The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-24
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and they could each say with Paul:
For to me to live is Christ"
Men Who Lead.
There would seem to be warrant for
| special evangelistic missions in the
sending of Barnabas from the church
perity of the Gospel in this great city
and the Importance of impressing the
city with the Message, appealed to the
leaders of the church. So bearing
their greetings, this evangelist jour-
neyed to Antioch, strengthening the
hearts of the disciples, and adding to
their number. For as the words of
the narrative record-words which
have significantly found their way
upon many tombstone-"he was
good man, and full of the Holy Spirit
and of faith
In Antioch began the close and long
continued association of Barnabas
with Saul. The former did his best
by Antioch, and it was much. Yet
he saw possibilities in this great city
to which he was not equal. With the
wisdom and seIf-abnegation of the
truly devoted, he went forth to Tarsus
to seek for Saul, whose measure he
had taken as a great statesman,
man for emergencies. He knew that
only the best could suffice for the con-
flict with the great cities. The early
church thus set an example to mod
ern churches in the way it manned
strategic points with its most efficient
forces. For an entire year Barnabas
and Saul labored together in Antioch,
and it is worth remarking that it is
after narrative of their labors that
the point is made by the historian that
the disciples were called Christians
first in Antioch"
In this connection also we find our
selves introduced for the first time to
the young man, John Mark, whom
Barnabas and Saul took with them
from Antioch on their return to Jeru-
salem. Mark, in spite of serious de-
fects of character, was to be one or
the historians of Christianity, and one
of the leaders in the new church. Aga
bus also appears as prophet, fore
telling the famine that was to come
upon the country.
A Famine and a brotherhood.
Railroads and steamships are rap
idly making famineS an impoSsibility.
With the swift increase of intercom-
munication it has become less and less
possible for any part of the world
neighborhood to suffer from hunger
while other sections have abundance.
Two years ago there was terrible ia
mine in remote interior China, which
normally would have harvested hun
dreds of thousands of lives. Because,
however, the spirit of Christianity had
sent its missionaries into even these
remote regions, these men were able
largely because of American effort,
this famine was broken.
The Christians at Antioch, and In
deed throughout the entire dispersion,
decided to send relief to the brethren
at Jerusalem. That is the first ex-
preston of the communal spirit:
man must stand by his own. This
spirit did not come into the world
with Christianity. The old Jews had
practiced it. The Christian contribu-
ton to mems thinking in this partic-
ular is that they should not only care
for their own, but. like the Lord him
self, be kind to the evil and the I'M
thankful.
The famine at Jerusalem is not re-
corded at length. 1t was a familiar
tale to all these early readers. The
simple narrative is that relief was sent
by the hands of Barnabas and Saul to
the elders at Jerusalem. In taking in
to their fellowship the Gentle breth-
rem the Jewish Christians at Jerusa-
lem, all unwittingly provided relief for
themselves in extremity. 1t was bread
upon the waters. AS 1 heard an old
sage in a Chinese famine village say,
as he stood with watery eyes, leaning
upon his staff: eff you foreigners help
up now, in some future incarnation
perhaps we shall be able to help you"