Evening star., 1925-07-04

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Xvi15.
Liberty's tocsin, that proclaimed
nearly $50 years ago Americas de-
termination to be free, has been heard
In every nation. 1t has shaken every
government in the world. The same
principles that moved our Nations
founders is influencing China at this
very moment in her determination to
possess Self-eXpresSion. In recent
years amid the struggle of the World
war we have seen autocratic mon
arches transformed into republics and
the spirit of democracy dominating the
nations of the earth.
Washington recognized that mo
people can be bound to acknowledge
and adore the Invisible Hand which
conducts the affairs of men more
than the people of the United States
Every step by which they have ad
Vanced to the character of an inde-
pendent nation seems to have been
distinguished by some token Of provi-
dental agency" If we trace back the
line of Providence that found express
sion in Americas Declaration of In
dependence we would find that there
was close connection between the
beginning of foreign missions and that
document which has enlightened the
world with it's message of freedom.
While Meklenburg and Philadelphia
each gave expression to mans love of
liberty, the birthplace of our political,
civil and religious freedom is Bethle-
hem. The hour and place are one with
the birth of Christ, who came that
men might enter into life and the
enjoyment of liberty
In his speech of welcome to the
great international conference last
January, President Coolidge said:
One of the most Christian things
l have observed about organized
Christianity is the missionary spirit
which pervades it. 1t was this spirit
which from the beginning gave the
gospel of Christ it's power over the
hearts OF men. For it is of the es-
sence of Christian ethics and spirit
uallty that those who have once felt
their full inspiration are thereafter
enlisted in carrying these blessings to
all who need them" Our last quar-
ters lessons showed US how this spirit
OF missions developed in the spread
OF gospel from Jerusalem to Antioch,
where foreign missions were born.
Beginning of Foreign Missions.
Our lesson this week is on the water
sheds of history. During the period
when Barnabas and Saul were in
Jerusalem distributing the poor fund,
which they had collected, they had a
conference with the apostles concern
ing the revelation that Saul had re-
ceived concerning work among the
Gentiles. Paul tells us, in his letter to
the Galatians, that the apostles ap-
proved his proposal that he engage
In foreign missionary work. When
they returned to Antioch, that was to
become the birthplace of foreign mis-
sions and modern civilization, they
were accompanied by John Mark, who
was a relative of Barnabas and son
of the Mary whose home was the
headquarters Of the young church
during the dark hours that followed
the Masters death. In all proba bility,
this brilliant young man, who was a
son of wealth and trained in the at
mosphere of Jerusalem, returned with
them with the idea of entering the
foreign missionary service with Bar
nabaS and Saul.
1t was an epoch-making hour when
the five leaders of the Antioch church
were guided by the Holy Spirit to
start the foreign missionary work by
consecrating Barnabas and Saul to the
work of preaching "the unsearchable
riches of Christ" to the regions be-
yond. It is significant that in the
record of the commencement Of the
missionary enterprise there is no
reference to Christ's last command.
Missions is the method by which God
carries forward His plan for the ages.
Christ expressed in His life the in
herent love of the Father for a lost
world. The same motive moved the
five ministers of the Antioch church
during a period of fasting and prayer
to send forth Barnabas and Saul for
work among the Gentiles. God had
called Saul, but his brethren were
moved to release both of these init
mate friends and fellow-laborers for
the new enterprise.
The church was reluctant to let
these beloved leaders go. but they
could not refuse the Holy Spirit.
After another season of prayer and
fasting, they publicly set them apart
to win the Gentiles for Christ. This
dedication service recognized that the
two were going out on their mission
ary work in response to divine COM
mand, but there is no evidence that
the two were responsible to the Anti
och church, or that their work was to
be done under their direction. No
program was furnished them. They
went 10 DE ny Inc I1Oly
Spirit and Providence. There is no
evidence that would prove that their
to missionary work had
to do with Saul's claim to
apostleship or with the bestowal of
of the title upon Saul.
Gospel Carried Westward.
Among the group of prayerful
brothers, who walked the 16 miles to
Seleucia, the harbor town of Antioch,
and waved farewell to the three mis-
sionaries as they sailed to carry the
gospel Westward, were without doubt
the three other leaders, who had been
colleagues in the Antioch Church with
Barnabas and Saul. They had been
enthused with Saul's program and de-
termination to win the Roman empire
ADVENTISTS.