Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-19
SUNDAY SCHOOL. LESSON ANO
YOUNG PEOPLES MEETINGS
News of Interest to Church Goers By a
Writer Whe is An Authority on Religious
Subjects The Internatenal Lesson for
Next Sunday.

/ inspiring great conventions for many
months. Yet he has not received al
average of one letter month from
man who says, "You helped me-" Ever
the committees whom he served fail
oftener than not, in sending conven
tional expression Of thanks. Every
public worker has teen discouraged
by this sort of thing. Jesus felt il
keenly. Therefore his Joy when, on. a
few occasions, he was greeted by
faith and consideration.
What a thrill must have coursetl
through his heart when that ripping
tearing sound above his head interrupt.
ed his address. and turned all eyes
toward the ceiling! Then the eager,
resolute faces. dust grimed, of the four
friends peered over the rent they had
made in the roof, and with the gentle
ness of strong men they let down the
bed at the feet Of the Healer. We
think of beds in terms Of four posters;
this was only cloth pallet. Tenderly
it touched the floor. and the radiant
face of Jesus beamed upon the help
less one, as he cried. "Son, be. of good
cheer, the sins are forgiven"
Some snobs, and the Mob.
There are some snobs who care
more for fashions than for folk. For
mulas are more important to them
than faith, when the matter chances
to be one of religion. These men who
esteemed doctrine above deeds, and
ceremonies more than cures, rebuked
Jesus for saying that the mans sins
were forgiven. They were the scribs:s
and the pharisees; whose theological
orthodoxy cloaked a huge selfishness
and indifference to human need.
Their esy-though they were blind
to see 1t as heresy--was contempt for
humanity. They despised the plain
people: the indictment which they
brought against this wonder working
Galilean was his affinity for common
folk. Their aristocratic attitude was
once thus expressed: This multitude,
which knoweth not the law, is occurs
ed" Snobs in all ages have made the
same mistake Of cursing the crowd. AS
as the pharisees all such
much reckon with Jehovah.
II aristocracy were not blind and
it would perceive that
deep insight into essentials resides
with the masses. The rich, the ell
Iightened, the so called leader" have
usually been opposed to the great on
ward movements of history. The mob
in Jesus day saw the significance ut
his incident which constitutes the
lesson. Ponder well the words, when
the multitude saw 1t, they 49,. .glori-
fed Cod 81
"A Friend Of sinners.'
The finest test of gentleman is the
way he behaves toward those who are
beneath him in social station. A few
evenings ago travelled in a crowded
rain with friend, and poor woman
whose hands betrayed her hard man
,al labor, came in and stood beside U.S.
She was intoxicated, and badly be-
rddled. When she addressed a
naudlin question to my friend, he
queen; and finally made sure that she
lighted at the right station. That
ort Of culture was not acquired by my
riend at the great university he al.
ended, but in the school of Christ. For
his lesson has as its supreme mes
age the tremendous truth that Jesus
came not to call the righteous, but
l1ners."
That Is why he called Matthew from
he publican's seat. He has word not
My for the poor helpless creature, de-
endent upon the bounty of his |
riends, but also for the rich man, able
o give elaborate feasts. So he sat at
inner in Matthew's house with the
ak collector and the other outcasts.
he Pharisees rolled their self right
GUS eyes in horror, but Jesus cared
OF whit for fashions, but everything
Or folks. He loved the world too deep
Y to heed its stupid little classified
ions of mankind. His great heart
wed all men: his mission was 10
erve and to save them. To that END
e hung upon a cross, the Saviour Of
inners.