Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-08
WHEN PRISON CHAINS
WEAK.
The international Sunday School Les
son for April II Is "Peter Delivered
from Prison." Acts IL: 1-19.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.


1t is passing strange that in this
western world, which theoretically
cares most for ideals of human lib
erty, there is SO little interest display
ed in the Russian martyrs to liberty,
who are suffering unspeakable perse-
cution because of their devotion to
the very principles which we now pos
sess without dispute or question. Rus
STA is about the only spot on the map
nowadays where men go to prison for
their intellectual beliefs. The heroisms
of history are q precious heritage Of
the race. Seen through the golden
glow of years ouch conduct as Is now
being practiced in Russia Is the ma
terial for the inspiration Of our own
time. 1t would not be amiss if this
present Sunday School lesson, upon
the Imprisonment Of the apostle Peter
were linked up to the present-day i'm
prisonments Of men and women who,
in so-called civilized land are in our
cwn day suffering because they are
apostles of liberty and truth. This
lesson will have achieved it's first pur-
pose If it makes vivid the truth that
there are still, as there always have
been, beliefs worth suffering for and
even dying for.
The Bible has put that iron into the
blood Of the twentieth century. Its
characters have exhibited the great
ness and glory of enduring hardness
for the truths sake. Jesus enunciated
the dogma that persecution for right
eousness' sake is blessed, and he
illustrated his teaching in his life.
His immediate disciples, and multi
tudes since. have followed in his
train. The marks Of the Lord Jesus
through all the ages hal come to be
the marks of suffering and persecu-
ton. In the present episode we find
one Of his favorite three friends be-
headed. Another, Simon Peter, Is Ian
gushing In Jail, chained to soldier
on either side. because trucking,
demagogic politician wanted the Jew
tsh vote.
Soft Times and Their Peril.
Great and shining as are many of
the characteristics of the present-day
Christian church, it can scarcely be
denied that the church was harder in
earlier days. The soil of the twentieth
century has seemed to be too soft and
rich for the cultivation Of the sturd.
lest of Christian virtues. Thoughtful
observers must have concern for
our own time in this particular. Such
a multiplicity Of pleasures and d.
versions and petty interests environ
the average life and there Is no time
left for calm contemplation Of the
ancient ideals which have ever made
existence most glorious. Men and
women are so engrossed in the whirl
of the days complicated social ma
chinery that they cannot pause to con.
slider the great dreams which have
ever uplifted the individual spirit and
the race. The newspaper readers of
today--for most Of us read newspa.
pers instead Of the big books-seldom
sit down to mediate upon the change.
less verities which alone make life
worth while Our times have ener
waited the people.
All the while it abides as truth
that the great goals still exist In all
their brightness and beauty and worth
Love is still love, duty is still duty
honor Is still honor, faith Is still faith
friendship Is still friendship patriotism
Is still patriotism, self-sacrifice for hui
man service is still as noble as. ever
1t was in the stored days of old. All
the magic words of romance retain
their power to transform existence
The goals of the Golden Age still shine
in front of the present day. There
never was a time more favorable fol-
chivalrous, romantic, and knightly liy
ing than this time in which we live
True, we give hero medals nowadays
to everybody who may come under
the eye of the right observer; but a
race of heroes are not made by the
distribution of hero medals. Only the
inculcation of heroic ideals as the
basic truths of character can elevate
the race up to the plane of brave liv
ing. Simon Peter, and all the host
Of heroes of whom he was one. are
still better servants of the. aims Of
chivalry than all our modern prize
package methods.
An Underground Religious Refuge.
Before this scene in the New Tesla
ment story opens, the church had been
at peace. Harried and hunted for q
time. 1t had been given respite ant
| in this period of calm and sunshine II
| still prospered and grew. But there
is a deeper strength and growth pos
sible to spiritual organization thar
can come under favoring conditions
of ease. The tree which stands alone
in an open field. buffeted by every
wind, produces a better quality O.
lumber than the one which grows II
the woods. Opposition seems essen
tial to the development of certain O.
the highest traits of character. The
fighting force Of the early church was
| tempered and her treasures of char
| acter were purified in the fires of bit
ter persecution. Once again, apparent
ly for no greater cause than a cheal