The Washington herald., 1917-11-18
"Quartus, the Brother. T"
BY Rev. EDWARD b. BAGBY.

The following sermon was written
especially for The Herald by the Rev.
Edward q Bagby. pastor Of the CO.
lumhia Heights Christian Church.
Text-Romans 1923.
When / was a boy and my mother
used to make me read the Bible, when
ever 1 came to a chapter full of names
/ I skipped it Now. that I am older
and wiser, some of these chapters are
my favorites. Luther calls Romans
''the chief book of the New Testament
| and the purest gospel" OF its sixteen
great chapters the last is in some re-
spects the best 1t is full of human
, interest; 1t reveals the heart OF the
writer and mentions by name some of
his intimates and fellow workers. In
F, the list are well-known ones: Timo-
| thy, Paups son in the gospel, success
full evangelist and pastor; Prisca and
Aquila, for many years associated
with the apostle in his ministry. Then
there are distinguished ones. Andron-
icus and Junais, Paul's kinsmen, who
were Of note among the apostles;
''Tertius, my scribe; Gaius, my host.
and Of the whole church, and Erastus.
| the treasurer of the CITY," Then there
Is one who is unknown and undis-
tinguished, "Quartus, the brother"
Not Primus or Secundus OF Tertius,
but Quartus. Not a fellow apostle or
/ fellow minister, but brother. Paul
picks out for distinction the man who
is undistinguished; he would honor
the one who stands simply for broth
erhood.
Quartus n Large Class.
We are familiar with President
Lincoln's saying, THE Lord must
love the common people. for he made
so many of them" Certainly. by the
side of the common people the un-
common people are few in compari-
son. In Who's Who In America"
an encyclopedia of those entitled to
distinction-authors. inventors, pro-
fessional men. captains Of industry,
( etc.-there , are 11,551 names. There
are 93,3S9. .763 not recorded in who's
Who" Those who dodge automobiles
/ are far more numerous than those
who ride in them. The mansions are
not as many as the tenements, nor
are they as crowded. Those who hold
office are few in comparison with
those who vote Some are born to
i command. but the many must be con-
apostles. and some to be prophets,
and evangelists. and pastors and
teachers. but the great majority are
, called to be saints to be built up
and perfected. Quartus may lack for
notoriety. He need not be lonesome.
His Is Important.
Quartus may not be as conspicuous
as others, but he is none the less
essential. Erastus has a responsible
position as treasurer of the city, but
Quartus, who pays the taxes, is just
as important. II there were no tax
payer there would be no treasurer.
Credit must be given Gaius for open
ing his house to the congregation, but
credit must be given Quartus, too.
for accepting the invitation. Paul
may plant and Apollos water and God
add His blessing. but the end of it
all is Quartus and his brothers who
make the increase.
The reason God does not call many
wise after the flesh. not many noble,
not many mighty" Is because he
finds he can accomplish more through
the weak and humble and despised.
THE race is not to the swift, hut to
the faithful" The best work in the
world is done, not by people of un-
common ability, but by people of un-
common faithfulness.
i would rather have a wife that
can make good old Virginia batter
bread and the things 1 like, keep
the house in order and get the chill
dren OFF to school in time than to
have one who was a genius, but i'm
practical. 1 would rather have a