South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-07-18
REV DAVIS BEGINS
SERIES OF TALKS
ON new TESTAMENT
Chooses Onesimus, the Con-
verted Slave" as Theme
of Initial Sermon.

spoke OK OuealTi us ne convert
ed slave" Sunday morning. He told
Of the conversion OF Onesimus. By
Paul. and OF PaauTs sending him
back 20 mis- master after Onesimus
had escaped. explaining that this
was done. not because the gospel up
holds slavery. but to elevate the
sia-e 20 lower the master.
The sermon in part:
In this letter 20 Philemon, we
have a picture % society In the days
or Paul Onestmus was slave
Philemon was his master. Onesimus
had run away from his master and
gone 20 Rome. BY some strange
circumstance he met Paul who was
d prisoner in Nome. Onesimus was
converted. Before this he was a
prohuess. lazy. good-for-nothing
slave. After his conversion ne is
changed into valuable slave. Paul
sends him back 20 his master. Does
the gospel then uphold slavery
The gospel did not propose TO reach
the kingdom OF God through social
CONFUSION, bioodshed and rebellion.
The gospel came to elevate the slave
not 20 lower the master. II came 20
give spiritual freedom not TO create
a political revolution.
Citizens OF God.
PAU says that In the kingdom Of
God there is neither bond nor free
A man in bondage can not become a
citizen of the Kingdom of God. s.nl-
ply because he - a slave and God
pities him Neither can a man enter
the kingdom because he IS master
and has larger political privileges.
The right to the kingdom OF God is
not a legislative right. Men are not
legislated into the kingdom OF God.
Men are brought into the kingdom
OF God b. a changed relationship.
Ii is just as easy for the slave as 1T
Is for the master TO enter the king
dom Here we touch on the prin-
cipIe that has in the last analysis
destroyed slavery. When men were
brought into right relationship with
God they found themselves in right
relationship with each other. Chris
tianIty destroyed slavery by bringing
men into spiritual relationship. II
taught that all men in the kingdom
OF God must run the same course,
be guided by the same principals,
helped by the same hopes, con-
strained by the same fears. gladden.
ed by the same joys, worship at the
same altar, be baptized by the same
spirit, saved by the same salvation.
A similarity OF objects and aims,
produced a similarity Of character.
The APPLICATION Of this principal de-
stroyed slavery.
There has never been a time
when strong men did not lord it
over weak men When Egypt was
strong it enslaved the Hebrews
When the Hebraws grew strong they
enslaved The surrounding tribes.
With what arrogance white men
treat black men With what con-
tempt white men have dealt with red
menl The world conflict has been
a racial conflict Racial prejudice
is the direct product Of ignorance.
We forget that we are debtors to
all other races and nations. We are
indebted 10 Italy for our art. to Eng
land for our literature, 10 India for
its MYSTICISM. and to the negro for
his spirit of happiness. All races and
every nation is making some contri-
button TO civilization. 1t Is no time
for one race to look down upon an
other race or one nation TO think
20 Is strong enough 20 stand alone.
The Law Applied
Last week the topic for discus
sion in all the newspapers were dis
a hot
England Will take advantage OF US
There are some in England who fear
that the United States will take ad-
vantage or them. Japan is holding
back in fear OF both England and
the United states. Will we listen to
those who advise US to put our hopes
IN force? Has force succeeded
wherever and whean ever tried2
There was time when mighty ami
mails were armed with weapons OF
attack and defense. and were sup
posed 90 have ruled the jungle and
hence 20 have been best fitted 10
survive. one animal carried on its
back a bony armor. five foot across,
weighing 5000 pounds. There was
a sa er toothed tiger whose open
fou,h was aan arsenal set with four
rows OF sharp sword ike teeth.
Surely If force ever did its perfect
work IL did il in The persons OF such
magnilcentiy equipped creatures as
these. Yet when We look abroad
over the world 20 seek them. they
have vanished. Force had its
chance. but failed. on the other
hand II we test life by survival. Il
would seem that those animals that
used the least force have survived.
There are more sheep in the world
than lions The gentle overcome
the savage SO too. with the meek
that inherit the earth. The spirit OF
Chris, Is the spirit Of love. When
CnestmUs had love for Philemon,
and Philemon had love fore One
sinus. slavery was dead. A brother
will not ens.ave his brother. He viii
not take advantage OF him. II
means the end OF war. the end OF
national hatred. the end OF racial ar
-ogance. the end OF commercial
-..a.ry Il viii not De hard 20 dis
m when We have faith in the in
-grity and good Will OF the other
nations Let as pray that the United
states VIII not put it's hope IN force
hut in the God OF love who Is the
@ cd or all the earth"