun. We will stand beside the Roman
Julius while he orders supplies on
board, and listen to the men as they dis
cuss the dangers of making voyage so
late In the year; and then, when all are
Oh board and the anchors are weighed,
we still watch the craft as her sails are
unfurled and she skins like a bird the
liquid blue. But our interest is more
closely attached to one man than to all
others. He is past middle life, and al
ready much grizzled by privation and
exposure, Care has plowed deep wrln-
kleS in his face. He is of medium
height, and slender. He has nose
hooked like the beak of an eagle. a high
brow and full beard. He is watchful
and ObServant. Some view him with
curiosity and some with contempt: but
whatever will be their estimates, his
name will be spoken in every home. He
will be better known than any
King or Warrior of the Old World.
When the trials incident to that late
voyage begin to develop this mans
chief characteristic is made alear He
is leader of men. He is q bold gen
eral who is not afraid of any danger
known to land or sea. He has not the
fine Instinct of religious contemplation.
When disciple of his masters stood on
an island of the same sea, to him it was
, filled with symbOlry. The home of
storms he saw in the thunderbolt that
hurled the waves from their bed and in
the cyclone that carried a column of
water careering over the blue, and IN
the voice of the mingled winds and
waters. symbol of the care and
turmoil of this fretful world.
He saw the wrecks when Splint-
cred spars went floating on the wave,
when men and helpless women, with
the cry OF anguish and the groan of
deep despair upon their lips, went
down, their requiem sung by sounding
seas. He pictures happy homes. with
women rocking Graded babes beneath
the towering vine, and hope and cheer
with right hands joined beside the
happy board; and saw the deep and
laundering sea, key to lock him away
from all he loved. 1t was then he
wrote "There shall be no more sea-
Its poetry, its hindranceS that were
most apparent because of his position.
moved him most deeply. A modern
poet has seen in the ocean a symbol of
the greatest manhood. Its changing
hues are like the changing bues of hu-
man experience.
Its Mighty Power
as the power of mau when reused by
conditions to the deeps of his soul. Its
placid bosom of shining liquid blue,
rousing in man sense of the Infinite,
is like the quieter moment of life And
so through a thousand changes it Is
like man. Another modern poet has
sung all the happy phases of the ocean
its playful kiss upon the swimmers
face, its quiet purple beauty in the
sheltered cove, its happy song as it
beats the sand beneath the summer
sun, its moonlit beauty, and its glory in
the flush of morning. st. Paul saw
none of these. They do not come into
his writing. If he looked at the sea,
1T was to discover any prospect sug-
gested of storm. He was reckoning
on the ability of masters and crew to
carry him to Rome. The events of that
terrible voyage illustrated fully the
traits of character that marked this
strong man in every stage of
his life. The instincts of the
crew at once pointed him
out as leader. Dore drew a picture
IN outline and was identified bv the
mastery strokes. A celebrated man
said that to meet Burke under an arch
way, during rainstorm, and converse
with him few moments was to feel
that you had met a great man, though
you did not know his name Men in
Stinctlvely fell into line with Napoleon
for a leader. His presence gathered
men as November day precipitates
snowtiakes- And by instinct these men
felt that leader was before them.
When preparations were in progress TO
meet the storm; when the vessel with
fftrIp6 soils an6 hnt,t.I
was In the best condition: when
through the watehful care of st. Paul
the sailors had been prevented from
grounding her at a time when they
could be preserved although others
might be lost; through all dangers no
| man stood more absolutely at the head
| of the command than did this prisoner.
Julius. the Roman Centurion.
| had developed strong attachment for
| this prisoner because, while trained in
| camp, and knowing only war, he found
here a man of his own heart. Pagan
and all alike stood while he broke the
bread. All ate when he commanded
| them. All listened to his advice with
the most marked interest. In the same
! connection was another observed trait.
| He was the one man who was sure they
| would all be saved. He took every pre-
caution and observed every detail of
caution. Stillhe believed his life would
| be like the sturdy oak, dismantled and
| broken by the lightning, left with only
| stem, it he was not allowed to go to
| Rome. 1t was no mere feeling of de-
| sire, as that of the peasant, according to
modern poet, who most earnestly
hoped to go to the famed city
| of Carcassonne before he died. and
| who died believing that one ALWAYS
| has an ambition to touch anything be-
| yond his reach-Something a wise hand
| withholds. st. Paul was TOO practical
for that. But he believed he was called
to mission, and that the success of
| that mission depended upon his reach
ing Rome. That idea never for mo-
| ment forsook him in the darkest hour.
Then we find as a last trait the instinc-
| tive belief in the triumph of man over
death, and with happiness that surely