The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-05-17

teen years, and became widely known
for his genius, his learning and his wis
dom, SO that it was proposed to place
him at the head of the Sanhedrim.
About that time a great change came
upon him and he became a convert to
Christianity. This man, walking the
streets of the Grecian Capital, came to
Mars Hill, and because of his learning
and oratory and his brilliant powers
some of the people asked him to ascend
to the seat of judgment on that rock
and speak to them there, and he ac-
| quieSced. There he faced the greatest
scholars, poets, orators and most as
| tute minds of the world-the scholars
and the philosophers of land that pro-
| duced Homer, a Plato. and So
crates. He showed himself to be an
adroit man, this Paul, for he was a
man of commons sense and of worldly
wisdom, and well knew how to ap-
proach these shrewd and critical
Greeks, who could not be driven, but
might be persuaded What did such a
man say to his audience? He began
| by addressing them, I'VE men of
Athens" That was adroit. 1t flat
tered their pride, for naughty and
proud they We're. 1t was much as if a
stranger should come among US and
speak to us, 'Ye men of America" 1t
would fiatter US and render US gracious
! toward him.
Then he said: Il perceive in all
| things you are very religious" That
| was adroit and wise also. All around
him he saw statues of gods and god
desses and temples of magnificence
such architecture as the world has
| never seen since all built in honor of
some of the 10000 gods of the Greeks.
| How conciliatory, then, it was in him
to tell them that they We're religious.
And so they were, in their way.
Next he told them that as he passed
he had seen in the street an altar in
| scribed, ITO the unknown God,'' and
he quickly added, Whom you do not
fully understand, Him l will tell you
! of. 1t was said that long before a
pestilence had visited the nation, and
when it had passed by the Greeks were
puzzled to know which of their 10000
| deities to thank for saving them from
its ravages, and SO this altar had been
erected to the unknown god, to whom
| they owed so much.
| Paul had tact and wit, and here he
displayed it, He awakened curiosity
and he fixed attention. They really
wanted to know of this unknown God.
Paul represented a new religion-the
Greeks a religion of 1000 years. He
well knew that he could not force his
upon them, but he could SOW the seed,
| knowing too that rich results would
follow in time, just as they did. That
| I'm lxnn h0 fnl6 hay fret c
the creator of the universe, the maker
! of all things-the sea, the earth and
the air To the Athenians that was
new. They had a God for each branch
of natural phenomena and had no idea
of one Creator and one ruler over all
things, as had Paul.
| Secondly, he advanced to them the
idea of the unity of the race of man
kind. That was novel to them also.
1t touched them on the quick. That all
nations came of one blood was an as
tonishing doctrine. Thirdly, he I'M
| folded TO them the truth that the I'M
| known God was omniscient and omni-
present, was very near to every man
/ in and around them, as the air they
| breathed, and the light that enabled
them to see. This nearness of God was
more than novel to them. 1t startled
! the Greeks.
| Fourth, he preached to them of the
| Righteousness of the unknown God
| This startled them more yet, for while
| the Greeks We're religious, they had
no morality in their system of religion
| Some of the most profiigate and disso-
| lutte and worst characters Of the time
| resided and served in the temples of
| the gods. This idea of righteousness
| and morality went against their grain
and some scoffed and others upbraided.
| but some few listened and believed.
But the seed was sown. This wise man
knew his audience well, and how they
cared with great care for their bodies
and We're masters of athletics.
AS many as 100000 people assembled
to see the Greek racers and applaud
them. At the end of the course they
We're given palms, and were crowned
! with laurel. These trophies they car
| ried home and were handed down to
their children with pride. Every sue
cessful competitor had his name carried
| officially into the pages of Grecian his
tory So it was for LOO years with
| these Greeks, who took care of their
| bodies conserved physical vigor and
developed strength. But the lesson of
their example is that bodily exercise
may be carried too far, and that while
We build up this temple Of the soul
| this most wonderful mechanism of
| God. the Creator-we are to make it
| a fit casket for the SOUL and by no
! excess or intemperance abuse and de-
grade it.
The Greeks were noted for the beau
ty and symmetry of their bodies, but
| they knew nothing of righteousness.
! Though they produced Homer and
We're so proud of him that twenty cities
! claimed him as having been born with
! in their walls; though they produced
Socrates. one of the wisest of men, 600
! years before Paul stood on Mars Hill
the Socrates whom they condemned
| because he taught of a new god !;
| though they produced Plato, called the
eye of humanity" he who taught Aris
totle. whose philosophy prevailed for
1,G00 years; though they numbered by
/ vast numbers illustrious poets, mathe-
maticians and philosophers, they had
no righteousness, With all their art
| and beauty and athletic training and
bodily perfection and wisdom, they left
| out righteousness and the God who
bodies, but to care for our souls also.
| and TO keep our hearts clean before
| God and man.
Knowing all these things. Paul
preached to these assembled Greeks of