The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-06-19
The International Sunday school Les
son IL Quarterly Revfew-The
Twentieth Century Man
Has q Wide Horizon.


BY WILLIAM II. ELLIS.
This 10 the day Of broad views. The
newspaper brings us fresh topics OF
conversation concerning Africa Turkey
and the Orient. The affairs of the ut
termost parts of the earth are given
with the fullness and timeliness of
neighborhood news. We even talk
jaunti1y about establishing communf-
cation with Mars, as IL We had encom-
passed all the problems of this planet.
and would exercise our powers by
reaching out to our neishbor across
millions of miles Of space.
There is no doubt about the twenti-
eth century mans having a wide hori-
con. The important consideration for
him Is that his standpoint be correct.
Broad views are helpful in the degree
that they are from a right angle. This
bit of New Testament history which
the Sunday Schools have been studying
during recent weeks suggests the true
basis for eosmopolitanism, which Is a
spirit of helpfulness and brotherhood.
There is kind of neighborly interest
IA sort of peeking through the blinds
spirit--which Is mere meddlesomeness
and ill-mannered impertinence. This
may not be confused with the real
spirit of neighborliness. Only the lat
ter may be called cosmopolitanism. The
early Christian Church quickly rose
above its Judean confines and became
In the fullest meaning OF the term a
catholic church.
Two Mem and Their Visions.
Men of whom we never think as hav-
ing ideals above their bank books, or
the satisfaction of the hours appetite.
may. all unknown to US, be men of Wis
ion and dreams. In the first of this
quarters lessons there appears the fig
ure of q prominent Officer whose call
Ing was material and whose cares were
such that probably his soldiers thought
him a mere military machine. Yet
Cornelius, like some Of the great fight
ing men of our own history, lived his
real life with respect to the unseen
world. Browning we'll says:
God be thanked. the meanest of His
Has two soul sides; one to face the
world with.
And the other to show q woman when
he loves her"
When Captain Cornelius was pre-
sumably engrossed In affairs of the
barracks, he was really seeing in a
vision an angel Of God promising him
fuller message concerning spiritual
truth from the Apostle Peter. A de-
vout soldier was sent post haste to
Jappa to bring thfther this man of
God.
Helpers are helped. The giver gets.
The bestower Is blessed. Peter in his
service was himself shown a vision. As
part Of his equipment to answer the
call OF Cornelius, the great apostle was
shown the figure of the vessel full of
living creatures, and taught that
naught that God has made is to be
called unclean. That bit of personal
work which Peter did withS Cornelius
broadened his own horizon and made
him sensible Of the truth taught long
before by the Good Shepherd, that
fold. The visions of the centurion and
of the apostle practically synchronized.
Gods clocks always strike together.
He who rules over all, prepares the
worker and the work. His spirit Is on
the field as well as in the force. He
made ready Peter and he made ready
Cornelius. each unknown to the other;
and only this mysterious spiritual prep
aration from above justifies the expec-
alton of success in religious work.
The Prison and Prayer.
A few weeks ago a woman who had
been sent TO prison for the crime of
kidnapping Was loudly calling on God
for assistance. Her ideas were of the
vague and nabby kind which have no
respect to God in the day Of action.
and turn to Him only in the hour of
need. The offender against Gods law
may not invoke Gods power to prevent
proper punishment Only those who
go to prison for righteousness sake can
take God with them, or find a radiant
angel in their prison cells. Others,
penitent, 1t is true, may learn to know
Him, even within prison walls; but 1t
is to such as Peter, who was sent to
prison bx Herod for preaching the
Name that Gods angels come. Peter
in prison was happier than Herod in
his palace. There Is absolutely naught
off from the fellowship with his Lord.
which is life's richest reward
Christians should stand together and
behind one another. 1t was rather
stirring to note, several months ago,
when a member of Philadelphia
church was arrested on suspicion of a
crime, that his fellow church members,
instead of INDUCING in uncharitable
suspicion, got together and sent him a
letter of love and encouragement, and
stood together by him until the court
had acquitted him of the charge. That
Is the apostolic way of doing things.
While Peter was in prison the church
united all its spiritual forces, and con-
tinued in earnest prayer for his relief.
That Is the sort of prayer which God
hears while we are yet speaking" for
the prayer-meeting had not broken up
before Peter, released by an angel,
stood knocking without at the door.
The mysterious spiritual forces
which 1t seems that the mind of men
can affect in this material realm, and
the profound spiritual forces which
prayer unleashes in Gods universe,
should ever be employed in Offices of
sympathy and service. Wherever Gods
people are in need because of Gods
name. thither should hasten the pray