The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1892-05-13
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR COLUMN.
EDITED BY REV. AND MRS. w. l..
LEISHER.
PRAYER MEETING TOPIC FOR WEEK
BEGINNING MAY Is.
Reasons for Praising God.

PRAYER MEETING TOPIC FOR WEEK
BEGINNING MAY Is.
Reasons for Praising God.
Ps. 1903: Is; Eph. 3: 20, 81.
The trouble with men is that
they will not think. They will
point out to you their cultivated
acres, their fruitful orchards, their
flocks and herds. their neat resi-
dence; and then, showing you the
stoop in their shoulders, they will
boast with an air of satisfaction:
''This is all the result of our man
agement. These hands held the
plough. used the pruning-knife,
bound the sheaves. These should
ers bent under the daily toll" Is
that so? What about the sun and
ram? What about the chemistry
of the soil: What about the physi-
cal endurance granted? What
about the simply prolongation of
life? So the merchant cries: "Look
at this fine store and thriving trade.
All my longs" So the profes
sional man boasts: Consider my
practice. Hayn't | done well?"
Don't swell up so with pride in the
consciousness of successful en-
deavor. 0 man. There is a power
behind it all you have not reckoned
on, and that power is deep-rooted
in the infinite love and mercy OF
God. No manual accomplishment
without his aid; for be has strung
the muscles and intertwined the
nerves. No thoughts that thrill.
no Judgments that satisfy, no in.
yentions to assist humanity, with.
out his aid; for he has formed the
BRAIN and constructed the intellect
No impulses after the pure and
good without Ills aid; for he has
created the sonl. and breathed into
1t from his own rich stores of grace
the spirit of devotion as q free and
hallowed gift. Following back
every single blessing, we find its
source in God; and yet. so universal
is the spread of selfishness and in
gratitude that we are determined
often to take all the credit to our
selves, until some sermon arouses
us, or some prayer-meeting topic
opens our eyes or some Thanks
giving proclamation brings us to
our senses.-Rev. Temple.
SUGGESTIONS FOR LEADERS.
The meeting may well be divided
into three parts. Call. first for
prayers and songs and words of
gratitude concerning the blessings
of the home life. Ask each one
to indicate in some way something
IN the private life which blesses
him, and for which he owes praise
to God: home, mother, books, food,
comfort. Then with word of
transition from the leader. pass to
the social life, and praise God tor
such things as friends, schools,
liberty, cordial greetings. the OPP
portunlty for labor. Close with a
chorus of thanksgiving for religious
joys. Ask the members to name
in some way some definite good
they have gained from church, En-
deavor society, Sunday school. the
Bible. prayer. Insist on brief tes-
timonies, and unless the society is
very large, each member can take
part under each of the three divi-
slons. Let this be a meeting for
the explicit counting of mercleS.
That is the best way to cultivate
the spirit of praise.
FOR ANSWER IN THE MEETING.
How can one cultivate the spirit
of praise:
How can one cultivate the spirit
of grumbling?
Why is praise, like faith, dead
without works!
What are some good ways Of con-
verting grumblers to gratitude:
What are some books helpful in
rousing the spirit of praise:
, What parts of the Blbl. best quiet
your discomfort, and why:
Next to Christ, for what do you
chiefly praise God, and how does
Christ render that blessing more
blessed?-Golden Rule.
ILLUSTRATIVE QUOTATIONS..
A gladstone salvation, too full of
spiritual vitality for merely cere-
mcnial service, singing songs in
adversely till prisons rock and fears
fly, Is the running-over cup to be
coveted by every child of God
Rev. |. Simmons.
We do not praise God for what
he is to us with the same intensity
that we pray to him for what he can
do for us. Let the thought OF
our selfishness make us ashamed,
and arouse us to put earnestness
and deep feeling into our praises
and thanks to God.-Editorial in
Sunday School Times.