The Washington herald., 1909-04-03
By WILLIAM 7. ELLIS.

me International Sunday School Lesson fu April
L is Peter Delivered from Prison" Acts. KILLS
It IS passing strange that in this West
ern world. which theoretically cares most
for ideals OF human liberty. there IS so
little interest displayed in the Russian
martyrs TO liberty, who are suffering IN
speakable persecution because OF their de-
votion TO the very principles which we
now possess without dispute or question.
Russia is about the only spot on the map
nowadays where men go to prison for
their intellectual beliefs. The heroisms OF
history are a precious heritage OF the
race. Seen through the golden glow OF
years, such conduct as IS now being prac-
tieed in Russia is the material for the in
splration OF our own time. 1t would not
be amiss II this present Sunday school
lesson. upon the Imprisonment OF the
apostle Peter, were linked up to the pres
ent-day irnprisonments OF men and won1-
en- who. in q so-called civilized land, are
in our own day suffering because they are
APOSTLES Of liberty and truth This lesson
VIII have achieved its first purpose II 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 char
acters have exhibited the greatness and
glory OF enduring hardness for the truths
sake. Jesus enunciated the dogma that
persecution for righteousness sake Is
blessed. and He Illustrated His teaching
in His life His immediate disciples. and
multitudes since, have followed in his
srain The marks OF the Lord Jesus
through all the ages have come to be the
marks OF suffering and persecution In
the present episode we find one OF HIS
favor1te three friends beheaded. Another.
Simon Peter, is languishing In jaIl, chained
TO a soldier on either side, because a
trucking. demagogic politician wanted
the Jewish vote.
y SOFT TIMES AND THEIR PERIL
Great and shining as are many OF the
characteristics OF the present-day Chris
tan church, II 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 a the sturdiest OF Christian
virtues. Thoughtful observers must have
a concern for our own time IN this partic-
ular. Such a multiplicity OF pleasures and
diversions and petty interests environ the
average life that there is no tine left for
a 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 COM
plicated social machinery that they can
not pause 20 consider the great dreams
which have ever uplifted the individual
Fpirit OF the race. The newspaper readers
OF to-day-for most Of US read newspa-
pers instead OF the big books-seldom sit
down to mediate upon the ohangeless
verities which alone make life worth
while Our times have enervated the
people
AL the while It abides as q 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 stiu faith, friendship
is still friendship. patriotism is stiH patri-
otism. self-sacrifice for human service Is
still as noble as ever II was in the storied
days OF old. All the magic words OF TO
nance retain their power 10 transform ex-
istence. The goals Of the golden age still
shins in front OF the present day. There
never was q time more favorable for
chivairous. romantic, and knightly living
than this time In which we live. True
we give hero medals nowadays TO every
body who may come under the eye OF the
right observer; but a race Of heroes are
not made by the distribution of hero med
ais. Only the inculcadOn OF heroic ideals
as the basic truths OF character can ele-
vate the race up 10 the plane OF brave
living. Simon Peter, and al the host. Of
heroes Of whom he was one. are still bet
ter servants Of the aims Of chivalry than
q mn a,~f-o
AN UNDERGROUND RELIGIOUS REFUGE
Before this scene in the New Testament
story opens, the church had been at
peace. Harried and hunted for time, It
had been given a respite, and in this Pc
Rod OF calm and sunshine IL still pros
pered and grew. But there Is a deeper
strength and growth possible to a spirit
uel organization than can come under
favoringU conditions of ease The tree
which stands alone In an open field. buf-
feted by every wind, produces a better
quality Of lumber than the one which
grows In the woods Opposition seems
essential 10 the development OF certain Of
the highest traits Of character. The fight
ing force OF the early church was tenn
pered and her treasures Of character were
purified in the fires Of bitter persecution.
Once again, apparently for no greater
cause than a cheap politicians petty am
bitions, the church was called upon to
undergo another baptism Of suffering
James was slain by the sword. Peter was
apprehended after a time. probably be-
cause he had concealed himself upon the
death Of his friend.
These early Christians were not recl-
less, as any one who has visited the cata-
combs of Rome well knows. These IN
derground cities, where the hymns Of the
living echoed through the vaults that con-
tained the dead. are eloquent and 70
mantle testimony to the precautions
which the Christians adopted TO escape
persecution. They cOmfOrted themselves
and one another not only by their songs
and their counsels and prayers. but by the
inscriptions still TO be read upon the
walls. Perhaps the commOnest of all the
catacomb pictures is OF the shepherd
caring for the feeble sheep The simple
faith Of these early disciples was unshak-
en- in the shepherdly oversight Of Jesus
So. when necessary, they could so to
death with a smile upon their faces and
song upon their lips.
A PRISONER IN CHAINS
Peter was caught by his enemies. Night
and day he was chained on both sides to
soldiers. and other soldiers guarded his
prison cell The church. which felt her
oneness in a way that made for spiritual
power. continued IN prayer for her I'M
prisoned leader. AS for Peter himself, he
was content in hts prison cell. God does
not always deliver His people from their
trials, but He does give peace In all the
prosecutions which they are called TO
undergo. Peter was more comfortable IN
his prison cell than Herod was in his pal,
ace. AS Rutherford when thus separated
from men, rose to such heights Of spiritual
experience that his thoughts OF Jesus
made every stone in his cell 10 glow" so