Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-09
The International Sunday School Les
son for December IL is "Paul's
Last Words" II Tim. d: lib.
A HERo's vALEDlcToRY.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

Last WCTQS. III I'M, z. 1-1S.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
The Cherry mine disaster has stir
red continent. The imagination of
the dullest has been caught by that
picture of the men down in the black
ness waiting, waiting, waiting for the
end. What heroism was that which
kept them from frantic and futile en-
deavor in grim resolution? And their
last messages-ah, there's the reveal
ing Serawled on odd bits of paper in
the darkness, what were these last
messages to loved ones about? God,
mostly. When man is face TO face
with death, the depths of his nature
rise to the surface and the real man
stands forth The end tests all. 1t
proves that man, in his truest self, is
inexting uishably religious.
The letters that have been brought
up from the Cherry mine have given
the world glimpse into that death
chamber. Here, in this lesson, we
catch f1eeting view of another under
ground dungeon. where man awaited
death. This is the Mamertime prison
in Rome-still shown to travellers
and the occupant is Paul the aged, the
gray haired hero Of many battlefelds,
and q greater force in human history
than lustful, pride-crazed Nero on the
throne. This is Paul's second Roman
imprisonment. No more does he have
his own hired house The walls of
persecution have been opened upon his
head, and he will not leave this
dungeon until he goes forth to his
death.
When I visited the Mamertime
prison, one of the Observation-Disclosures OF
Rome's many historical spots, the
guide, a quiet, reverent fellow, told
the story of how the spring of water
in the dungeon, which is still flowing
sprang miraculously into existence to
satisfy the prisoners thirst. That is
only a legend. of course; but in a
higher, truer sense there has been
flowing from that underground prison
cell a stream of living water that has
meant refreshment and life to uncount-
ed parched souls. Behold. twenty-five
million members of the Sunday-schooi
are partaking of it today! These last
words of Paul flowed from the Manner
time prison.
A Bequest to the Dearest.
This is a last letter, a great hearts
farewell. AS the Cherry mine mis-
sives were indited to the fated mans
dearest, so the letter was written to
the one Paul loved best his young
friend Timothy, his spiritual child.
How the aged warriors heart warmed
to the youth whom he had reared in
he of
cynicism about Paul, and no lamenting
of "the good old days" or the croak-
ing that young people aren't what
they used to be- Paul had warm
faith in Timothy, and looked to him to
carry on his own work. To that end
he seems to have tried to embody his
own life and ideals in the younger.
Happy is the fading life which sees it's
powers blossom again in child, friend
or disciple. The best bequest anybody
can make Is to pass on to another his
highest ideals, visions, task.
Paul loved the work above his best
friend. To the last his thought was OF
his mission. The duty to which God
has called man takes precedence
OF everything There is something
heroic and majestic about Pauls
clarion call to his disciple to take w
his labors for the church he loved Ii
suggests that dramatic scene, ten
years ago, in the city of Paoting-fu
China, when the princely Horace
Tracy Pitkin knew that he must die
at the hands of the blood-maddened
Boxer hordes. He called him trusted
native Christian. and babe him beal
this message to Mrs. Pitkin and theil
boy In America. Tell Mrs. Pitkin how
I died. Tell her that when little
Horace is twenty-five years old, wan
him to return to China. to take my
place" That was the Pauline spirit
which has carried Christianity Il
world conquest.
Paul and the Preachers.
In the light that is reflected from
the Eternal city, many things stanc
out clearly. Then we see what i!
worth while. If only we could regulate
our lives from the first with the Wis
dom which We have at the latter end
Paul saw essentials as he penned hi
last words to his beloved Timothy
And here we find him stressing will
all the eloquence and force at hi
command, the place and power 0
preaching. Preach the word; b.
instant in season. out of season: re
prove, rebuke, exhort with all lons
suffering and teaching
That is better than a socializet
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