Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1903-06-24
CHRISTIAN ENDEAYoR.
Topic For the Week Beginning June
2S-Commen hY Rev g H naxle

4 ZS-Comment by Rev. 9. III. Doyle.
p Tcpic.-Christ in our cities.-Acts xviii.
LII; Luke xix. A-44; Matt. XII, g, "a Getty
lmtssions.)
The problems of city government and
city eyangelization and salvation have
always been great ones. From time
stmmemorial the great cities of the
world have been the centers where
vice and iniquity have fiourished, and
the downfall of nations has often had
fits beginning in the downfall of the
city. A nations life is very often but
the life of its important city or cities.
Ancient Greece was but an enlarged
Athens, the Roman empire an enlarged
Rome, and Paris and London sustain
the same relations to France and to
England today, and if the city life of
America is not yet its most predomi-
mating force because of the extent of
rur rural habitations it is rapidly be-
coming so. The tide of population
moves more and more toward our
cities, and into them is poured the bulk
Of the foreign population that comes to
our shores. City missions are needed.
The impurity of city politics, the char
geter of the large foreign populations,
the natural gravitation of evil to the
city, where it can be more secluded,
the memorable demands of city bust
ness life, the religious indifference Of
me vast multitudes of its people, all
% to show the need of mission work in
the city. Only those who come into
personal contact with the work have
any real conception of the needs in our
great cities today. Heathenism as pro-
nounced as exists anywhere is fire.
Quently to be found. Foreigners con-
gTegate together and occupy entire Sec
tions, living very often in moral and
spiritual darkness such as is scarcely
Imaginable. All forms of vice manifest
themselves, and here and there direct
opposition to the truth as it is in Jesus
= frequently manifested. 1t was so at
CCrinth, and in this respect the cities
Of today are not unchanged.
> But the difficulties that face us in
city mission work should not deter us.
Christianity hesitates not because of
difficulty or opposition. The command
is "Gor' the promise is Il am with
you" and with such a command and
promise difficulties are not to be con-
gtdered. Paul sought the great cities
or. rlnir3ts for. his T1liSSinra r-y-
iabors. Antioch was the key to Asia
and Rome the key to the world, and
these became the great centers from
which Christianity spread in the early
Christian cities. Save the cities and
you can save the country. They are
the leaders in business, social and po-
litcal life and also in religious life.
ChristianiZe them and the country will
not be in danger from lack of religion
or indifference to it.
. The cities can be ChristianiZed and
saved. God saved Zoar in answer to
the prayer of Lot and Nineveh as a
result of the preaching of Jonah. In
the apostles days fiGslrishing churches
were established in he great heather
cities of the world and in many of our
cities today there is much vital Chris
tianity 1t is mistake to think that
our cities are devoid of all religion.
Christian people. devout and consecrat-
ed, are to be found in large numbers in
all of them. This fact proves the pos
sibility of Christian living even in our
cities. More than this, there is always
a hearty response from the unevangel-
lied in our great cities. In many of
them there are fiourishing missions
among the foreigners, such as the Chi
nese and Italians, and God has abun-
dainty blessed evangelistic work
among the masses Of our cities.
Christ was interested in cities. 1t is
true He declared that God would hold
them responsible for their opportuni-
ties, but He also wept over the city of
Jerusalem and desired to shelter and
save it. This should be the attitude of
all His disciples. AS He was interested
in the salvation of Jerusalem, so we
should be in the moral and spiritual
welfare of all cities. Specially should
all Endeavorers who live in cities bend
an their energies toward city evangel-
ism. Christianity. patriotism and per-
sonal interest all call upon us to follow
such a course.
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. xix, 1926, 1929; Josh. vi, 16, 20;
tPs. ii, s; lisa. lii, Z; Jonah iii, lilo;
Matt. xxi, Ill; xviii. 10, 20; Acts viii,
8-S; xvii, 1854.
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