Newport weekly independent., 1902-09-12
THE HOME-C LOOMING.
Rally Day Sermon by the High way and Byway" Preacher.
How Paul nnd Bnrnabns Successfully Inaugurated Such a Reunion in the Early Church mt
 Antioch.
[Copyright, 1902, by A. N Kellogg News
 paper Col

[Copyright, 1902, by A. N Kellogg News
 paper Col
 Chicago, Sept. ', 1902
 Text.-"And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them. '" Acts 14:27.
 The Home-Coming.-How good it seems after being away from home to get back again amidst the old fla miliar scenes and faces; to fill our accustomed niche in the household activity, and to mingle again with the circle of acquaintances and to share with those given a place therein the experiences met with while sojourn- ing elsewhere. What new attractions the home has, and how we settle back in the cozy corner or the "den, v the home-like sittingroom or the se- clusion of "our. very own room," and enjoy a new sense of comfort and satisfaction in them, after the hustle and hustle of the journey; after the new scenes and surroundings and the strange faces, have passed in kalei- doscopic variety before our vision. Old Farmer John of my boyhood school reader expresses the thought exactly when he exclaims: "The best part of going away is get ting home again." He has been off to the city encased in the boiled shirt and stiff collar, the Sunday suit and the new shoes which have not been broken to easy comfort as yet. As soon as he is in the house, he quickly crawls out of the irksome ap- parel and stretching his stiffened muscles, he gets into his easy-ftting work-aday clothes. The bark of the dog, the neigh of the horse, the busy chuck ef the chickens all greet him as he passes through the barn yard, and he is recognized in his familiar attire. The dog, which before had sedately borne himself in the august presence of the Sunday clothes, now leaps and bounds upon his master, who sensing the changed demeanor of the animal, declares: With my new clothes off and my old clothes on, now I am myself," said Farmer John.
 It is indeed good to go away, but there IS joy and satisfaction in get ting home again which makes it the best part of the experience. The summer is nearly ended. The vaca- tion season is about over. Many have been away from the home circle from the church activities, from the business and social life, and have re. turned again to take up the real and earnest side of life. Those who have not been away and yet who have re. faxed into summertime ease, and have taken rest in frightened duties in the home, the business, the social and religious spheres, are beginning to tighten their grip on things and prepare for the larger activity of the fall and winter days. So that the thought and spirit met with on every hand is one of quickening activities and renewed zeal. The homecoming to the family circle is marked by the glad welcome back to the roof tree with the loved ones and the taking up of ones share of the burdens o1 the home.
 The homecoming in the church life is in these days being more than ever before accentuated by special recognition of the return of the alb sent ,nes, of the ending of the vaca tion season and the taking up again of the work with renewed vigor along all lines. Rally day, with its special exercises and roll call, is becoming more general in the churches anC Sunday schools of the land, and not only is it instrumental in bringing 1T many absentees-those who have drifted away-but it draws together in closer bonds of Christian love ant fellowship the school and the church It places the church and the Sunday school in better working condition and emphasizes and advertises the school and church as an aggressive working force.
 Rally Day at Antioch.-Our tex introduces us to the great Rally Da, inaugurated by Paul and Barnaba. upon their return from the first mis sionary journey. You remember tha Paul and Barnabas, after laborins for year or more at Antioch, wer, sent out by the church for a work t, which the Lord had called them After an absence of nearly a year during which time they have hat some wonderful and blessed expert ences, they return, and having gath cred the church together, they re hearsed all that God had done witt them n We do not know that th