Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-11-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. -.
Topic.-How intca1poranee idadcrs mi
sions.-Rom. xiv 1911.

Topic.-HoW iGtcllp crauce NidGCTs rnis
sions.-Rom. xiv, 1S--l.
BY REV. S. Il, DOYLE.
In this chapter Paul enioins the wcal;
and the strong to treat each other con-
siderately. If the strong can do what
the weak cannot the week are not -
set themselves up as judges over the
strong, for God is our Judge On the
other hand, because the strong can
rightfully do what the weak c,liIn3t
they are not to press their rights even
to the point where their exercise is
injurious Il their weaker brethren. rs
pecially is this true when only such
an insignificant matter as meat is in
volved. They were to give up no
principle, yet would it pay to sacrifice
a soul in order to assert the right 10
eat all kinds of meat because all was
Of God? Christ died to save the sonls
of men. VIII we destroy him with
met for whom Christ died? No tiue
Christian could take such position.
For mere qualification We are not to
endanger immortal souls
This truth may be applied to intern
peranee and missions. Intemperanee
has always been a foe to religion. and
wherever it has gone on mission fields
IT has been one of the greatest hinder
ers of missions. Nothing else could re
suit, and therefore it seems incredible
that the same nation sends both reli-
gion and rum to the heather peoples
of the world. But it is the old story
Of personal qualification, personal gain.
Eliminate the large profit of the liquor
business, and where could you find
men to own and manage them? If the
New York subway saloon should lead
to such result it would mean a great
element of success in the warfare
against the saloon. Men will do al
most anything for money, and hence
the same vessel carries the gospel and
the grogshop to the same people. But
should we for personal gain destroy
him for whom Christ died? Infinitely
rather let us be poor all the days of
our lives than to barter in the traffic
of human souls.
That intemperance binders missions
u self evident fact The people
who receive both rum and religion
nom another nation lose confidence in
the religion when they see the results
Of the rum. The missionaries are dis
Outraged. Those who come under in
Temperatures blighting curse are un-
f1tted to be affected by the power of the
gospel. In these and other ways mis-
sions are hindered by intemperance
Christian nations should stop the liq-
uor traffic with the peoples of our mis-
sion fields. 1t is burning shame to
any nation to permit alcoholic drinks
to be sent to the nations of the world
who are in religious darkness and to
whom its Christian citizens are striy-
ing to send the gospel of the Lord Je
sus Christ. No nation should tear
down and attempt to build up"a the
same time. The mission fields are sur
rounded with enough probleIas Let US
as far as possible eliminate the intern
perance one, so that Christ may be the
more exalted and the gospel placed in
a more favorable light before the un-
evangelical nations of the world.
y BIBLE READINGS.
= Elk. Xxx, Is; Lev. X, s, 8; Mum. vi, liza;
Prov. Xxx, /; xiii, 1892; Hab. ii, lis;
Matt. xviii, I; Luke i, 1915; Gal vi,
ITO; Rev. xxi, II.