The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-08-29
THE MODEL LAYMAN.
pr. George on Stephen, the
Deacon and Martyr.
.opERN STYLE OF PERSECUTION
rs,k 70 the Y. -. C. A. by . South
Carolina Preaeher-Dr. Burchett
Speaks to His Flock.

At the First Methodist church yester.
dsy morning DR.. George preached on the
Z nbiecs, "a Model Layman of the Eariy
! CHURCH" Two or three Sundays ago he
orearhed on the choice of the deacons
md Stephen as the first deacon. He said:
There is q curious connection between
he deacon aud the martyr. We left
etephen appointed as the almoner of the
church. Now We find him . disputant
md none able 10 withstand the wisdom
With which he spoke. He was a prisoner
for truths sake. a Christian apologist.
His speech is the longest in the New
Testament, and then he was the first
msrsyr-truIy a wonderful development.
The work OF the apostles reappears in the
acts of their coadiutora We never know
the quality of the work we do. We never
know the results of our own acts. The
apostles behaved with discretion and re-
cults justified their behavior. Then we
never know what we grow to. From dea-
con TO martyr-from temporarily 10 high
est spirituality. We sail with sealed or
ders. The elect to the lower order of dea-
cons may enter heaven the earliest and re-
ceive the highest honor.
Stephens was of good report-not only
good, but SO reported; he had not only
character. but reputation. Some~men can
not be kept in obscurity. Reputation, then,
is good thing; not lightly TO be esteemed.
People say general reputation is light. Il
doesn't pay debts; it is not Trustworthy.
There is always qualification to good re.
port. Why is this? Faith is necessary
for all success-faith in something. In
the Old Testament the Holy Ghost was
upon men. In the New Testament He is
In men.
Some say that character will save q man
from harm. Not so. A bad world cannot
tolerate a good man. You can not gauge
the success OF preacher by his apparent
popularity. We escape persecution by
ambidexterity. You would say truth
must triumph. Yes, if all men were true.
But, men being false, truth contradicts
their notions and they fight it. 1t may
triumph in the future but now it too gen.
orally crosses and collides with self-inter-
est and the truth speaker is either stoned
or crucified. Note the conduct Of Stephen
who disputed with the Heilenistic Jews.
They were not able TO resist his wisdom or
the spirit of truth. So instead of yielding
TO the force Of truth they killed the truth
speaker. 1t is the worlds way still; If
you cannot answer, then stone him.
But We don't stone people now. That
was the Jewish mode of punishment.
Hard, slanderous, viperous words, scan
dalous whispering are worse than stones.
And so also are slurs in the papers. There
are thousand ways in which the latent
hate may show itself. The shrug of the
shoulder can show it. The glance of the
eye can show it. The deprecating hypoc-
Yisy that can Turk in the wave of the hand
can show il. The insinuation that your
motives are sordid is heavy stone. Soft
spoken words, elevated eyebrows, may be
heavier than stones, more keen than
poisoned daggers. The world does not use
rough stones now. They are out of fash
Ion. 1t has the easier way of depreciating
effort and cruelty whispering away char
acser and reputation.
But fear not persecution. Rather be
thankful for it. 1t is proof of your legit-
imacy. You know, if your course is
against the wind, that Is the course of the
thunder cloud in whose heart there 10 the
living fire. Don't disparage intellect.
Earnest and enthusiastic sermons are not
ALL 1t has been we'll said that bathos is
not pathos perspiration is:not inspiration.
We suffer from too much emotional preach
ing. On the other hand, deliver US from
cold, frigid delivery Of veracious utter
auces. Combine the two in holy wedlock.
Let the truth be set on fire with Q fervid
imagination, holy heart and intense en-
thusiasm and it shall carry conviction and
win souls for Christ.