The Washington herald., 1909-07-10
Saioniki. Old and New.

The International Sunday school Lesson sor July
Is is "Paul's Second Missionary Journey-Thsssa-
Iouica and Berea.' Acts. xviiI-l6
Worldwide interest centers this week
in the second city Of European Turkey
for two reasons: one Is that Salonih ls
the place OF Imprisonment OF the deposed
Sultan OF Turkey, Abdul Hamid, and the
center Of the Young Turk movement; and
the other is that under its ancient name
OF ThessalOnica. the city is the scene OF
an incident that Is being studied by mem
bers OF the Sunday schools OF the whole
world II IS q coincidence Of striking in
terest that just now these world-affecting
events should be located in the one place.
This historic city, named by Philip OF
Macedon after his daughter. a sister OF
Alexander the Great. because on the day
he received news Of her birth Philip
gained q victory over Thessaly. II was at
Thessalonica that Xerxes rested his army
before attempting the invasion Of Greece.
Cicero, In his exile, came thither from
Rome. q century before the visit OF Paul
IN the Middle Ages. Thessalonica was the
bulwark Of Christendom in the East. It
was captured by the Saracens IN 904 AID.
taken by the Crusaders IN 11S4 and finally
by the Turks IN 1890 Now Il has become
the head center OF the reform Turkish
party, which promises a new day OF reli-
glous tolerance and OF civil liberty for the
Ottoman empire
OF all the personalities associated with
this historic spot, the Apostle Paul is the
greatest. Yet none OF the great names
linked with Thessalonica ever came 10 Il
a
his friends. We picture the great apostles
advent as an important event. and il was.
Yet, could we have witnessed the reality.
we would have seen the little company Of
trayel-woTn and weary pilgrims enter the
town as quietly as humble strangers
could do Nobody paid particular atten-
ton 10 them except the town dogs. They
sought a quiet lodging. and then went
from door to door OF the tent-malking
homes. seeking for employment All was
as commonplace as could be imagined.
The inconspicuous little Jew, whose char
acter was revealed only by a second look
al hts face, searching for work from his
fellow cOunt trymen. did not iii the role
Of Xerxes or an Alexander in the COM
mon eye. Nevertheless, beneath his cloak
was wrapped up more Of portent for
IhessaloniCa and for Europe than ever
came IN the train Of Alexander the Great.
WHEN THE BEST SIDE WITH TIE WORST.
The butler may look more imposing
than the head Of the house. but when ne
opens his lips TO speak we know him for
the butler. even as by the same token
we know the head OF the house. Broad
way can change q tramp over night into
mirror Of fashion, but when be speaks
his true worth is revealed. Sabbath
agogue and began % reason about the
great things Of the other world. They at
once became marked men No longer
were they commonplace pilgrims seeking
work. the city soon knew that great
teachers had come 20 Il IN humble gUise.
Often the best unites with the worst IN
opposing a better. The Jews Of Thessa-
IOnica were morally the cleanest element
tn the community; yet. because they dis
agreed with PauTs teaching, they Joined
hands with the rabble to drive out the
little band Of missionaries. They did not
hesitate 20 appeal 10 the lowest mob pas
sion in order 70 accomplish their purpose.
The Jews We're Jealous. and they also
were resentful Of Pauls teaching Of a
crUcifed Christ
The last virtue men display IN connection
With religion is the virtue Of tolerance
Even the man whose creed is q protest
against religious conservatism is intoler-
ant Of all who differ with him. We can
not deny that even IN this liberal day
men who do not like 10 hear OF the
sUfferings OF Christ, and whose fastidi-
BUSINESS would Danish the sight Of blood
from all theological teachings, and who
would eliminate the cross. profess their
advanced position with heat and intoIer-
ance.
A HFROss vApDsrups
The fact belongs 20 the A B c OF all
religious teaching that controversy upon
religious themes has a tendency to arouse
the lower passions. When engaged in de-
batting the loftiest truths that can engage
the human thought. men indulge IN the
meanest suspicious and utter the basest
insinuations. and even resort TO dishonor-
able methods. The Thessalonica Jews,
like those Of their religious capital who
had crucifed Jesus, made a pretext OF
their loyalty TO Rome when no sentiment
was further from their hearts.
So Paul was driven from the troubled
city on the charge OF having been one of
those who had turned the world upside
doWn-Or, better, right side up He was
not surprised at this persecution and op-
position. He had grown accustomed TO it.
Like every other pioneer OF a great cause
he had learned 70 endure hardness He
himself. IN one Of his letters. calls the
roll OF some Of his missionary expert
ences-'in labOrs more abundant, in
stripes above measure. IN prison more
frequent. IN deaths oft OF the Jews i've
times received I forty stripes save one:
thrice was 1 beaten with rods, once was
I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a
night and day have I been IN the deep;
IN journeyings often, IN perils Of water,
In perlls OF robbers. in perils by mine own
countrymen, ia perils by the heather, in
peTils in the city in peTils in the wilder
ness. IN perils in the sea, In perils among
false brethren; in WEAKNESS and painful
ness. IN watchings oft. in hunger and
thirst, in fastings often in cold and naked
ness" This was the price paid for the
service Of the CrUcifed. In II all Paul
learned the glory, for he found himself a
sharer Of the cross OF Jesus
A FRIEND N NEED.
In his extremity Of persecution, Paul
was cared for by the converts he had
made. X was the brethren who sent him
and Silas away by night from Thessalon-
lea 10 Berea, for this man had the royal
gift OF attaching men 70 himself with
steadfast loyalty. For him his friends
were willing 10 risk their lives Wher-
SNeE re ldNeie0 ne made new friends /
who were ready 20 share his dangers and
his suffeTings Let US not pity Paul TOO /
much. Aside from his fellowship with 4
his Master he WON the close sympathy /
OF a company Of new friends. When We I
consider how few real friends will stand 4
the test Of the fires Of adversely that 4
come 10 the average man or woman in I
this life, we must count Paul royalty |
rich
Quite different these heart comrades Of 1
his from idle compar ions who may be i
picked up on all the great BrOadways OF I
lLln III L. ----l-- L