The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1893-01-27

First Presbyterian church SUNDAY
Jan. %. u ep. m.
Baptist church Friday Feb. q 1t 4
b p. m.
We give below the lesson that viii
be discussed by the Baptist and Pres
byterian societies.
Toric.-The day Of small things. Gods bless.
Ing upon Il Christian Endeavor Day. zsch.
", 10; JCb viii, 81.
No movement in modern times in
church lines has so wonderfully illus.
trated that under Gods blessing small
things may become great as the Chris.
tan Endeavor movement. ORGANIZED
in the winter Of 1880 to meet the needs
of an individual church, today 1t has
spread itself all over the Christian world.
In 1881 there were but two societies and
membership of sixty-eight. Today
there are in Christendom over 81 900 So
rieties, with a membership not less than
900, COO. In the rebuilding of the tenn.
pie by Zeruhbabel we have another Illus
tration of the same character (Zech. iv.
lO), and in Job viii, "a, Bildad makes the
statement that under Gods blessing.
Though thy beginning was small. vet
thy latter end should greatly increase. .
Note.
]. Mans attitude toward the day Of
small things lzech. ", lO). Zerubbabel
was rebuilding the temple at Jerusalem.
The beginning was very small in cpmpar.
ison to the great work that must be- done
1t was so small that the workers were dis
couraged. twas so small that both friend
and enemy despised it as day Of small
things. This is an illustration OF mans
usual attitude toward the day of small
things. One usual tendency is to de.
spise and to look upon with contempt
and disgust whatever has small and
insignificant beginning. It's not until
1t has reached reached gigantic propor.
tons and wields untold influence that a
new movement gains our admiration and
unqualified applause. Lot thought Zoar
of no consequence, because it was little
city. Elijah thought Gods cause was Of
no influence in the reign Of Jezebel, be-
cause 1t was not supported by large
numbers of open advocates. The people
despised the temple because the begin
ming was so unpretentious. Christ's
kingdom was Doubtless ridiculed in its
early history because it was the day Of
small things with it. Such is mans at.
titude toward trifies; but it is a false
one, for, as Michael Angelo, the sculptor.
says, .'Trifies make perfection, and per
lection is no trifie." Everything must
have beginning, and, no matter how in.
significant that beginning, under Gods
blessing the end may be great.
9. Gods attitude toward the day Of
small things (Zech. iv, 10Y. God never
despises small beginnings. he blesses
them. and they become great. The tenn
pie was completed because he was in the
work and 1t was his work. In Gods
work the day of small things is not to he
despised. He is all powerful, and what
may seem impossible to man is possible
TO God. Though the instruments may
be weak and insignificant, yet under
Gods blessing great results may be
achieved. The mountain II difficulty
becomes us level plai.. Tha small
stone cut ont Of the mountain withou,
hands increases until it fills the Who'll.
earth. The grain of mustard used be
comes u great tree. The loaves and fishes
multiply until thousands are fed. De
spise not the day of small things Per.
form earnestly and faithfully all duties
small and great and leave results witt
God.
Bible Refssenres- Ps. xSxvii, l6; Prov.
xy, 16; lisa. ii, t=6; Mic. v, Q; Math.
ii, 8; v, 10. i. 30-i2s: Mark ", 30-32; Xii,
dbl; Luke Xii. 80; xiii, 1s. 10; xvi. 10;
ICor. We: ! Tim. vi, 6-S. Y.