The Canton times. (Canton, Miss.) 1893-1906, 1896-04-24

GOVernInenV. UOuDb nOb DneY WOui
willingly have yielded their Office an
dignity for thousandth part {
that true heroism which beamed in tn
eye and beat in the hesrt of that III
conquerable apostle. Paul did nc
cover before Felix; Felix covered bt
fore Paul. The infidel and worldlin
are compelled to honor In their heart
although they may not eulogize wit
their lips, Christian firm in persecu
ton, cheerful in poverty, trustful i
losses, triumphant in death.
find Christian men in all profes
sions and occupations, and find then
respected and honored and successful
John Frederick Oberlin alleviatlnl
| ignorance and distress; Howard pass
ing from dungeon to lazoretto will
healing for the body and soul; Eliza
beth Fry going to the prohigacy O.
New Gate prison to shake its obduracy
as the angel came to the prison al
Phillippi, driving open the doors and
swapping losse the chain, as vel
as the lives of thousands of fol
lowers of Jesus, who have devoted
themselves to the temporal and spirit
ual welfare of the race, are monu'
ments of the Christian religion that
shall not crumble while the world lasts.
A man said to me in the cars: "What
is religion? Judging from the charac-
ter of many professors of religion do
not admire religion" said: Nov,
suppose we went to an artist in the
city of Rome and while in his gallery
asked him, What is the art OF paint
ing?" would he take us out in low
alley and show us a mere daub OF .
pretender at painting? or would he
take us down into the corridors
and show us the Rubens, and
the Baphaels, and the Michael An
gelos? When we asked him: "What is
the art of painting?" he would point
to the works of these great masters,
and say: THAT is painting" Now, you
propose to find the mere caricature of
to see k after that which is
the mere pretension Of holy life, and
and you call that religion. / point
you to the splendid men and women
whom this Gospel has blessed and lift
I'd and crowned. Look at the master
pieces of Divine grace if you want to
know what religion is"
We learn also from this story of
Joseph that the result of persecution
s elevation. Had it not been for his
icing sold into Egyptian bondage by
lis malicious brothers, and his false
Joseph never would
ave become a governor. Every body
ccepts the promise: "Blessed are
hey that are prosecuted for righteous
ess: sake, for theirs is the kingdom
f Heaven" but they do not realize
he fact that this principle applies to
,orldly as well as spiritual sue
ess. It is true in all depart
tents Men rise to high official po-
ltions through Misrepresentation.
ublic abuse is all that some of our |
ublic men have to rely upon for their
levation. 1t has brought to them
that talent and executive force could |
OF have achieved. Many of those
tho are making great effort for place
nd power will never succeed, just be-
ause they are not of enough impor-
lnce to be abused. 1t is the nature
men-that is, of all generous
nd reasonable men-to gather
bout those who are prosecuted
nd defend them, and they are
pit to forget the fault of those who
re the subjects of attack while at
,mpting to drive back the slanderers.
is elevation. Helen Stirk,
lie Scotch martyr, standing with her
usband at the place of execution,
i'd: Husband, let us rejoice to-day;
e have lived together many happy
ears; this is the happiest time of all
lr life; you see we are to be happy
'gether forever. BE brave now, be
rave. l will not say Good night to
ou, for we shall soon be in the King
om of our Father together" Perse-
ltion shows the heroes and heroines.
/ go into another department and l
nd that those great denominations of
nristians which have been most
1used have spread the most rapidly.
O good man was ever more violently
altreated than John Wesly-belied,
lricatured and slandered until one
~ he stood in pulpit in London and
man arose in the audience and said,
You were drunk last night" and
'hn Wesley said, "Thank God,
le whole catalogue is now COM
etc. / have been charged
18th everything but that" His fol-
wers were hooted at and msligned
nd called by every detesable name
lat internal ingenuity could invent,
1T the hotter the persecution the
ore rapidly they spread, until you
low what great host they have be-
me and what tremendous force for
'od and the truth they are welding
\ L. /