The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-04

PaUl ullUeIS jd4!OIHS IIt9t lI4HSo anu
happy for an opportunity TO lay stress
on the great principle Of Christian
love and kindness, writes a letter Of
introduction and commendation for
Phoebe to the Christian brethren at
Rome.
eve can imagine tonight how
Phoebe's heart welled up with JOY as
she carefully folded this letter as one
of the greatest prizes she should carry
with her to Rome. How many times
on that long journey would she read
it, and think of home, and the church,
and Paul, and then turning her
thoughts westward think of Rome in
all her splendor and the prospect OF
meeting Christians there-men and
women not bound to her by the ties
of blood-but by the stronger ties OF
Christian brotherhood and sisterhood.
How they would help her, and send
her back home rejoicing.
sPaurs commentator of Phoebe, I
think, is one of the finest in all litera-
ture. The basis of his commendation
of this woman beginning the journey
to Rome, and his calling upon the
Christians in that great world-centre
to give her a welcome worthy Of
Christ's people, and aid her in what
ever she should need their assistance,
gives US the message that We desire,
by the help of God, to present to you
tonight.
"Since the graduating class of the
high school of 1912 is composed al
most entirely of girls, and since very
few sermons are preached to girls, we
shall depart from the beaten paths
and direct our words more especially
to the young women present. 1t shall
not be my purpose or intention to
come before you tonight with smooth,
eloquent words to cast flowers at your
feet, but to present some of the serious
and real things that count for much in
life. Hence 1 may say some things
that will not entertain and please
you, but they ought to be said, and
there is not better time to say them
than on an occasion like this.
'eLet me direct your attention to:
81. The Basis of Paul's Commenda-
ton of Phoebe.
NTo commend people or give rec
ommendation to any one is a serious
matter. A great deal more serious
than people often think. A good rec
ommendation give to an unworthy
person nay help that person to get a
good position, but it may work hard
ship, and bring even ruin to many
others. On the other hand a good
recommendation given to a worthy
person may not only do that person
good, but bless hundreds of others.
So men of thought and seriousness are
careful in giving recommendations.
Paul was devout, earnest. serious,
and thoughtful man, and did not COM
mend people without good reasons.
S'Let us note tonight that Paul did
not commend Phoebe for certain
things cherished, and esteemed high by
most young women today. He Old not
commend her for her wealth, however
wealthy she may have been. He did
not commend her for her personal
charms-he did not tell the people at
Rome that she was beautiful woman.
He did not even tell them about her
accomplishments. however accom-
pfished she may have been. He did
not say, I commend her because she
can dance with the grace of a Venus,
sor handle a deck of cards with more
skill than a Sunday school quarterly
or Bible. He did not commend her to
those strangers in Rome because she
kept up with the latest styles and
fashions He did not say, Z commend
unto you, our sister, Phoebe, because
she is rich, charming, and accom-
plished social idol But why did he
commend her? Hear me, my dear
young friends, Paul commended her
to the strangers at Rome for virtues
needed by the young women of today
more than all else Paul commended
Phoebe:
<'Q) Because she was a christian
Our sister, he said