The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-14

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CoNTI1xr Last lesson. ending with
4 the tieth verse of this chapter, gave
an account Of Paul's wonderful success
Mt .Hphcsus. To-day wo Shall SEQ how
quickly publiD sentiment changed. From
q state Of popular Favor he passed into
ono or bitter antagpnlsm. The occasion
for this rovulsiop or feeling is found N
the Intervening verses. y to IS. 1t all
grew out OF that mercennry spirit that
so{freduently1 dominates u class OF Grades
mon. sDometr ius y & sllversmlth who
made shrines.$ found that his business
was endangered by tho influence OF Paul.
Appealing to Ibis fellows, he represented
that even the worship paid SO long to
Dlanaf OF the Ephesidns, would be de.
spised Full OF wrath, they began TO cry.
Great is Diana OF the Ephcslans.% The
multitude had no purpose except no de-
fcnd the ancient reliEioH The leaders ex-
pectedlto array the sentiment of the town
against the apostle.
NJ CONFUsIO o. M vcrne 2o.> Tho whole
city was soon excited as the cutlery
spread from lip toilip. from house to
house, from street to street a mass OF
ignorant people. moved by passion In one
direction. presents a frightful spectacle.
It Il. so In our day and country. Among
OrIentalists tho case Is greatly worse.
Travellers declare that sometimes. under
such Influences, the most savage deeds are
enacted. In this instance the multltudes
were confused scarcely knowing the
cause OF the commotlon. Gradually II
was noised about that tho christiaSs
\ had made an attack upon the popular re-
greater offense. Whatever may ether
practice, men are more ardent In their re-
\ llgiousl convictions than in any other.
| Selling two OF Pauls co-laborers. men
| from Macedonia, foreigners, tsc EpheSian
mob rushed with them into the theatre
the usual place of concourse.
coUnA GEO Verses 30 and sl)&The
situation became critical. The lives Of
1.-TWO men were In jeopardy. both Of them
| helpers In thelgospel. ONO had been close
| to Paul; one lof the two had been pap
lftzed by him Il Cor. lad, whose hospl-
tally had been shared Nom., avi:2t,
and the otherjwas destined to be o trav-
cling companion on the journeysto Rome.
(Acts xxvil:2.) WIlllthe apostle abandon
| si,ch men i to their fnte? Besides, the
cause OF religion was involved. After all
| that had been achieved for Christ, shail
| an infurtated crowd be permitted to array
| themselves in cruel hatred against the
ministers who had come to preach DO
| iliycrance from sin and superstltu t!oHi
In that moment Paulrose to the supreme
! height OF q. courageous friend and rear rear
| legs advocate lie determined to enter
the theatre, to face tho angry multitude,
| r. sneak to them II he might. II was
only With much difficulty that his friends
persuaded hlmInot to make the venture
OUTCRY-Verses 80, 80, 34o And so
| the tumult continued and increased, the
| 5cra,ter mart Of the assembly ignorant
4 of tho cause Of the commot1on, put az
| surprising that their religion was opposeu.
| FanatlcisIn has gone mad. Under these
/ circumstances the Jews began 70 ieaI
that vengeance might soon DC taken on
them also. as they represented tol-
eIgn religion Ihey' .otetU ,,,,er ~ IN IN
| ward one of their own NUMBER. Alex
pnfler the coppersmIth. who had been
tro,,blesoma to paul e TIM, iv:lD. expect
1 ing tina he would defend himself ana his
/ nation against ANY accusation, The jews
/ hoped in this way to escape the fury OF
tho hour, and leave the CHRISTIANS 70
suffer, But asIt Alexander began to sneak
a. hccama known that he was a Jew and
4 Ma voice was Instantly sllenced by the
i noisy clamor 4 Of those who were UNI
,uiIIno ~ hear. With one voice the Imul-
i t;tude as before, cried, Great Is DIANA
~ the EphesIans.'' y The wards rang
through the SPACIOUS building, and over
i whclmed every contrary effort to SPEAK,
! GDIANA--CVerse 800 Ephesus was the
eeIGsg a to rna tain
4 the peace. After two hours OF this noisy
/ characterization the town clerk appeared
i IN the scene, y Because Of his position
land power he soon restored q measure
4 OF order sufficient to be heard, n 1fe was
! the man for the hour-with tact possessed
/ BY few, he said just the words thai
were needed tol bring guletness 70 az. ~
d simply told the multitude what they
4 Mi knew, what every one In Ephesus
4 knew, what had been q matter OF gen
eral belief SO long that It could not pc
4 successfully refuted. namely, that the
j city had worshipped the great godness
4 DIANA which fell down from Jupi te
i That was to those who heard 1!assss,
4 Ing testimoHial a candid argument nv
4 a most judiclous pleading ms -. y +
j the uso OF making such a. racket Sap9 y.
matter that is firmly fixed N sa ea'r
4 minds Of all? Dyery one must nave eoo'
4 tho purpose Of the town sclerk, - =. !,
oIJIDrN Ess Oversees 80 and ~ !, A SaaI
,nr mad a these statements, 90 Wen -, Lei
oulated to flatter the superstal,,ous ,iet
ttude the town offieias Hrgep ha a.; aboye al
t,Ih, Vas expeoted to secure li's up
pent Vas" 80 reasonable that al WINS
hea, must have felt It's force, Ihet.
Was really no occasion fGp any y up thos,
more ss o,;n pai Rpiy'' ssa that Whs
b bsG ra hs sas purely Tie result :;
a!aG ea,,seless excitement. Bus the elerl
With ssnsgoaihy Of spas dt
n.y. aa tsss word oil defense for the mon WI.
Rad SpSI'b een 80 Violently treated, VINO WeFe
even eve then held the grssp Of the the aPgps
mob he seemed g e,a xnsw ana so, Ariytar
1 o oI s who must have behaved themselves e
out accusation Their yadleat'Sn a. tHa
time was complete, was an pa ana !,
4 not NJ hing against tho popular rellglon-thel
had not robbed churches or blasphemee
the goddess, N %
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES y ana w y; arI M : . =
dress es II, as might have been the case
Notwithstanding the loyalty OF the Pee