The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1921-12-15
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
Prepared Especially for The Republic
can by DIR. U. S. Wright.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER IS.

4.O-Io. Red0 entire Letter.
have fought the good fight, have
finished the course, have kept the
faith.-II Tim. Al.
THE UNDEFEATABLE DEFEAT
Ney and the Old Guard failed to
shake the English squares at Water
loo, but the great Marshall made
himself an immortal figure by his
daring that great day. In some such
fashion Paul flung himself upon the
city of his dream and passed from
it as heroically as Nepoleon's famous
general. Luke's record leaves his last
years in doubt and the story must be
pieced out from letters and legend.
In Philippians and in Philemon there
is note of certainty that gives as
surance to the report of his acquittal
from the charges of the Jews before
Nero. Then he suffered Punishment
from Rome and Jared forth to keep
Ephesus and Macedonia. Timothy
was at Ephesus caring for the new
assault upon the faith when the first
letter reached him with its cheer and
| instruction. This would be GO and it
would be in this territory that the
traveller would winter before carry
ing out his plan of evangelizing Spain
which he probably did in the follow
ing summer. Crete was his next at
tempt and here he stationed Titus to
complete the work to whom he wrote,
possibly from Corinth, on the eve of
his departure to Nicopolis for the
winter of sc. AS there are eight diff
ferent places bearing the name one
can only guess that it may have been
| the one near Tarsus and Antioch
whose childhood memories would APP
peal to the aged work-worn timer
ant. Rome still held the place in
PauPs heart it had long occupied as
an essential position in the winning
of the world The decree of Danish
ment had never been rescinded, but
! five years might have caused it to
be forgotten, and Paul dared the
journey just as he had dared that to
Jerusalem ten years before. 1t was
for "the cause" and that overbore all
else. The Jews welcomed a new OPP
portunity to get one so we'll hated
as the Apostle and the Christians had
passed through the fires that burned
the city upon their seven hills so
that they were much in hiding and
refused to appear in behalf of Paul
Alexander, perhaps our familiar fig
ure from Ephesus, led the charge
The Emperor was in the east and the
first hearing was before deputy
where the passionate defense of
Christianity made in utter lonliness
and without witnesses convinced the
court of the need Of further investi-
cation and he was remanded to pris-
on. Nero returned to Rome and the
case took bad turn so that in writ
ing to Timothy there is no expecta-
ton of release but only the eager de-
sire to see again his loved "Son in
the Gospel" But he warns him
against Alexander, who is probably
now playing to its fullest extent the
charge of breaking the edict of ban
isment who would be aware that Tim
othy had been included in it, and
would welcome the chance to impris-
on him also. And tradition says that
is what happened. At any rate it
seems that the Apostles last desire
to have his comrade with him was
gratified and then about our Thanks
giving day, 81, the brave head rolled
in the sands at the stroke of the
headsman and the stain became as
immortal as his Lords.
TAPS.
That familiar strain born out of
the undefeated spirit of the Army of
the Potomac and hallowed by its con-
nection with the countless dead, has
its prototype in the deathless song
from the lips of the aged prisoners.
He knew the end was at hand. Cold
so that he wanted the protection of
an old cloak cast aside as he marched,
deserted by many as had been his
Master, he thrust his banner through
the prison bars and Haunted it in
the face of grim death itself. Like
Browning he could sing:
For the journey is done and the sum-
NIT attained,
And the barriers fall,
Though a battles to fight ere the
guerdon be gained,
The reward of it all.
l was ever a fighter, so-one fight
more,
The best and the lastl
l would hate that death bandaged
my eyes, and forbore
And babe me creep past.
No! let me taste the whole of it, fare
like my peers,
The heroes of old,
Bear the brunt, in a minute pay glad