Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-11-11


writing to Timothy In the interval be-
tween his first trial before the Emperor
and the second. at which he was con-
demned to death. He is now an old
man, and In the growing vindictive-
ness OF the persecution to which his
whole Christian life has been subjected
he fully realizes he ~ TO be made a
martyr to the cause Of the liberal
Christianity which he has preached.
The epfstle has all the tone OF fare
we'll letter to a dear friend; full OF love,
encouragement, warning. adjuration,
concluding I'm the chapter from which
to.day's text is taken with personal
matters.
When man reaches the summit OF
life's journey and starts down the de-
cline at whose base flows the dark
river through whose cold waters ALL
must pass III crossing over into tho
Great Unknown. 1t Is but natural that
he should pause moment and briefly
survey the ground over which he has
Travelled aud reflect how we'll he
has met the duties of life as they were
thrust upon him at the several stages
OF his journey.
RETROSPECTIVE VIEW
NOT At ALL PLEASING
With most OF us this retrospective
view Is not us pleasing we should
like II TO be. The weakness that Nigh
have been overcome: the sin that might
have been resisted; the opportunity
neglected that might hayo been
Erasped: the strengthening grace d.
vine that might have been appropri-
ated but was not--all these failinEs
rise UP before and force that in-
trospcction so essential to their amend
ment in our further progress along the
way that all must travel Hence 1t is.
that most men, whatever their creed. or
whether they have any or not az they
frnF 10 90 f,iNf ,trn ~, tna
further stages OF their unwaitins jour
ney. begin to take n deeper concern In
the responsibilities Of this preaent life
in their relation TO the possibilities Of
the life beyond the waters whose lash
Ing against tho shore can already be
distinguished above tho sound of the
activities through which they are pass-
ing.
Happy IL the man. then. who having
taken this survey NJ the past can ex.
claim with Paul: II have fought a good
fight. I have. kept the faith"
TRIUMPHED OVER
GREAT DIFrICULTIEs
In Paurs case. FOR him 10 be able to
afirm that he had fought a good fight
meant Triumph over more and greater
difficulties than the generality of man.
kind who essay to meet all OF LIES OBJ
legations have to combat. Few men
from the frst dawninHs OF a struggling
civilization have been more relentlcssIy
prosecuted for living and procIaiming
what they believed to be the Truth.
Hear him In rccountinE some Of the
things which he suffered in holding
true TO the faith which he had es-
housed. by way o. comparison with the
Roasting OF others: In labors more
abundant. In stripes above measure. In
prisons more frequent. In deaths oft.
OF the Jews five times received forty
stripes cave one. Thrice was I beaten
wish rods. once was ! stoned, thrice
suffered shipwreck. a night and day
J have been I'm the deep: in journcyinEs
often. In perils of waters. in perils OF
robbers. in perils OF mine own coun-
trynnen. in perils by Il = hcathen in
perils in the city, In pcrils IN the will
derness. In perils in the sea. in perils
among false brethren: in WEAKNESS and
painfulrcss in watchinSs often. in hun
Ger and thirst. in Hastings often. in
cold and naEedness"-and. finally. as
the old man in his prison coll contem-
plates the certainty OF his approaching
.nartyrdom. there can he no room to
doubt In the soul OF any one who has
had glimpses OF the Divine heart that
the positively with which Paul affirmed
"henceforth there is laid up for me
crown Of righteousness which tn.
Lord. the righteous Judge. shall give
me at that day" was based upon the
reality Of unerring spiritual insight.
COMFORTED ~ GLIMPSE
OF REWARD PROMISE
The Lord had opened the windows of
The Glory-World, that Paul in his bonds
might be comforted before his depar-
ture with a glimpSe OF the reward re-
served to him for raithfulneas in we'll
doing, and. blessed thought. not for
him only. but unto all them also that
love his appearing"
Paufs life was spent in procla ing
the truths Of a religion that means SER
vice TO mankind. He lived the religion
he preached. thereby emphasizing its
truth with the force of his personal en-
ample. To Paurs clear conception and
keen analysis OF the teaching Of the
Gallileau the world owes much of the
insniration that Is bringing II into har.
mony with Gods laws designed for
mans heneft. In the adjustment OF
their religious views to meet the con-
dttions or this present age the awak-
entns consciousness Of the people Is
anding the way to effective service
They arc learning that "to pray with
the hands often IS better than to pray
with the lips. and tn. finest hymns of
praise that ascend to heaven are those
In which kind deeds are set 70 the
music of patient acceptance OF diff
culties."
. While IL may not be our privilege to
ef satisfaction with which PAU sur
Heyed his. still we may during our re-
naming days join In rendering essen
tis,l service In liftirg the need,essly i'm
rtscd b:irdans of mankind, ar that is