Birmingham age-herald., 1895-07-01

 sus. For years he perseeuted the Chris tians. He was converted by an appari- ton of Christ while on his way to Da- mascus. In him We plainly see that man, however weak and prone to evil, with Gods grace assisting, is capable of great change, of doing much good, of rendering valuable service in the cause of God.
 Saul was vlct ia e6,God's grace. The grace of God faeaa his heart and gained a great VI tay oysr his proud spirit. Never did tha powaf of divine grace display itself with ereairr lnster than in the miraculous aonyeasi9n of tianity.
 If we think of the obstacles in the way of his conversion and difficulties 10 sa4- mount we must represent him as a man of strong will, resolute. positive, self sufficient, full of his own greatness of wit and knowledge, welded to the doctrine of the Pharisees, i'll disposed toward Christianity through association and ed- ucatien and ready to condemn any who did not agree with him in his way of thinking. Through motives of religion he was always anxious to strike a blow at or say word against religion itself Yet ne seemed to be what many are not conscientious. Saul breathed nothing but threats and slaughter against the disciples of Christ.
 Moses was sent to humble Pharaoh; the prophet Jonas was commissioned for the conversion of the Nimrites: Nathan for the conversion of King David; the twelve apostles for the whole world, but when Saul was to be converted and gained ever to the true faith, to the cause of Christ it took our blessed Lord for So difficult a task-neither prophet, apostle or angel, but the God who allowed him to offend.
 As Saul was journeying on the road to Damascus with papers giving him au- thority to bring to Jerusalem, without i distinction of age or sex. all the Chris tians he could find in order to have them imprisoned and executed without mercy. at once he was surrounded by great light, brighter than the sun He was thrown from his horse cast to the ground and stricken blind. At the same tune a voice was heard, saying: Saul, saul, why persecuteth thou me? I am Jesus, whom thou dost persecute." Saul immediately cried: Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?"
 He was sent to Damascus where he was baptized, instructed and ordained by Ananias-flled with the Holy Ghost.
 Thus we see Saul the persecntor changed into Paul, the greatest defender and advocate of Christianity. lie goes rom city to city, country to country He was now as jealous as he had been ty- rannicaL He carries the message of sal Nation outside the bounds of Judea. everywhere he exhorts his hearers to adore the crucifed God instead of a laundering Jupiter, a Mars or a Venus. Ihe alters of the false gods are soon abolished and the sacrifices offered soon abolished.
 In order that we may profit by the life o. St. Paul we have only to ask God through him. If we are Sauls or ones Who offend God, let us ask St Paul to in- tercede with God, that we may obtain the grace to make us Sauls, or advocates Tn the cause of God, and like him let us receive 1t, not in vain, but profit by it.
 The song service was exceptionally me especially the quartette comprising MISS Alice Fallon, soprano; Mrs Bruce Thelford of Tuskaloosa, alto; MT. Frank Arrico, tenor, and MT. Joe Rosser, bass. The beautifully clear rich voice of the tcrmer was never better heard than on this occaSon.