The Detroit times., 1915-01-22

Tsrss Comments on the Uniform Pray.
Or Meeting Topic Of the Young Pso-
Plies neutrality-suspicious. Endsaver,
Ete.-For january Is, "Favorits
Characters Of the Bible. and Why
-Ps. tos:1%s.
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
Our grandparents did not read as
many new books as we do. but they
mastered the greatest OF Books more
thoroughly. They had fewer theories
about the Bible. but they we're famil-
far with its characters. The great per.
sonalities who move through the
pages OF this living Book were more
real TO them than the men and women
whom the newspapers portrayed. a
fair and most interesting subject or
discussion has often been the respec-
tive merits OF the men and women or
the Bible. So diversified and real are
these immortal figures that each per
son finds his own affinity among them.
knowledge OF the great is first
step toward greatness,
or all the millions Of books that
have been made. only one Is literally
worldwide in its circulation. The
Bible has been put into the speech OF
500 different peoples. So the stories
and characters whom We OF the Eng
lish tongue know and love are also
known and loved by people OF every
race and language. Other books breed
national heroes-the Bible reveals
universal personalities.
Possibly Peter is the most popular
character in all the Bible. He Is so
like the rest Of u.s." Is the common
comment upon him. Blpndering.
boastful. stumbling, penitent, warm
hearted Peter--how many men and
women OF like clay you have helped
on the road to saintliness.
On my desk, at the moment, there
lies q cuneiform tablet which Is one
OF q quantity that obtained In Baby
lonia. II is dated In the forty-fourth
year OF Dungi, King Of Ur. Yet the
name that rises instantly to mind Is
not that of any OF the kings OF great
Ur, but of one man who dared to
leave that ancient land, with its ripe
civilization. turning his face toward
the wilderness. because he heard the
voice Of Jehovah calling him. Abra-
ham Is more famous than the land OF
Ur. He 10 the Bibles supreme type
OF the come-outer. Of the man who
dared follow his CLEAN and be true
to his highest call. whatsoever would
rience a giving up. a going up and a
taking up.
or all the living, breathing women
who walk life-like through the pages
OF Holy Writ. none, save blessed
Mother Mary herself, is so warmly
regarded by womankind as capable.
busy and troubled Martha. True, she
once let her engrossment In house
hold cares run away with her sense
OF relative values, but who does not?
Martha Numbered. In trying TO ex-
press hospitality only by way Of the
table. instead OF by the gift OF her
personality; but she learned her les
son. We remember that 1t was to
the home made comfortable by her
that the lonely Christ delighted to re-
sort, and we cannot forget the record.
Now Jesus loved Martha and her
sister"
Jonathan gave up throne, but he
won a royal friendship; and Is to
this day esteemed king OF fidelity
and love by all true seekers after
LIES best gifts.
A man for our own times, though
he lived two milleniums ago. was that
finished scholar from the schools Of
Tarsus and Jerusalem. that dauntless
crusader. that perfect gentleman and
exquisite friend. that passionate lover
of the Lord Jesus. Paul the Apostle.