Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-11-30

Rev. Arthur walwyn Evans. the Welsh
evangelist who was one Of Evan Roberts
helpers IN the revival which swept over
wales not long ago. is conducting some
special meetings in Atlanta, and the
thoughts given In recent sermon are
we'll worth passing on The Journal
readers- The topic OF the sermon was
The Second Chance" the text being And
Barnabas Took Mark With Him-But
Paul took Silas." Something like this
the story ran:
Paul and Barnabas had been on mis-
sionary journey. and they had suffered
All sorts OF trials and indignities. these
having come TO them in civilized cOmmu-
mites With them was John Mark, a
young relative OF Barnaba-. He too had
suffered and 20 him there had not come
The Joy in suffering for tne sake OF
Christ that sustained his older cOmpan-
iona So when from civilized TO pagan
communities the two evungsiIsts turned
their faces. John Mark said. We'll. I
think have had about enough Of this
sort OF experience. and II we have suf-
tered thus In civilized places. what may
We have tO endure from the pagansi No
more OF this for me" So John Mark
strapped his knapsack on his back and
turned his face 20 old Jerusalem and his
mother But hts mother wz= not as glad
70 see him as he expected. for she knew
he had been a coward. And his old
friends looked askance at him. and
John Mark was down in the dust Of
shame and humiliation as Is every cow
ard when he realizes what poltrOOn he
s. And Il was a sad and shame-faced
man who .roamed the streets OF Jerusalem
when Paul and Baruabas returned exul-
- 80 k-.aF- lab IN
the heather world.
But one day he feels hand laid on his
shoulder. a friendly hand. and the kind
voice OF Barnabas speaks TO him com
forting words Cheer up. old man; you
gave up too soon. and you feel as IL you
had no friends left to believe in you; but
know you are sOrry now. and remember
that your old friend Barnabas believes
IN YOU" So when after brief rest, the
two great missionaries plan another tour.
15arnabas proposes 70 Paul that they take
LARK with them. Paul is astOnished.
he says something like this: 'Barnabas.
are you crazy2 Do you forget how he
deserted US before, how he shrunk from
the trials and finally turned his back on
them and usg' And as Barnabas insist
Cd. Paul grew vehement and there was
considerable Of a storm, and in the end
Paul went one way with Silas as his COM
panion, and Barnabas another with John
Marx And Paul was wrong in this, great
and glorious apostle as he was He for
got that day when. after his vision OF
Christ and his charge OF heart, he knock
ed at the door OF the little Christian
church IN Jerusalem and none would let
him In because no one believed in him.
They said. He is simply a spy and he
viii send US TO prison or have US stoned"
He forgot how, as he went sadly away, a
kind hand touched him on the shoulder,
and a friendly voice said TO him:
Cheer up. Saul OF Tarsus- They do
not elieve in you. but Barnabas believes
IN you and he will see that you are known
and understood Come with me and /
will introduce you to the church" And
% saul was given a second chance and
became Paul. the great apostle. But he
forgot this now when BarnaDas gave
John Mark his second chance, and Bar
nabas was right; for that second chance
made q man OF Mark Paul recognized IL
later. for we find him saying in a letter
70 Timothy, Take Mark and bring him
with you, for he Is useful 10 me for min
lstering" So the second chance made
Marx a useful servant in the kingdom OF
Cod. and nowhere in the pages of the
Bible are there sweeter words found than
those in the gospel according TO Mark.
And one day we find him bishop Of the
great Christian church OF Alexandria. and
tradition says that when the beautiful
cathedral OF St Marks was built in
Rome. the bones OF the saint were sent