Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1916-09-07


Golden Text: "Thou shalt be a wit
hess for him unto all men of what
thou hast seen and heard" Acts
R2:15.
l. The PeriIs of Supposing.
The Record says that the multitude
was stirred up because they "sup-
pos ed" that Paul had brought Gen
lie into the temple, thereby detiling
hat holy place. AS II matter of fact
Paul did no such thing. The action
bf the crowd, however, was just as
hateful and murderous as tho he had
really done what they supposed"
The result was that just as they were
seeking to kill him." the chief cap
Jain took soldiers and centurions and
scattered the mob. Paul was bound
with two chains while the captain
asked a question Of the people land
some shouted one thing, some another,
among the crowd" Inasmuch as the
captain could not understand for the
lproar, he commanded them to bring
Paul to the castle. Meanwhile the
mob shouted, as they had about
Christ, Away with him" And so it
all happened because the mob Sup
posed!"
A great many things would have
gone differently II we had not "sup-
posed" Sometimes we get ourselves
into a great deal Of trouble because
we supposed" that others did not
like us, or have said evil things about
us. II all the trouble which has come
into the world because people Sup
posed" could be done away, very little
trouble would remain. Be careful
what ysu suppose"
II. The Use of Military Force.
When the chief captain brought
the soldiers to protect Paul the civil
authorities were superseded. OF
course Rsne was master and the Jew
fish civil government only form.
There is suggested, however, the in
teresting question: When shall mili-
tary fierce supercede civil authority?
In democracy like our own we
contend that the state transcends the
army. We realize the perils Of mill
tary pswer. We think we are in no
danger Of desiring to be like Europe.
The events Of the last months how
ever have shown that we are reaching
out toward a military type of life.
At this writing, bills have passed the
Senate appropriating $685., 5,000,000 for
our army and navy next year. 1t is
vast sum to spend, If 1t is sanctioned
by the House. 1t is more than any
European nation was spending before
the war! 1t is time when thought
full people need to think clearly and
cOurageeusly about the outcome
Shall we give up our old ideals and
copy Europe? Or shall we recognize
the deeper values which lie in friend.
ship and send our millions to Europe
to help the stricken nations get some
value Of them?
iii. Pride in Race and Citizenship
In Paui's address after his arres
he says: II am a Jew of Tarsus, IL
asn ..A
Paul was proud of his race and hi,
citizenship. Are you? How far /.
the recognition and cultivation of rae,
pride an advantage? What was Paul.,
obligation as Jew under his Roman
citizenship? What are the obligations
of aliens to their adopted country
Shall we permit the theory that aliens
in the United States are primarily un
der obligation to their home coun
tries? Have we not come to the tim
when we must demand all these unna
turahzed millionsNa definite loyalty t.
the land which gives them every op
portunity?
Freedom for the Jew, and the Pole
and italian, and the Greek, surely doe
not mean that they shall be enemie
of the land which gives them thei
freedom.
Nv. Turning Arrest to Opportunity
Not many men would think theI
being thrown into jail was an oppol
tunity to speak for Christ. Paul ask
ed the chief captain if he could spea
to the people and the captain was SUI
prised because Paul spoke in Greel
He was not looking for an educate
man in his prisoner. SO far from bt
ing discouraged at his arrest, Pa,
makes splendid use of it to bring