The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-20


son for November Fl is "Pauis
Story of His Life" II Cor. 11:21-
1910.
(BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS)
There is an American in TOXIC VINO
is sometimes called 1.-The brains of the
Japanese government" Naturally,
very little appears about him in print;
he is the man behind the scenes. The
emperor has bestowed upon him
many orders, but these he does not
wear. On state occasions he sits in
lower seat, inconspicuous and I'M
known. But on one occasion the
Japanese government rendered BAN
Quet to visiting American officials, ana
this man appeared wearing ali his
decorations. These entitled him 10
rank above most of the Japanese Of
ficials present; so he was honored In
the eyes of his ow-countrymen. 1t
was an occasion to prove his patriot
ism, and he did right in availing him
self of 1T.
This preacher traveller statesman
Paul had been decorated by many
knightlv scars; but he seldom. dis
PLAYED them. He did not care what
people thought of him, so long as the
work was done. There came an oc-
casion, however. when his honor was
touched. and his usefulness as SER
want of Jesus Christ Ihen ne pro,
duced his decorations, displayed them
fully, and took the place OF hlgh rank
to which he was entitled.
Somebody who holds the minor vir-
tues the proprieties and the conVeh-
lions so close that he can not see
things in proportion, cries out. rs
Paul modest here?" He is not, nor
should he be. Modesty is gentle
virtue which must sometimes be sent
to the rear along with the pageageii
Truth go forth to join in wars fierce
clash
When a man is called upon to de-
fend his honor or his work. or the
sacredness of. truth. he may not let
any petty considerations of modesty
or immodesty stand in the way of that
holy duty.
An Adventurous Career.
The clash of arms and the shrilling
of battle bugles sounds in Paul's de-
Tense of himself to the Corinthian
Christians. They had been lending
their itching ears to the tales of some
leaders who were protesting to be bet
ter Jews better Christians and better
leaders than he. Had Paul been the
sort of milk and sugar Christian so
popular nowadays, he would have let
these backbiting enemies take his
crown. If, however, Paul has been
capable of such pusillanimity he
would not have been Paul the en-
pire builder.
Listen to his thrilling recital of his
apostolic credentials:
Are they Hebrews? SO am l. Are
they Israelites? So am l. Are they
the seed of Abraham? So am L. Are
they ministers of Christ? q speak as
one beside himself) more; in labors
more abundantly. in prisons more
abundantly, in stripes above measure,
in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times
received 1 forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods. once
was 1 stoned, thrice 1 suffered ship
iobf md ax I ha0n
in the deep; in journeyings often, in
perils of rivers, in perilS of robbers,
in perilS from my countrymen. IN
perils from the Gentiles, in perils in
the city. in perils in the wilderness. IN
perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren, in labor and travail,
in watchings often, in hunger and
thirst, in Hastings often. in cold and
nakedness. Besides those things that
are without there is that which
presseth upon me daily, anxiety for
all the churches"
Then the apostle proceeds to mar
rate a transporting, unspeakahle ex-
perience when he was caught up into
the third heaven. Continuing. he
writes:
"And by reason of the exceeding
greatness of the revelations. that 1
should not be exalted overmuch. there
was given to me a thorn in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan to buffet me,
that 1 should not be exalted over
much Concerning this thing 1 be-
sought the Lord thrice. that it might
depart from me. And he hath said
unto me. My grace is sufficient for
thee; for my power is made perfect
. in weakness Most gladly therefore
will I rather glory in my weaknesses,
that the power of Christ may rest
upon me- Wherefore 1 take pleasure
in weaknesses, in injuries, in neces-
sites, in prosecutions, in distresses,
for Chrisf'S sake. for when am weak
then am strong"
Little Worries and Big Troubles.
When a man undertakes to follow a
big idea he can not tell where he will
end. To heed a great call is to enter
upon an unknown way. Who so sets
out to do the brave, true deed will
find himself often in a path where
he can not see the next step. He may
find such adventures as Paurs, but he
will find a mans life and work.
Paul was forever in trouble. Like
most knight-errants of truth, he
found a tempestuous career. But he
escaped multitude of petty and soul
dwarfing worries. There was a joy
in the tumult which was better worth
claimed existence. The peace which
dwells in the heart of the storm is
most complete and precious.
Even the great anxiety which came
upon Paul daily, care for all the
churches, was for his parish. He
any congregation or denomination
though he was forever busy in some
one local field. He had what William
Penn called "a public mind When
a mans anxieties are for his country.
for the world. or for the kingdom of
heaven, he has entered into the secret