The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-05-17
In the Religious World
eAaLANps AND STONES FOR PREACHERS

sensation Understanding to
stimulate the jaded interests Of
these city dwellers. Calling Barna
bas "zeus." or Jupiter" and Paul
'Hermes.' or Mercury" they swift
ly organized a religious demonstra.
ton. The priest Of zeus, eager to
get all the credit possible for his
temple. brought bullocks and gar
lands 10 the gate TO offer sacrifice
to these men whom they acclaimed
as gods.
Not many can resist adulation
The EXTREMIST compliments are &C
cepted by most OF us az our due. II
is difficult for . public speaker 10
think that the fattering words with
which he is introduced do not repre-
sent the judicial appraisal Of his
real worth. But these old mission
aries were OF q different sort, and
the demonstration intended for them
set them 10 tearing their clothes and
showing an excitement that no Ill
treatment had ever aroused In them
Nobody ever heard Paul and Barna
bas lamenting or wailing when they
were mobbed. But when they were
being deifed they cried. "Sirs, why
arc you doing all this, We also are
but men, with nature kindred to your
cvn. and We bring you the Good
News that you are to turn from
these unreal things. 10 worship the
everything God. the Creator Of earth
and sky and sea and everything that
is in them In times gone by He al
lowed all the nations to go their
own way: and yet by His benef-
cence He has not left His existence
unattested-His benefcence, ! mean.
In sending you rain from Heaven
and fruitful seasons, satisfying your
hearts with food and joyfulness.
Even with words like these they had
diniculty in preventing the throng-
ing crowd from offering sacrifices to
| them"
, These men were In apostolic sue
eessieB to John the Baptist who
said. HE must increase but | must
decrease They were prophets from
the same school Not unto US. o Je-
hovah. not unto us, but unto Thy
name give glory" This unprecedent-
ed ovation TO themselves they used
merely az an opportunity for preach
ing the living God. whose humble
servants the- were. II Is a great
man who can take praises for him
self and turn them into a pulpit for
the preaching OF Christ, so that he
himself Is forgotten.
Deified, Then Mobbed
Every man who has observed life
has remarked upon the nckleness OF
POPULAR favor. The world seems 10
weave alternate crowns OF laurel
and crowns OF thorns for its great.
Hidden in obscurity and poverty in
many parts OF the land today are
men and women whose names once
commanded applause and figured In
The front pages OF the newspapers.
There is no form Of success more
unstable and unsatisfactory than the
applause OF the crowd. The appe-
lite for n has ruined more men than
have been inspired by II. The sim.
pie truth 10 that anybody who Is
strong enough to lead the rnui,itHf
Alright. thus winning It's plaudits, 10
reasonably sure, II he remains
strong. 10 incur the enmity OF the
multitudes by unpopular views. II
man has no better measure or
success tina. the huzzas of the
crowd. then he IL in sorry way in
! deed.
The heads 81 these missionaries
were not turned by the attempt At
! apotheosis They went right on
preaching the Gospel. Nor were
they surprised when. in short
time. the same people who had tried
70 engarland them stoned Paul and
dragged him out OF the town. be-
l!eving him 10 be dead. That was
an experience which the mission.
aries could stand better than they
could the ovatIons OF the tickle null
titude.
II is worth remembering that the