The Washington herald., 1909-05-01
When Religion Raised a Row.

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The In.erastionsl sunday school Lessou for May
5 "Psul's First Hissiona-y Jo1rney-Antiocn
II PiSidia. Acs. xhia}S
The school Of experience soon gives pu-
pills their proper rating Barnabas and
Sau had SET out from Antioch In Syria
TO do missionary work. and they were
classified in this order and by these
names Now We find that the story IS a.
tered. II is Paul and his company"
The first man has naturally and inevita-
blv risen TO first place. Here we ind his
name changed from Saul TO Paul The
new nan had taken on new name John
Mark drops from the company at this
point. probably because he was not OF as
sturdy stuff as the leaders Of the expedi-
ton. and could not face the hardships
that were 70 be endured. Later be had 70
reckon with Paul on this account, and
vas really the means OF dividing the two
associates, Paul and Barnabas.
Sailing from Paphos, IN the Island OF
Cyprus. where the last lesson was laid.
the company came 10 Perga- n what Is
now called Asia Minor, and thence they
went I'd 10 Antioch IN Pisidia, probably
one OF the sixteen Antiochs founded by
seieucIs Nikator and named for his faith
or II must not be confounded with the
great Antioch in Syria. where the dis
ciDleS were first called Christians Why
Paul did not remain at Pergs has been
subject OF conjecture II IS thought that
the heat o summer and the malaria
which infested this lOw-lying city along
ire water drove him up on to the high
4ahIeiand where Antioch was situated.
Ramsay thinks that the malaria which
here entered PauTs system was his
thorn in the flesh which he bore 20 the
end of his life In any case, some con-
sideration drove the little band OF mis-
sionaries over the perilous journey 10
Antioch.
A POINT OF CONTACT
Like Jesus. Paul went 70 church on the
sabbath He identified himself with al
the best customs OF his time and com
rnrnity. He knew that the synagogues
were 10 be superseded and that the wor-
ship was bare and faulty. and that the
preaching was usually dry. unpalatable.
and unnutritious pabuluu- Nevertheless.
Jesus and Paul went 10 the synagogue
or the Sabbath They found Il point OF
contact with the best agencies Of their
day. They Identified themselves UneqUiv-
ocally with all religious tendencies. al
though their own beliefs extended quite
beyond those entertained and taught by
the synagogue. This attitude. which ever
seeks a point OF contact with the people
whom II desires 10 serve, IS an essential
Qualification IN Christian work
So Paul and Barnabas were shown TO
the rabbinical seats. and after the read
ing OF the law and the prophets. the
rules Of the synagogue called on them 10
speak With the tact that always char
acteTized him. PauTs sermon. OF mid
raish," as the Jews called il was based
upon the passages which had been read
that morning. He recited the history
which the Jews never tired OF hearing.
and, OF course, found II an easy path 20
the story OF the Messiah who had come
Paul was never satisfied 70 make gen
eral propositions. His sermons always
ended n an application. He was thou
are the man type Of preacher he left
his hearers face 20 face with their Per
sohaI responsibility II the case
STIRRING A CITY.
Il had been many a long day since that
synagogue had heard such searching
and sensational sermon as was preached
b. the unexpected stranger on that Sab
bath morning. It set the Jewish commu-
nity by the ears. Whenever q genuine
preacher appears in a neigh5orhoOd with
q clear message OF conviction the latter
Is bound TO make more talk than all the
advertising he can do. People always
have been and always viii be interested
IN vital spiritual truth Rufus n Jones
says: IN his spiritual nature man is in
curably religious" The religion that IS
related 10 life can always get a hearing
As it was in PaUls day. so it is now. A
great sermon makes itself talked about
The members Of the synagogue enreated
Pan and Barnabas 10 speak again the
following Sabbath.
The implication is that this synagogue
was an influential factor IN the life OF
Antioch Its oUtreach touched the entire
city. Apparently II had 10 some degree
solved the ever-present problem OF max
ing the church the center OF the commu-
nal life Il must have delighted Paul's
heart 10 see the way in which that syna-
gogue was able'to get after men IN their
social relationships. so that, as the mar
rstive runs. Next Sabbath almost the
whole city was gathered together TO hear
the word OF God"
SOME JEALOUS JEWS
Sour. misanthropic. and nl-favored souls
there always have been, whose greatest
sorrow seems 70 be the happiness OF
other people OF g naturally jealous dis
position. they cannot view with equanim-
fly the prosperity OF anybody else. The
world IS fun Of these born detractors.
The slang phrase OF the days calls them
knockers and the philosophy Of the
street has coined words OF keenest scorn
FOR them Even the man who gives least
thought 10 questions Of character and
ethics perceives that the ''knOcker' IS on
the wrong track and that he IS man TO
be avoided OF reformed
The Jews Of Antioch had been delight
Cd over the popularity which PauTs ser
mon had won for their synagogue, but
when they found that the multitude fol-
loved Paul and disregarded them they
were filed with jealousy They could
not stand aside Tor the sake Of great
man and great message.
Therefore they stirred I'D slander
against the missionaries. even as heather
in all lands have fabricated the most out
Tageous and baseIess ISLANDERS against
missionaries. Il IS q common belief n
many pagan communities that the mis-
sscnaTies steal children and make medi-
cine out Of their vital organs Some OF
these ruHlors would seem to be too ride
ulous 70 deserve notice were Il not that
they are credited by the people for whom
they are intended. These Jews appealed
70 the partisanship Of the women Of their
cCmmunity-and women are essentially
partisan and the chief defenders OF all
old Institutions. Conservatism makes its
last stand in the minds Of women. They
are the hest advocates z1d The hf++e-es1