The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1901-04-25
EPwORTH /
April zS-0ne 'Leas
Ps. Ky. I; EccIes. v
.NYhen thoil yowesi q !

w HtH luOu NOMtSl ~ Nt1
defer not TO pay it, The
criticism here against the NJ
vow. 1t seems to be ASSUME
pledges Will be made. The exh
tion Of the wise man is that when ST.
pledges are made they shall be kept.
1t is great mistake to promise to
do what we do not fully understand.
and the performance of which we have
not carefully considered. 1t may be
asked whether the officers of our
Leagues are not much to blame be-
cnuse of the careless attitude of many.
Young people are often asked to sign
the pledge as though It were nothing
more than singing ones name to an
ordinary constitution and bylaws. The
pledge IL repeated often In SO careless
u way, with so little emphasis on inn
portant points, that the attention is
not secured. Gradually conscience is
dulled and the pledge might just as
well not be so far as its influence OH
many lives is concerned
On the other hand, the pledge should
be very thoughtfully read and explain
ed to all applicants for membership.
Before singing there should be sea-
son of prayer. Then every effort
should be made after the pledge is
rlp0tu 10 DtTSuuut utW DlellDtIS AO
form the habit of doing just what
they have promised. A pledge like
that of the Epworth League should be
understood as having been made to
God. Having been made to him, it
should be performed as in his sight.
He who makes Il promise like that
which one does make in signing the
Epworth League pledge should not
only determine with himself to per-
form it with the help of God, but
should pray daily that he may per-
form every part of 1t as in Gods sight
and unto God.
This pledge Is in three parts. The
first is. IL will earnestly seek for my
self the highest New Testament stand
ard of experience and life" Second
ly, II will do what | can to help others
attain this same experience" Let us
note that word Earnestly" and the
phrase highest New Testament stand
ard" What that standard Is should
be understood. To seek Il thing
earnestly is to seek it continually and
hopefully. The highest New Testa-
ment standard of experience and life
Is an exceedingly high thing. The sec
ond part of the pledge is n promise to
abstain from all those forms of world
~ lOlDlltltn lnC lis
clpline of our Church. The third
clause is just as binding rs the other
two paragraphs: II will attend so
far as possible the religious meetings
of the chapter and the church and
take some active part in them" This.
as will be seen, is made up of two
parts. The first part is limited by the
words $50 fas as possible" Let it be
noted that this does not say, $50 far
as convenient" or 80 far as II is pleas
ant" but 80 far as possible" 1t
should be noted also that this promise
covers not only the religious meetings
of the chapter but also of the church.
The second part of this last clause puts
the one who has signed it under the
obligation Of not only taking some part
in the meetings of the chapter and the
church. hut the taking of some 'ac-
tive" part. But to take an active part
surely means something more than
simply coming to the meetings and
joining in the general exercises,
though he who takes such part actively
is preparing himself TO fulfill his
pledge in the fullest sense.