Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-15

The heather rites must henceforth be
repugnant to them, but even Judaism, or
rather Pharisaism, does not satisfy or
fill up the measure Of their need, now
minds from the debasing practices of
paganism- One other thing they found.
and that was peculiar political situa-
ton, which sprang out of the citys re-
lationship to Rome.
From this combination of conditions
there came about several very natural
but stirring things, which We shall name
in order.
First. they went for three Sabbaths
to the synagogue and got hearing from
all. Jews and proselytes alike.
Second, they. made great impression
upon the proselytes which, in turn, pro-
voked the envy of the hierarchy, who
hired some hangers-On about the market
brought Christianity in conflict with this
peculiar political condition, SO that
Jason, one of the new converts, is arrest
ed and has to give bond to keep the
peace.
Paul leaves Thessalonica at the advice
of the brethren. without coming into di-
rect contact with the disturbance, and
within few months he has written back,
probably from Athens. two wonderful
epistles. which call First and Second
Thessalonians. without doubt the first
of his immortal writings.
In order to catch a glimpse of Thes-
salOnica and it's viewpoint, and at the
same time to see the great apostle to the
Gentiles, in the very first stage of his
active work a pamphleteer we must
read these letters. How different is their
burden from that of the later ones. Christ
Is at hand; justice is soon to be melted
out; be ready abide in the power of the
Spirit Such are his themes 1t is the
cry of the strong and vigorous Zealot, and
furnishes a fine foil to those last letters
in which the cross is the main theme
and crhcifixion with Christ the Christian $
heritage.
1t is delightful to go to Thessalonica
No city will more repay us for the jour
ney. We shall revel in it's scenery and
environment. it's lowered citadel and
splendid mosques. We, too, shall visit
the permanence of it's Christianity Its
marts and manufactures will inspire our
| wonder. while it's quays and commerce
will impress us with it's commercial i'm
portance. Roman ruins and byzantine
| beauty will recall the continuity of its
civilization, but above every other glory
| which attaches to the spot will be the
mystic sense of the past presence of that
tidings of the all-conquering Christ, and
who in his first letter to the church at
Til essalonica more nearly approached
! 1.-The beatitudes' of his Lord than any
other writer. sacred or profane. And
while We spend not a day. but week at
this ancient shrine whose roots are in
antiquity and whose blossoms scent the
present hour, We shall recall, again and
again, those terse sentences:
"See that none render evil for evil
unto any man; but ever follow that
| which In good, both among yourselves
and to all men,,
"RejOtce evermOre."
spray without ceasinE.'
"In everything give thanks; for this
| is the will of God in Christ Jesus con-
corning you"
"Quench not the Spirit"
"Despise not phOphesyings.v
"PrOve all things: hold fast that
| which In good"
"Abstain from all appearance of
evil.o
| "And the very God Of pence sanctify
you wholly, and I pray your whole
| spirit and soul and body he preserved
| biameless unto the coming Of our Lord
Jesus Christ"