The Saint Paul globe., 1903-01-17
What the Religious World
Is Thinking About and Doing
COMMENTS BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

brated Hindu undertook to establish a
new religion, which should be a COM
pound of Christianity and Buddhism.
But few weeks ago the papers re-
ported that he had given up the at
tempt because of the materialism and
selfishness which he found in human
nature. No man-made religion can
| overcome these; but PauTs gospel
could, and has been doing so for 1000
years.
~ Had Friend"
Charles KingsIeys famous reply to
| the inquiry as to why he had succeed
ed was simply, Il had a friend" For
the sake of knowing that one has a
real friend it is worth while to go
through any trial. Trouble tests
friendship, and PauPs Thessalonica
friends bore the test WELL Jason and
others clung to him and looked out for
him even at great cost to themselves.
There is but one thing in this world
better than having a,friend, and that is
is being a friend. Acquaintances
are as common as flowers which
the first frost kills; friends are as rare
and precious as gold. Said man who
recently passed through a hard and
trying experience, 1T all paid for now
L know the joy of having a friend to
stand by my side when so many were
standing UP against me, or keeping out
of sight altogether. The sense of bit
terness at the failure to be true to
some whom I trusted is lost altogether
in the joy of knowing that 1 have some
friends who can be counted on through
thick and thin" If person has
friends who have stood the wfnnowing
of adversely, he is rich beyond all the
power of earth to make him poor.
The Truth Is Mighty.
There is a danger in these material
times that we shall let slip away from
us the conviction Of the omnipotence
and ultimate righteousness of truth
Truth is mightier than magistrates or
mobs or armies or governments. Truth
has the faculty of overturning all
things until it reigns itself 1t is like
the seed dropped in the crevice of the
rock, which finally splits the rock
asunder. Every man, who, like Paul.
is doing an enduring work in the world
must learn to pin his faith to great
principles, and to be patient under
temporary defeats or backsets. Paul
might be driven from Thessalonica,
but word he had preached would abide
to grow and conquer. Of course it
takes courage to hold this lofty convic-
ton, but Paul was not lacking in
courage.
Men of Open Mind.
The highest development possible to
the human intelligence is willingness
and capacity to know and obey all
truth. This receptivity of mind is the
supreme mark of manhood; and it is
essentially Christian. It was Jesus who
said, Eye shall know the truth" and
the attitude of His church today is one
of hospitality toward all fresh truth,
even though it should compel her to
1icI, Lo, hal bo
cred narrative bears witness that the
people of Berea, to whom Paul went
after leaving Thessalonica, were of
this stamp. They were honest with
themselves and with the truth. When
they heard the new tidings they turn
ed to the Scriptures and searched them
daily to learn whether these things
were so. They went at the matter
without prejudice or fear; they would
not accept the gospel until convinced
of it's truth, and they were not the
sort to reject it unheard.
There is something sublime about
utter loyalty. Several years ago there
was a prominent Presbyterian clergy
man, pastor of a great church. who
began to have doubts about the mes
sage he was preaching. He did not
proclaim his skepticism to the world,
and he was too honest to preach any
thing he did not wholly believe. So
he quietly resigned his pulpit, refus-
ing to make any statement to his peo-
pie or to the press, and went apart to
study the problems that vexed him.
After a few years-for God never de-
nies light to a seeking soul-he re-
turned to his old church stronger in
the faith than ever, and a better
preacher than before. That was an
honest man; that was Christian Of
Berean type.
At the Bottom of 1t All.
Running through this entire lesson,
and underlying it all. is the truth that
in the Scriptures is the news of life.
1t was from the Scriptures that Paul
reasoned. and it was from the Scrip
lures that the Bereans got light upon
His message. The Bible is the basis
of the Christian faith; apart from it's
teachings there can be neither spirit
ual knowledge nor life. 1t is to be
examined daily for guidance in all
matters. Every new teaching, every
| question of duty. may be determined
/ by its pages. There are many prob
| lens Of faith that would cease to be
| problems if examined in the light
| which streams from the Book divine.