Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-07-16
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Topic for the Week Beginning July
19-Comment by Rev. =. III. Doyle.

Topic lot tHe week beStnulHS july
19-Comment by Rev. ). ii. Doyle.
Tor1c.-Bools X and reading; how to get coot
therefr1Ia.-Ir.y. ii, l. = ; TIN. IL, 10.
In each cf the topical references there
is an exhCrjation pertaining to wisdom
in TIN uIe Il description IF the bless
ings which true wisdom brings, in the
other au Thortatiua to reading, which
gives wisdom.
The Importance aad value Of wisdom,
and not simply religious wisdom, can
not be overestimated. Solomon, the
wisest man Of his age, looked upon the
man as happy who had knowledge
understanding and declared wisdom to
be more precious than rubies and excel
lent above all things that could be de
sired. The Same IS true today. Knowl-
edge adds greatly to a mans happiness.
He who has cultivated taste for good
literature may fairly revel in his ENJOY.
ment in these days Of books without
number
Wisdom comes largely from reading
and study. To be wise, therefore, we
must read What we read and how v
read is very important question, foi
the books, magazines and papers which
we select as our companions not only
determine largely the amount and char
acter of eur mental education. but they
also largely influence our moral and
religious characters.
The question Of books and reading
is particularly pertinent to young peo-
pie, because it is while we are young
that what we read makes the most last
ing impression upon our minds.
There are two dangers today in the
reading world against which We need to
be warned. The first arises from the
abundance Of raading matter. From the
vast numbers Of books, magazines, pa
pers, what are we to read to get the
most good therefrom? We cannot read
all 1t would not be best if we could.
To have but few books and thoroughly
master them is better for our education
than TO have many books and read them
hastily and carelessly The Endeavorer
who will pursue the following plan will
not 60 far wrong: Read one good daily
newspaper, one weekly religious paper
Of your own denomination; The Golden
Rule. one first class monthly magazine,
as many books Is can be carefully read,
alternating book Of fiction with book
Of science. art or history. and last, but
not least, the Bible as much and a. Of
ten as possible.
1t would be well fer all young per
sons to select some subject Of special
interest to them and have their reading
and studying as far as possible center
around that We should aim to be spe-
cialists in one branch Of learning at
least, and if we become that it VIII be
wonderful how much universal iufor-
nation and knowledge we will gather
up at the same time.
The second danger arises from the
character Ct the literature OF today The
popular taste clamors too much for the
sensational. the unreal and even the i'm
moral We should carefully guard
against being influenced in this direc-
ton Literature was never SO full #
what IS choice. lofty, enrobling and IN
spring As it is today. Let Us cultivate
a taste for this kind of reading and we
will have neither time nor inclination
for the Other
Bible Read:ass-Ps. XIX $40; xciv,
~; Prov. /, II; il, II; viii, 10, II,
1885; xiii. %; Job xviii, 1928;
lisa. viii, 10, 20; xxxiv, l6; Nal Iii,
l6; Luke xvi. 1881; John V, SO; Acts
xvii. II; II Tim. iii, 1915.