Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-08-13
For Sunday Reading:
AX Sorts ofObiniws
The Homely Man.

AX Sorts of Obinions
The Honely Man.
[Uncle George D. Perkins in the Sioux
City Journall.
do We look on things after the out
ward appearance"
Paul In personal appearance did5not
impress men or women favorably. He
was not admired for his outward zap
pearance. His disadvantage In thin
respect may have had to do in his
younger days in making him a great
sinner The assumption Is not unWhar-
ranted that he suffered irritation BY
reason of the quick estimate that twas
made Of him to his disadvantage and
that he was moved to the practice OF
cruelty that he might show that he was
not to be taken lightly. 1t was in this
spirit it may be supposed.that he made
that famous journey to Damascus
"brea thing out threatenings and
slaughter against the disciples of the
Lord" 1t was his purpose. "if he
found any of this way. whether they
were men or women" to bring them
bound unto jerusalem" He was I'M
happy because Of what was said con-
corning him and his desire was strong
to set himself up as man to be fear
ed He did not at all relish the judg-
ment passed upon him latter the out
ward appearance"
1t has always been a matter Of re-
sentiment with the women that Paul
seemed to be so much against them
They have had much sorrow on this
account and it has been trial to them
to accept him fully as one "calledsto be
an apostle Of Jesus Christ thru the
will of God" 1t Is altogether likely
that Saul Of Tarsus was Ill received by
the women, as he was not comely. and
that he acquired a prejudice which as
Paul the apostle he could never quite
overcome. In a way, therefore. he con-
tinued resentment toward them. He
minimized their intelligence and he
doubted their powers of discernment.
What the women have suffered In con-
sequence cannot be measured. for his
estimate is yet powerful. No one at
this late day would care to do Paul
injustice. but If he had been pleasing
to look upon it is more than probable
his teaching would have been relieved
OF some Of its angularity concerning
the worlds sisters and mothers. At
any rate. it is safe to say that chris
tianity is put to severe testswhen love-
ly woman turns her back because Of
outward appearance"
Paul was restricted IN making con-
verts by his personal appearance. and
he was hampered among those who had
accepted the faith for the same reason.
He was conscious of his authority.
which he believed was the Lords gift
to him, and for this he felt he should
not be ashamed" He did not want to
seem content with writing letters. and
he was willing. whatever hardship
might be put upon him, to visit the
churches In person. But he could not
be superior to his perplexity, For his
letters. say they, are weighty and pow
erful: but his bodily presence is weak.
and his speech contemptible." He may
have underestinated his speech. but
it Is probable his oratorical power was
not great He felt that his personal
appearance was disappointing. and that
those who had admired and read his
letters We're disposed to question
whether the man who stood before
them was indeed the Paul-''Paul. an
apostle (not Of men. neither by man.
but by Jesus Christ, and God the Faith
er, who raised him from the dead"
They were disposed to look for a
mighty man In physique, pleasing to
the eye. suggestive OF strength, war
rior In figure. compelling admiration.
Instead Of that they saw man Of
small frame. with the appearance of
bodily weakness, and they heard a
voice that had no roll OF the heavens
in IT, He was below standard. and
that was a time when physical prowess
counted for much.
Jesus was disappointing. The Jews
had looked for a deltverer, man to
lead an army. a man mighty In battle.
But Jesus was the opposite Of the ideal
He was 1owly. He set up no earthly
kingdom. He avoided trouble rather
than sought II. He was uniformly
calm. He was led as sheep to the
slaughter But the women loved Jesus.
and all his teaching was generous to-
ward them It is impossible 70 think Of
Jesus as homely, and 4 Is easily POS
sible to think of him as beautiful.
Men rarely come mp to expectation
in personal appearance. - they do
not come up to expectation TN Gheir
methods Of dealing with Responsible
ties falling to them
In the history of our own country we
have no more lovable character than
that OF Abraham Lincoln. He was an
ungainly man, built to no approved
standard. The first thing noticeable in
him was his LONELINESS. and then
men forgot this az they listened to his
speech. looked him in the eye, and fell
under the spell OF his beautiful soul.
The women are quicker than the men
to discover the beauty Of the life. and
they are the saviors Of many men. AS
compared with the life that blossoms
and bears good fruit. that nourishes
other life, that substitutes comfort for
distress that wipes away tears and
supplies smiles, the life Of outward APP
nearance whatever charm 1t may have