The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1896-07-22
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

Topic Tor the Week Beginning July 10
Comment by Rev. 8. II. Doyle.
ToPIc-Books and reading; how to get good
thcrefrom, iii, 10 20; Tim. ", 10.
In each of the topical references there
is an exhortation pertaining to wisdom
i'm the one description of the bless
ings which true wisdom brings, IN the
other an exhortation to reading, which
gives wisdom.
The Importance and value of wisdom,
and not simply religious wisdom, can
not bo pycrestimated. Solomon, the
wisest man Of his age, looked upon the
man as happy who had knowledge and
understanding and declared wisdom II
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 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 we
read is a very important question, Tor
tho books, magazines and papers which
we select as our companions not only
determine largely the amount and char
acter of our 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 i'll the
reading world against which we need to
be warned The first arises from the
abundance of reading matter. From the
vast numbers CT 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 go far wrong; Read enc good daily
newspaper, one weekly religions paper
Of your own denomination The Golden
Rule, one first class monthly magazine,
as many books as can be carefully read,
alternating book of fiction with u book
Of science, art or history, and last, but
not least, tho Bible as much and as Of
ten rs possible.
1t would be well for all young per-
sons to select some subject of special
interest to them and have their recalling
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 will be
| wonderful how much universal infor-
nation and knowledge we will gather
up at the same time.
The second danger arises from the
character of 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 of
what is choice, lofty, ennobling and in
spring as it is today. Let us cultivate
taste for this kind of reading and we
will have neither time nor inclination
for the other.
Bible Readings -Ps. xix, $40; KEW,
IL; Prov. j, II; ii, II; viii, 10, H.,
1896; xiii, 30; Job xviii, 1928;
lisa. viii, 10, 30; xxxiv, 1G; Nal. iii,
10; Luke xvi, 20-31; John V, 80; Acts
xvii, II; II Tim. iii, 14.10,