Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-04-24
Rl>IiAN ENDEAvoR.
Topic For the Week beginning April
2S-Comment by Rev. 5. III. Doyle.

Topic For the Week beginning April
2s-Comment by Rev. 5. III. Doyle.
ToPIc.-Fidelity to pledges, Il promise. Pa
lxv Ia; Xxi, Is; cxvi, I2-14.
The second clause of the Christian
Endeavor pledge is Il promise" and
on this clause of the pledge the entire
structure rests. Everything depends
upon the keeping of the pledge. 1t is
useless and worthless unless it is kept
The criticism that the pledge at first
aroused has practically ceased, and yet
there is a phase of the pledge that
needs still to be emphasized-the ne
cessity and Importance of fidelity to it.
1t is not kept as it once was. 1t is not
kept as it should be, and perhaps the
fault lies in the fact that it is not en-
phasiZed as it once was and should
still be. Fidelity is the all important
characteristic OF vow. 1t is better
not to vow than to vow and not pay.
As Endeayorers it may be well to note
some reasons why we should be faith
full to the promise clause of the pledge.
The reasons viii apply to all pledges,
whether made to God or to man. All
vows should be performed. All prom
Uses should be kept. All debts should
be paid. when thou vowest a vow
unto God. defer not to pay it; for He
hath no pleasure in fools; pay that
which thou hast vowed"
1. The Christian Endeavor promise
should be kept because of the person
to whom it is made. That person is
Jesus Christ. Trusting in the Lord
Jesus Christ for strength, l promise
Him" The promise, the pledge, is
made to Christ, not to man, not to the
church, not to the society, but to
Christ. This should make this pledge
absolutely inviolable. All promises
should be kept, but above all those
made to Christ should be kept. We
cannot afford to be Indifferent to
pledges made to man, but infinitely
less can we afford to break a pledge
made to Christ.
2. The Christian Endeavor promise
should be kept because our personal
honor and character are at stake. Moth
ing tests true honor and character bet
ter than a solemn pledge. The man
who is Indifferent or false to his word
is not to be trusted. A reputation for
failure to keep promises is a most IN
desirable reputation. A reputation for
fidelity to promises is most desirable
one. We should shun the former and
cultivate the latter. For our own
sakes we should make our word as
good as our bond, whether given to
God or to man.
3. The Christian Endeavor promise
should be kept because of Christ's fidel-
ity to His promises. Christ has given
us precious promises, and He never
fails in the keeping of them. His ex-
ample should inspire US to fidelity TO
our promises to Him. How can we
break faith with one who has never
broken faith with us? If He were IN
faithful to His promises, a lack of
fidelity on our part might seem to be
excusable, but He is always faithful,
and as He is so should we be-
4. The Christian Endeavor promise
should be kept because it is a voluu-
tary pledge. No Endeavorer was fore
ed to take the pledge. Christian vows
are always voluntary, and hence no
excuse can be given for Indifference or
faithlessness to them.
THE PRAYER MEETING.
Arrange a special programme with
an address on the subject, Fidelity to
the Pledge"
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. xviii, 20-22. with Gen. xxxv, Z;
Job xxi, 81; Ps. xxi, %; lvi, 1913;
Xvi, Is, II; cxvi, Is, 80; Feel. V, is;
lisa. xix, 81; Jonah ii, ITO; Acts xviii,
IS.