The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-10
PREACHED PATIENCE.
Visiting Pastor From Deer Lodge Urged
federation and Charity.


Rev. James C. Coleman, pastor of the
| Presbyterian church at Deer Lodge, oc-
cupied the pulpit at the First Presby-
| terrain church yesterday and made
! most favorable impression upon the
| congregation.
In the morning his text was chosen
| from Acts 1879: And the contention
| was so sharp between them that they
| departed aSunder one from the othef;
and so Barnabas took Mark, and sailed
| unto Cyprus" Said he in part:
| "A few years before this quarrel Mark
| had been the attendant of Paul and
| Barnabas on their first journey, but left
| them and returned home. Consequently
| Paul would not allow him to go with
them on the second journey; wherefore
| he and Barnabas quarreled. Mark.
| younger than the other two may have
been alarmed by the perils: perils from
the mountain travelling, perils at the
hands of the heather, perils at the
hands of the Jews.
.'Barna bas and Paul were both at
fault and both excusable in this quar-
rel Barnabas was at fault in over
looking the only basis by which they
could judge Mark, his past. Moreover,
the eyes of Barnabas were blinded by
his kinship, as John Mark was his
nephew. Paul was in error in not show
ing more patience and liberation to-
ward a young man who had made
mistake.
"Barnabas was excusable in that his
kinship may have given him more
intimate knowledge of Mark, which
showed some great change, making
failure again impossible. Moreover. his
interest in Marks spiritual welfare was
great, and he feared the effect upon him
of this rejection by Paul. But Paul is
not to be condemned harshly. He had
only the past of John Mark by which to
judge him, and that was unfavorable.
Moreover, only a short time before this
Barnabas had been led into error by
the gentleness of his disposition Gal
y. But most of all, Paul wanted no
one in the party upon whom full de-
pendence could not be placed. NO chain
is stronger than it's weakest link. The
issues were too great to allow of any
doubtful elements.
so the quarrel is like every one now.
There was truth on both sides, and
there was error on both sides. We
ought to learn to be slow in judging.
But there are some very important les
sons to be learned From John Mark
we learn: Failure to be true to duty
means a loss of blessings. John Mark
lost the consciousness of having per-
formed his duty the favor of Paul, the
trust of the church. We every day
stand in the same position. Failure in
duty means the loss of blessings. Each
duty is a stepping stone to something
higher. Second-Because Mark failed
in his duty he brought trouble upon
others. Paul and Barnabas separated
in anger So ones failure reach out to
others. The intemperance of the father,
the scolding of the mother, the disobed-
fence and ingratitude of children-each
wrecks the happiness of the whole
family. We each hold in trust the hap.
piness of others. Third-John Mark
fn,s, ~ net nd he dIliI
ance of Barnabas he again went to
work and made a success of life. He
was the author of our second gospel
The best witness is from Paul him z
self See Col. AT; Phileman "a and III
Tim. All Him whom Paul before re-
jected as valueless he now summons as
profitable unto himself. No matter how
black the past or unpromising the Stu
ture may be there is always an oppor-
tunity of success by the grace of Christ.
"Barnabas standssin the New Tesla
ment as the man who is ready to give
others second chance. He had done
so twice with Paul. The disciples dis
trusted Pauls sincerity after his con-
version; but Barnabas insured his re-
ception (Acts 9:2O. And Barnabas
hunted him up afterward and brought
him to work in Antioch where his call
came to his great missionary work
-(Acts 1:25 and 1920. So Barnabas now
gives John Mark second chance Men
in this world need a helping hand, a
second chance. We owe it to them:
not merely as something wise and po-
little but because it is the way Christ
has dealt with us. He did not desert us
upon our first failure. He has been pa
tient. He has given us hundred
chances. We owe to others the same
patience. liberation and helpfulness
that Christ has shown us