Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1904-06-10
Calnase
Sermon
By Rev.
Frank De Witt Tslrnase. d. ID.

vorce, and when the integrity of the
home Is assailed from without and
within. the advice of the preacher who
takes love for his theme may help to dis
pei the clouds that now overhang many
a household. The text is Ephesians
V, %. Husbands. love your wives"
Two startling facts about Paurs per
sonality have always wildly impressed
me. The one Is the estimate of his
physical personality formed by his en-
emies in the Corinthian church who
had sat under his ministry and there
fore knew him well. Paul himself
tells US that they said. Ills bodily
presence is weak and his speech CON
temptible." Chrysostom. according to
Albert Barnes, declared that "Paurs
stature was low, his back crooked and
his head bald" According TO Nice
phorus. Paul was n little man with
curvature OF the spine and pale
countenance. long and wrinkled. and
with head like Julius Caesar. noted
for its scarcity OF hair. Whether these
descriptions are true. we know not;
but ii is little likely that the Corin-
thians would have spoken of him as
they did, and that writer's so near his
own time as Chrysostom and Nicepho-
rus would have so described him. il
this intellectual and spiritual giant had
possessed an imposing personality. And
yet all through the Pauline writings,
figures OF speech bristle with the
symbols of the athletes arena. The
runner, tho fighter. the gladiator, the
struggle with the beasts of Ephesus.
all have their Inspirations and gospel
teachings.
The second fact, which stands side
by side with the first, about the per
sonality OF PAUL is this: Paul was a
bachelor. 1t has been contended that
he was a member of the sanhedrin
and, II so. must have been married,
but the expression in Acts XVI, 10, on
which the theory OF his membership
is based. is vague and may have
amounted TO no more than the testi-
mony Of witness. On the other hand,
his argument N Corinthians tx. y,
clearly implies that both he and Bar
nRbas were unmarried This condi-
ton however by no means indicates
that he was daioiens IN the affectAon-
ate Side - bis Datpye Ills fetters
show thGa tfo lavished on his children
in the faith the love that other men
give to their offspring and that he was
an exceedingly affectlonate. warm
hearted man. lie taught parents that
they should loye their children and
children that they should care for their
parents, wives that they should honor
their husbands and husbands that they
should love their wives. IL Is I'm refer
ence TO this last commandment that
would speak today.
Marital Affection.
There is n special reason Mt this time
Tor showing the need of husband
being truly devoted and loving TO his
wife, because there seems to be pop
ular theory abroad that the old fash
Toned idea of family home is gone
and gone forever. But. instead of be-
heving that the old fashioned idea OF
love should be done away with. / be-
hevo that. like the garden beds which
used TO be planted I'm our ancestors
front yards, they should be cultivat-
cd more and more. Marital affection
may be old fashioned. but believe 1t
is one OF the noblest. finest. most beau
tiful things in life. What could be
more tender. more pathetic. than the
words uttered 10y the great Or. Thomas
DE Witt when. struggling with I'M
troilaoie grief. he stood by the open
grave in which he had Just laid the
mortal remains OF his beloved wife?
He said: Farewell. my beloved and
honored and faithful wife. The tie
that united us is severed Thou art
with Jesus in glory, and he is with
me by his grace. / shall soon be with
you. Farewell" The Holy Book de-
clares. Whose findeth a wife findeth a
good thing" il Is no part of my pur-
pose TO tell young men how they
should proceed I'm trying TO win the
affections OF the girls they desire TO
marry. My design rather is 10 urge
married men 10 show their wives the
same Difference. the same love and de-
votion, that characterized them before
the twain stood ar the marriage altar,
hearing and saying the solemn words
Why is the true wife's value above
the price OF rubles. as King Solomon
declared? She is her husbands bust
ness partner; her husbands equal in
brain as well as in heart power She
lights With him, in financial way,
the great battle of life; therefore, like
her husband, she has a right to expect
the same rewards for her labors that
he has for his. 1t has been the habit
or some cynlcs to represent n wife as
a mere parasite. hanger on, n cling
ing vine. n barnacle or n human leech
sucking out the life's blood OF her mas
culine partner. Polygnotus. the great
Grecian artist, painted her 426 Il. C.I
as four legged beast in 1.-THE Rope of
Genus" devouring all the labors of her
husband. while he works on and on.
weaving out his life work In a rope
or straw. But that is not my idea of
the true wife The true wife is a con-
sumner as man is n consumer. but she is
also a financial producer as man h n
produces. Like man. slre produces far
more than she consumes. 49, che book
or Proverbs pictures: .'Hhs Ia HE the
merchant Ships; she bringeth her food
from afan Slle considereth field and
buyeth 1t: with tho fruit OF her hands
she plantetn q vineyard. Size maketh
herself coverings OF tapestry; her cloth
ing Is silk and purple" Mark well
these words: A true wife "perceiyeth
that her merchandise is good" not a
slattern, not n female doll, not a paint |
Cd millinery establishment. | am
speaking OF such n wife as the book of |
Proverbs describes. 1t is q faithful
portrait. the fidelity of which many n
nan In this church could attest by bis |
'wn experience.
Power Behind the Throne.
"Oh, no." says the masculine egotist.
woman is not the breadwinner OF the |
amily. 1t is the husband, who. as a |
awyer. wins fees In the courtroom: as |
physician, gains money from pa
tents; as soldier. fights his country's |
'atues; as a legislator, enacts laws.
which the male executive enforces; he
the merchantmen, who sells the
'o0ds; he is the foundryman, who
the steel rails. Man.
nan L. 1