The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-10-09
0NEslMUs, SLAVE, RETURNS

L. all $JlQG mot Seek TO lATlllul V 10
lently Human Laws.
. The Suggestion.
Dr.W. RI. Smith. Of the Second
Baptist Church, preached yesterday on
the Christian Gentleman" and the APP
pended abstract OF the discussion will BIO
read with interest:
Tho works Of the "Christlan Gentla-
man are positive and negative. He Is
more considerate of Others than of HIM
self; his sympathy flows to the humble
as readily as to the great; and his hope
full, CHEEKY confidence in men, gracefully
blinds with his faith in God. Himself is
not the center of all his calculations. A
thoroughly selfish man is not and can
not be a gentleman. IIe does not try
to lead or rule men by motives Of self
Interest or fear. He does not scheme
to promote his own power, nor sulktly
try to thwart the movement he does
not lead. Flo Is not avaricious in soul
nor Slndictive in spirit A Christian gen
tleman is the highest type OF man. Tho
Christian ministry furnished the model
long ago. which challenges all admira-
ton and imitation. The preacher, Of
all men, should study 1t. This high and
gracious gentleman touches the summit
Z Of his art In aaletter to his wealthy
friend Philemon. of Colossal.
Hear some Of his words: IT had much.
Joy and comfort in thy love. Though
] have all holiness In Christ to enioin
thee that which ia betting, yet for loves
sake rather heseech. being such 4. one
rs Paul the ged.." Having confidence
in thine obedience I write unto thee,
knowing thou wilt do even beyond what
7 say" The charm of this letter Is
brought out IN Professor Stevens delight
full and popuar translation of Pnuls
epistIes. One has said that the dclicacy
and depth of feeling. the refinement and
pathos OF 1t has never been surpassed
in any other human comnos'tion.
A Letter From Prison.
This is one Of the afternoon letters
of Paul's ministry, written from his Ro-
man prison in the year a. Solitude, re-
straint and advancing years threw their
complex spell on his soul. His spirit was
chastened to a finer tenderness. and
lifted up to a tranquil and elevated JOY.
A richer fragrance of devotion was his.
and a deeper insight into tho things Of
lifc and of God. This sublime genue-
man grew old gracefully. Some men be-
come narrower and bitter under the
expcrlenccs OF the inevitable years. The.
self-centered man will arrive Mt old age
sullen. spltefu and unloved. Hate will
fcrment in his heart and writhe In his
face. Paul was the Jewish scholar, the
Greek cosmopolitan, the cultured 10
man citizen, and above all. the supreme
Christian gentleman This Incompatible
servant of Jesus excelled as thinker and
5theologian, preacher and missionary, but
inst now he appeals to us as an example
of lofty and refined courtesy 5.
The brief letter presents q dramatic
situation On arrival at Rome, attended
BY a single soldier, Paul enjoyed prac-
tically the freedom Of the city. lie rent
cd n house and therein preached the
rosnel with boldness and power to all
Who came, One day, Il stranger from
Asia Minor, strolllng on the street. drop
ned In TO hear tho preacher. His heart
and conscience were touched and soon
he bcc;lmc a convert, The man took an
instant interest in Paul and volunteers
ed to stay with him as servant ana help
or. Being evidently sincere and lnteli-
gent the service was accepted, and the
man cntrcnchcd himself In the apostles
heart The mans antecedents would
naturally become subject Of CONVERSE
ton, It was learned that hisinameI was
Onesmus, and that he came frOmfjthe
far away city Of Colossal. This mme-
diatcly excited Pnuls curiosity, for about
seven years before he had preached in
that city and organized a church, More
over, he had there II particular friend
whose name was Philemon, IN whose
hospitable home no had stayed and in
whose house the church was organized,
The question was eagerly asked, DO YOU
know Philemon? A strange confusion
suddenly stodd in the face OF Onesimus;
conflict of emotions ragged IN his soul,
Shall he tell Paul the truth" Shall he
make a clean breast of 1t and tell the
story OF his sin? He resolved to hide
nothing, and SO demonstrated the vitality
of his Christian faith, Eyes" frankly
confessed Onesmus. II know Philemon.
He Is my master, and I am his runaway
slave. robbed him and made my way
to Rome, and you know the rest" The
revelation was astonishing, but Paul
dealt tenderly with his son in the gos-
pei Immediately the form of new
Christian duty arose TO tho consclen-
tious mind of the preacher
Not Annul Human Laws,
Oneslmus must return to his master,
Christianity does not violently annul hui
man laws; 1t does not make sudden
breaks IN human relations, Phlemon's
rights take the first place In the thoughts
of the great hearted gentleman, He
might easily have persuaded himself
that It was honorable to detain this man,
so helpful and profitable In service. He
might have argued truthfully tina, Phile-
mon would be glad to have his slave
represent him in mlnistration to his
old friend, So he might have chosen to
act. with no dread of Philemon's dlsap-
proval. But not so did this delicate gen.
tleman decide, Pleased az he would have
been with the continued assistance Of
Oneslmus. he said: II did not feel at
liberty to keep him without your oon-