Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-18
THE MAN OF THE DECORATIONS.
The International Sunday School Les
son for November 81 is "Pau's
Story of His Life" II Cor. 11:21-
i2:1O.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.

BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
There is an American in Toxic who
is sometimes called "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 a lower seat,
inconspicuous and unknown. But on
one occasion the Japenese government
rendered banquet to visiting Amer
lean officials, and this man appeared
wearing all his decorations. These en-
titled him to rank above most of the
Japanese officials present: SO he was
honored in the eyes of his fellow-coun-
trymen. 1t was an occasion to prove
his patriotism, and he did right in
availing himself of it.
This Observation-Disclosures
Paul had been decorated by many
knightly scars; but he seldom display
ed them He did not care what peo-
pie thought of him, SO long as the work
was done. There came an occasion,
however, when his honor was touched,
and his usefulness as a servant of
Jesus Christ. Then he produced his
decorations, displayed them fully, and
took the place of high rank to which
he was entitled.
Somebody who holds the minor vir-
tues, the proprieties and the conven-
lions so close that he cannot see
things in proportion, cries out, is Paul
modest here?" He is not, nor should
he be. Modesty Is a gentle virtue
which must sometimes be sent to the
rear along with the baggage, while her
older brothers, Honor and Truth, go
forth to join in wars fierce clash.
When man Is called upon to defend
his honor or his work, or the sacred
ness of truth, he may not let any petty
considerations of modesty or immod-
esty 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 back-biting enemies take his
crown. If, however, Paul has been
capable of such pusillanimity he would
not have been Paul the empire builder
Listen to his thrilling recital of his
apostolic credentials:
Are they Hebrews? so am L. Are
they Israelites? so am !. 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 abundant
ly, in stripes above measure, in deaths
oft. Of the Jews five times received
forty stripes save one. Thrice was
beaten with rods, once was stoned
lnrice | suffered shipwreck, night
and day have | been in the deep; in
journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in
perils of robbers, in perils from my
countrymen, in perils from the Cen
tiles, 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 hun
ger 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 narrate
transporting, unspeakable experience
when he was caught up into the third
heaven. Continuing he writes:
And by reason of the exceeding
greatness of the revelations, that
should not be exalted overmuch, there
was given to me thorn in the flesh,
a messenger of Satan to buffet me,
that should not be exalted overmuch,
Concerning this thing l besought the
Lord thrice that it might depart from
me. And he hath said unto me, My
grace is sufficient for three: for my
power is made perfect in weakness.
Most gladly therefore will l rather
glory in my weakness, that the power
Of Christ may rest upon me- Where
fore take pleasure in weakness, in in
juries, in necessities, in prosecutions,
in distresses, for Christ's sake; for
when I am weak, then am l strong
Little Worries and Big Troubles.
When a man undertakes to follow a
big idea he cannot tell where he will
end. To heed great call is to enter
upon an unknown way. Whose sets
out to do the brave, true deed will find
himself often in path where he can
not see the next step. He may find