The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-07-06
What the Church
Doing.

Jailer." Acts 16:15-4O.
BY WILLIAM L. ELLIS.
Newspaper leaders the world over
are keeping an eye upon Mr.. RoOse-
Welt in Africa, partly because OF in
terest in him., and partly, it must be
confessed. because OF the innate hu-
man love of adventure. No matter
how routine or commonplace our lives,
we feel an instructive sympathy with
those who roam and who undergo
strange experiences. Travel lectures
and books have been a staple of liter
allure since ever the art of writing was
discovered.
The twenty-five million members Of
the worlds Sunday schools are finding
the present course of lessons of IN
usual interest because these narratives
of Paul's journeys are as lively as a
newspaper and as full of human in
tereSt.
Now we find Paul landed in Europe.
This is the most distant and perilouS
flight he had thus far made. Indeed.
DR.. James Stalker declares that this
journey was not only the greatest he
achieved, but perhaps the most mo-
InentOus recorded in the annals of
the human race. In it's issues it far
Out-riyaled the expedition of AleXan-
der the Great. When he carried the
arms and civilization of Greece into
the heart of Asia. or that of Caesar
when he landed On the shores of Brit
ain, or even the voyage of Columbus
when he discovered a new world" DR..
stalker goes on to point out that had
Paul gone in another direction in
stead of to Europe. missionaries from
India II Japan might have been COM
ing TO England at the present Gay to
tell the story of the cross. But PrOVi-
dence conferred on Europe a blessed
priority. and the fate of our CONT
nent was decided when Paul crossed
f1r- 0oraa q -
A Contrast in WomanHood.
The scene of the particular episode
assigned for esent study is Philippi.
the chief city of Macedonia. Paul
was on his way with Lydia. the de
vout wOman who was his first convert
in Europe. to the of prayer. Relig-
ious associations are not necessarily a
deliVerance from temptation. the
worst of influences MAY accompany
one to the best Of places. A hysteri-
cal fOrtune-teller. demOn-pOsSessed.
followed Paul and his friends CRYING
out that they were the servants of
the Most High. DR.. Lyman Abbott
says that the young woman was a
mixture of fraud. c~lairyoyance. insan-
ity. and the devil" She was in that
long line of succession, which has con
tinued to the present day. of persons
who. by one influence or another. an
dertake to exercise the arts Of magic.
CuriOuSly enough. these evil spirits Of
diVinatiOn are even linked with relig-
ions. I recall picking up in a Port
Said book store a little volume or
magic. which in all seriousness pur-
ported to reVeal the secrets Of the
black art, and on every page the
names of the great teachers Of re
HglOn We're invoked as masters.
AS Pauls first convert in Europe
had been a woman representing the
lofty estate to which womanhood was
He Nv fln A4- T---.-
so this sOoth-saying maiden ma stand
as q figure of the plight of WomanhooG
under a heather dispensation. She
was held in slavery by men who were
making profit out Of her misfortune
Her misery and degradation were a
symbol of the disfiguration of her sex.
even as Lydia's noble character repre-
sented the TRANSPORTATION which the
Gospel effects in the character of
wOmanhOOd.
Hish Professions From Low Motives.
h crooked know the straight.
None are SO sensible of virtue as
those who lack it. Well does Jesus
say, THE devils believe and trem-
Bile The testimony Of this poor girl
to the real mission of Paul and his
friends is significant Of the fact that
eVll IS alert to perceive the power OF
good. Perhaps hat is why 1.-The
wicked flee when 10 mar pursueth."
Paul was not one of those who would
receive honor from the enemy: he
would not build a church out of sa-
loon-keeperS subscriptions, nor be
fiattered into silence by the compli-
ments of the wicked rich. He wanted
not the testimony of this demon-pos-
Sessed girl. SO he commanded the
spirit to come out of the girl. AND
thus freed her from her thraldom
Ills interests was always deep in the
human side. He cared for persons
On the contrary, the girls masters
seemed not to be interested in the
girl for herself. but only in the
money which her art brought r.
them. Apparently she was so nrofta,
bic that a syndicate had been formef
to own and manage her. AS soon =.
1 How or sarn stopped there wa,
4 an uproar. Ihe SenSitiyo\oa -