The Newtown bee., 1895-11-01
Litchfield County News.
WASHINGTON.
AN IMPORTANT CHRISTIAN EHDEAvoR
EVENT.
WASHINGTON.


Never shone an October sun more be-
nignly and never were weather and roads
more perfect than upon the 25th inst,
when delegates from all the Endeavor
societies in the Pomperaug Valley Union
started on their drive for the annual meet
ing to begin at 3 p. M, in the historic
old Congregational church at Bethlehem
on the heights. Some brave members
drove ID to IA miles and felt well repaid.
With President Albert Pearsall in the
chair, Rev G. c. Redgrave of Morris open
ed the session with scripture reading
and Dea Scott offered the invocation.
Immediately following and without waste
OF time the printed program was obeyed
and Miss Lillian Wheeler of North Wood.
bury delivered lengthy but pithy and
interesting address upon Reading the
Bible; Why. A few extracts are given.
We all realize the presence of an In
stinct in the human heart that reaches
out above itself IN search of something
better. In many heart alienated from
ing the touch of divine love to kindle it
into fervent service. God in infinite wis
dom foresaw this need of the human
heart and provided His word as a reveal
ton of himself. And the Bible reveals
to man the plan of salvation. God has
made the story of the book such a one as
man will read and be interested in. The
Bible is Gods way of making US compre-
bend our sin and His ability to save US.
1t Is the mirror in which we see our
selves as we are; but, thank God, it is
also the Light which guides us upward.
BLESSED Lord, who has caused all holy
scripture to be written for our learning,
grant that we may in suchwise hear
them, read, mark and inwardly digest
them, that by patience and comfort of
Thy holy word we may embrace and
ever hold fast the blessed hope of ever
lasting life which thou hast given us in
our Lord Jesus Christ"
Miss Amy A. Nettleton OF Washington
spoke on How to read Gods word. Her
remarks were excellent ard to the point.
Among other things, God commanded
His people through the prophets to
hearken diligently and to seek out of the
| book and read. We must take time and
pains, and daily labor to learn His will
| from His word. We must also read with
a Willingness to obey, for His promises
of good to US are always conditional up
on our own acceptance and living. We
cannot read the Bible uhderstandingly
without prayer and the direction Of the
Holy Spirit. Jesus said When the Spirit
of Truth is come, He will guide you into
all truth. The Holy Spirit comes to those
who ask for His indwelling.
Rev j. d. Smiley of South Britain
spoke upon the time for reading Gods
word. "Never," said he, "have known
a person hungry and we'll to need urging
to eat good food. The same natural law
applied to spiritual things will cause
christians to seek, read and digest the
Bible when they need it and hunger for
it. Cultivate spiritual hunger and
thirst and we shall find time to read and
study the Book. To be diligent student
of the Bible is essential to the growth of
the Christ nature in His followers. We
need to read the Bible consecutively and
at length, and not let the divisions of the
chapters interfere with reading and
vein of remarks and reflections. To take
an entire book or epistle as single read
ing Is necessary sometimes to enable us
to retain the connection of the incidents
and characters from the beginning" Nh
Smiley followed these remarks with in.
spiriting incidents from the state con-
vention at Middletown from which he
has just returned. An informal discus.
sion of the subjects ensued. Rev Ed
ward Aver said, "Just remove Christ
from the Bible and what is there left.
Let US familiarize ourselves with the life
of Christ by the study of "Slatker's or
Gekie's Life of Christ" Rev Mr. Red
grave exclaimed, ~ pray God for re-
vival Of the good old virtue of reading
and memorizing the scriptures ~ Rev j.
l.. r. Wyckoff of Woodbury. remarked
earnestly, $40 be ignorant of the Bible
is to be ignorant of the worlds most i'm
portant literature, and ignorant of the
history Of man. 1t reveals God to mar
and man to himself. Above all reasons
for reading the Bible is because God
commands it. Young Christian, If at
first you have no taste for reading your
guide book get it by reading because it is
your duty. Don't expect to understand
it all at first. Pray that the Spirit may
interpret it to you.
Pastor Carter of Washington believes
that the misuse or neglect of the Bible
means the misuse or neglect Of our own
best life. To read it with map before
you will increase the interest.
The annual election of officers resulted
in the choice of HOLSTER Sage of the
South Britain society for president and
Miss A. A. Nettleton of Washington for
secretary, aud the choice Of North Wood
bury as the place Of the next quarterly
meeting. This will be held in December,
In all probability, the date to be deter
mined later. A collation. was served in
the chapel and the hospitality and good
cheer were enjoyed by all. Even the
visitors horses were not forgotten but
were housed and fed carefully, proving
that Christian Endeavor Is not merely a |
theory in beautiful old Bethlehem.
The evening service opened at 6 40 with