Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1892-01-05
Tnl CHRISTIAN GNplAvoa LOOK.

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The topic assigned me-Christian En-
deAvor Looking Out--follows naturally
after the three that have preceied 10.
Indeed, Il must follow them, II our or
sanisatIou De worthy of iis name. A
. society, We need TO look bach to note
failures aud successes Of the past, that
we may avoid the one, and profit by the
other, In the future-to look ~ To the
One Great Helper aud Guide, for dircc-
ton and inspirAtion--to look IN on our
individual lives and hearts, Ia see u our
motives and purposes are true, aud pure,
and right, aud whether We are loyal To
the sJlrif, not the letter, of our pledge
then true Christian Endeayor, must
icok osf, ~ osf to uplift aud help others.
Christian Endeavor, as an orgsnifa-
ton, has set up for liz individual men,
bers, = high standard Of Christian life
aud service.
Christ I. the ideal of every Christian
his life Il the pattern for our lives, aud
Christian Endea,or IL simply endesyor-
Ing to be Christlike-making our lives
the visible expression of Chhst's ivlp-
fulnes., tenderness aud love, that went
out To seek and save ane uplift-and our
motto, like his, must be mot Ia lie
ministerci unto, hut Ia minister"
Then, Christian Endesvor Looking
Out to reach aud Influence others lives,
must de- Il through the individual Chris.
tisn EndeA,or-through yosr efforts, aud
,alae-for personal work l. the keynote
of Christian EBdeayor, and " We would
attain any degree of suoccss la this there
are some truths We must believe Intense
Iy
We must believe In the power ~
prayer. Prof. Phelps says In that help
iul little book, "Ihe still Hour" that
''I'rsyer IL = power In the universe as
real and natural as grs,itation, light,
Electricity, of any of the occult force.
la nature, and We can use IL with as
much confidence In achieving something
q. We would use the electric telegraph"
Then Ne need Ia believe hrmly In the
power of prayer.
wemu.t realize fully the worth ~
.oul-its inflnlte capacity for growth
aud dcyelopmcnt-it. po.slbllitic. 81
good or evil; must believe In the posi-
bilitie- for good hidden under all the
wrong aDd evil of TIA. lowest, weakest,
and most sinful.
VI. must realize, too, how small
thing may change the whole course of a
life. The cordial grasp Of the hand and
pleasant greeting given "a the homeless
.trangcr-an expression ~ interest aud
approval bestowed upon q timid youth
Ia SINGER. word ~ encouragement and
sympathy, spoken Ia some discouraged
| OF tempted one-src trifes In themselves
but they may cause III. awakening % q
.oul "a all its grand possibilities.
We must remember the power 81 per-
sonal influence. aud example, aud be-
very paiient Nth those thoughtless girl.
and mi.chcylous boys Who occupy the
back seat. 10 every prayer meeting and
have tried ia. souls of many leader
for under right influence. they may de-
yrlop Into earnest, thoughtful women,
aud manly, noble, men aud II IL part of
our work Ia surround them With thes.
influences, Inspire them with high ideals
Ia life, aud lead them 10 Him who alone
can help realize the-. Ideals.
hi. .bould be- our creed now, az Ia
practical methods of work.
Through our Lookout Committee, all
strangers, student. and visitors should
r,c.i,e Invitations, either printed Or
verbal, Ia our church service. aud
Christian Endeayor me.ting.. aud two
~ thi. cOmmltte, should b. la the ante
room oi the church Ia give all stranger.
. cordial greeting, pleasant seats, aud
after the meeting . hearty Invitation Ia
com. again. IN the case Of students,
worker. In shops ani factorie--any
young people away from home inhn-
|,noe.-intfOduc. thru "a Others, see
that different member. of ia. society
call on them at their rooms, Invite them
to their homes, aud In other way. show
an Interest la thcm-gi'ing their bright
est smiles aud hearile.t greeting. To the
poorest, least favored ones, Tor they
need, ani will appreciate them most.
Ia every tosn there are some Who
never attend the service. ~ the chnrch.
Visit them In their homes; make ia m
feel that YOU com. b.,suse OF q rial IN
I.r-.i la than personally Ia make
patrouliing call on hsatben-and
inally YOU may .uccecd Ia Interesting
them la something far above their pre-
.nt thought az desire.
n practicable, OPEN reading room
wh.f. all IN. best periodicals, RELIGION.
aud secular. can bc found, aud la con-
n.ction with II. room Tor games sni
aniu.sments; Tor many young people
wi o are not Interested Ia reading, and
ar, very .hy Of anything having relg-
iou. flavor, may o. reached through
their love 81 good time" ani thu.
opportunitic. be- opened by which they
may he lei up - knoslcdgc OF higher
things.
There are only few way. In which
Christian Eniea,or can make Itself
felt a. q fofrc for good Ia every commu-
nity-a lave society can think of many
more. Hut back Of all method. of WORK
must d. the earnest, cou.ecratei, christ
like live. of individual EnicayOrcr..
Their, I. a little story In Grccian myth
ology which explain. Why the Island oi
cyprus was so beautiful. \ goddess
one, walkei about the Island, aud where
ever her light footf.ll touched the earth
green herb. aud lovely Hover. sprsng
up Ia make beautiful the way she had
passed.
Christian Endca,orrr., YOU can make
thi. bit of mythology literal fact
you will, by living such pure, true, no
BILE lives, that all With whom you come
la contact shall feel the Influence, aud
the lovely flower. ~ truth an purity
aud noblene.. shall spring up an 4 bios
.om forth In their lives.
Bs noblci anil The Boblene.. that Ne.
| In other men. slcspins bat never deal
VIII n.s In majesty ~ mcet thine osn'
Almost nInet.en hundr~i year. ago,
la a small upper RON In Jerusalem VA.
gathered q little company of earnest
faced men, aud In the midst stood One
son Of Man aud son of God-pleading
tenderly with HI. Father for TIL. little
band Of disciples, and for all hi.
followers down through the ages.
| IL pray not for the world, but Tor them
that thou hast given me, for they are
thine"
| II pray not that thou sh0uli.t take
them out of the world, but that thpu
.houldst keep them from the evil"
"Ncither pray I for these alone, but
for them also which shall believe on me
through their word"
Som. day In the future, We shall all
stand before this humble .uppliant, now
made King of Kings aud i,ord OF Iyoris,
aud the ".ye. thaivma.ter-d death at
Main" aud iiethany-'that melted at the
children on the mountain -and spoke
tender rebuke Ia Prter-will look ou as.
Aud shall they turn sadly away, because
not Que soul Ia that great company OF
the redeemed can say. ~ have been
saved through their worl"f