Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-06-17
THE ENLARGED HORIZON.
The International Sunday School Les
son for June 20 Is Quar-
terly Review.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
This is the day of broad views. The
newspaper brings us fresh topics OF
conversation concerning Africa, Tur-
key and the Orient. The affairs OF
the uttermost parts of the earth are
given with the fullness and timeliness
of neighborhood news. We even talk
jauntily about establishing communi-
cation with Mars, as If we had en-
comprised all the problems of this
planet, and would exercise our powers
by reaching out to our neighbor across
millions of miles of space.
There is no doubt about the TWEEN
tieth century mans having a wide
horizon. The important considera-
ton 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 cosmopol-
tanism, which is spirit Of helpfulness
and brotherhood There is kind of
neighborIy Interest," sort of peek
ing-through-the blinds spirit-which is
mere meddlesomeness and ill-manner.
ed impertinence This may not be
confused with the real spirit of neigh
Sborliness. Only the latter may be
called cosmopolitanism. The early
Christian church quickly rose above
It's Judean confines and became in the
fullest meaning of the term a catholic
church.
The Prison and Prayer.
A few weeks ago woman who had
r.,een sent to prison for the crime OF
kidnapping was loudly calling on God
for assistance. Her ideas were of the
vague and flabby 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 pre-.
vent proper punishment Only those
Who 60 to prison for righteousness
sake can take God with them. or find
q radiant angel in their prison cells
Others, penitent, 1t is true, may learn
to know him, even within prison walls
but it is to such as Peter, who was
sent to prison by Herod for preach
Ing the Name, that Gods angels come
Peter in prison was happier thar
Herod in his palace. There is abso
lutely naught outside of self that ca.
shut disciple off from the fellowship
with his Lord, which is life's riches!
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 q
crime, that his fellow church members
instead of indulging in uncharitable
suspicion. got together and sent him
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 spiritua
forces, and continued in earnest prayer
for his relief. That is the sort Of
prayer which God hears while We arr
yet speaking for the prayer meeting
had not yet 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 mer
can affect in this material realm, and
the profound spiritual forces which
prayer unleashes in Gods universe
should ever be employed in offices o
sympathy and service. Wherever
Gods people are in need because o
Gods name, thtther should hasten thu
prayers and loving fellowship Of al
who bear the Name. The mission
aries on trial in the Congo for bearing
witness to the truth, the disciples il
Asia Minor prosecuted for their faith
the native. Christians in many heather
lands who must pay price for thei,
discipleship-all should be the objec
of the tenderest solicitude of the en-
tire church in the world.
A History Making Man.
Good times are ushered in by goot
men, When God wants to do bi.
things in the world he brings on thu
scene of action some great spirited
men. Thus we find the Apostle Pau
appearing in the history of the apos
tolic church. 1t has been of tonic ef
feet for the Sunday schools to b
brought into association with Pau
and with Peter and their fellow work
ers. All of us are inclined to boa6
of the distinguished men we know
and to claim relationship with eve,
the remotest ancestors who have an,
reason for celebrity By the sam
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