Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-01
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON AND
YOUNG PEOPLES MEETINGS
News Of Interest to Church Goers By a
Writer Who Is An Authority on Religious
Subjects. The International Lesson for
Next Sunday.

lives have been lived in different
spheres2 Why is it that men with the
same purpose, working far apart, are
ultimately brought together2 1t is dtE
flcult for reyerent spirit to escape
the conviction that God is managing
his own world.
The preparation OF Peter was IN
teresting All unwittingly he had been
made ready for new experience. Hs
was lodging with q tanner, man
whose trade made him an outGast IN
Jewish eyes. Many of Peters pre1-
udices had been severely jolted. Sub.
sequently he could see, as most Of us
can see, how inexplicable past e3-
periences have let up to great pres-
ent.
The Sheet and the Beasts.
Fastidious Peters vision was Of q
sheet let down from Heaven contain
ing all manner Of living creatures, up
on which he was hidden to dine. AS a
correct Jew, he revolted. because he
had never touched food that was
ceremonially unclean. The average
American cannot quite appreciate
Peters state OF mind, nor the fact that
the same conditions exist today.
thought Of Simon Peter when one day,
in the holy city of Benares In India,
Hindu merchant waved me frantical-
ly away from his food bazar lest my
profaning hands should touch and con-
taminate the ceremonially clean food
that was his merchandise.
Peter was reminded that man-made
laws shrivel into insignificance when
God speaks. A distinguished southern
gentleman went to Africa as a mis-
sionary, arr IS his companion he had
a negro c. n. In this country they
both sed observed the social
usages tn ain in their community
in the relations between white men
and negroes But in Africa, in the face
Of common peril and common need
and common mission they forgot
that there ever was such a thing as
a color line and they became brother
men, serving the one Master for the
welfare Of the race. Henry Van Dyke
pointedly has said: Men are many;
humanity Is one" In the higher
realms of life and service we never
hear the phrase 80 common in certain
parts of the world: "Only a China
man." "only Niger" "only dago.
Tho Vision That Makes Duty.
l After the vision of Cornelius and
Peter both received an Interpretation
of the significance OF their strange eS
periences. Both learned that God wa
calling them forth not only to an i'm
mediate service, but to the leading o
a pioneer faith into a great, new terri
tory of life. Along the way first trot
by Peter and Cornelius, myriads hav
since followed the cross In who's
blessed light all colors of humanit,
are as one.
What If Peter or Cornelius had beel
disobedient to the heavenly vision
There Is nothing SO sacred In thi
, world os the spiritual sense whic
comes to men, Whenever God speak
through the voice of duty the one 81
preme concern of the heart should
to hear and to make quick answer
Concerning all such messages it ma
be said, as God said of the men q
Peters gate: Get thou down and e
with them, nothing doubling, for
;. have sent them" Professor H. /
, Koopman has expressed the though
! beautifully:
: when I am dead.
), May this with truth be said,
!, On the rude stone that marks my Low
+, ly head,
\ That. spite Of doubt and indecision,
9 In spite of weakness, lameness, blin'
!. ness,
;. Hearts trickery and fate's unkin
C ness,
:, Neglect Of friends and scorn Of foes,
!. Stark poverty and all its woes,
q The body's ills that cloud the mind,
4 And the bold spirit bind,
9 Still through my earthly course wen
h Not disobedient
q Unto the Heavenly Vision"