Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-24

Saturday
Sermon

There are two Greek words which are
used for man. The one here used is one OF
the most beautiful words in its etymology,
1 am a man. Diogenes, the ancient cynic,
was seen In daylight with lighted lamp,
and when asked why he was acting 50
unnaturally replied, IT seek a man" At
another time coming out of a public bath
house, he was asked if many men bathed,
and he replied, mo" And then the ques-
ton being put whether many people were
bathing he replied yes.
At another time, going into Plato's
school and hearing the eminent philoso-
pher define man as two-legged animal
without feathers, he took rooster,
plucked the feathers from 1t, went into
Plato's school and placed it before Plato's
pupils. He said: Here's Plato's man,
which was one Of the best rebukes ever
given to an illogical definition.
And yet it is said Of this same Plato
that he thanked the gods for three things
81, that he was not a brute; 2 not an
idiot, and 8, that he was not barbarian"
Paul said in his defense, 'T am mar"
How many two-legged animals you can
see but how few men, men physically, in
tellectually and morally! Self indulgence
has crippled their locomOtion, marred
their features, blunted their sensibilities,
scared their consciences and stified their
CONVICTIONS uDLu now InGy are DAOOAAAAA-5
bloats. bewildered buns and disgusting
degenerates What wrecks can now be
seen upon the streets of cities and high
ways of life calling themselves men. That
which made them men in the presence OF
their fellow men, honor, honesty, sobrie-
ty and virtue, are all gone. Gradually
dropping, they have reached the point
where it would be a Islander to the brutes
to say that they were british They have
GOA sad IN t11rr, their. facar I'M a the Greek
word means, and they have turned them
down to the guilty, gluttonous and grow
cling things of time and sense. The great
want of today is the right kind of men,
men who are not for sale, men who fear
God and keep His commandments, men
who know what to say and say it AMI
what to do and do it, men who are strong
in the strength of the Lord, men who are
more Jealous Of Gods honor than of their
own and who will stand by the right
though the heavens fall.
But Paul also says, "I am a Jew" Now
he is coming closer TO the gist of the mat
ter. I'm a religi0s man. The writer is
glad that he has never had that foolish
and unjust prejudice against the Jews
which some have, but he is sorry to say
that there are many who call themselves
Israelites who are not such in deed. If
man as Jew will ever live in accordance
with the law Of Moses and the spirit of the
prophets. how much more proudly could
he say as Paul: Il am a Jew" And the
Jew let me say ought to not only admire
and exalt. but love Jesus of Nazareth, for
he was the best Jew that ever lived. The
combined testimony of the Gentle PLATE
and the Jewish Paul ought to settle 1t, for
they are the representatives OF millions
who have declared, II find no fault In this
man, and so also with the man who takes
the model man for his exemplar and the
Divine Savior for his prophet, priest and
king, he IS fortunate If he can declare
with the converted Saul of Tarsus. II am
a man and a Christian" What bur-
lesque on Christianity is the life Of some
who say, II am an imitator Of Christ"
Yea, what a lie! Yea, what a SANDER upon
the immaculate son of Mary and Son Of
Godl What a travesty! An imttator OF
Christ and a frequenter of barrooms,
brothels, gambling saloons. An imitator
of Christ and dishonest and lying, pro-
fame and Sabbath breaking. An imitator
of Christ and cross, censorous
deceitfuI, proud and worldly minded. An
initator of Christ and loving pleasure
more than God, having the form of good
ness. but denying it's power. Although as
to his personal physique Paul was not
prepossessing, yet he was one of the most
intellectual and consecrated of men. NO
wonder that Felix trembled and Agrfppt
was almost persuaded under his preach
ing; no wonder that his death song was,
"Henceforth there is laid up crown for
me-" when his life song was, For me to
live is Christ, whose I am and whom
serve"
But Paul went further and said. II am
a citizen" What? an apostle and yet a
citizen! Why, Paul. weren't you afraid
to mix politics with your manhood and
ministry? Weren't you afraid you would
be called hereto by the hide-bound, red
tapped, sticklers of your day and be accus-
ed of advocating the union Of church and
state? Paul knew the meaning Of pure