Ellsworth American., 1904-05-11
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.


Prayer Meeting ~g.~ sFor the Week
BcEinninE May 10.
vopic.-what Joaeph and Benjamin
teach about brotherly cere.-C}en. sill. -
81, S4 xiv, l4-22 Onion meeting with the
Suniors)
Joseph and Benj~nin were the two
Sons of Jacob aud Rachel. They were
brothers, the other ten sons Of Jacob
being but half brothers to them. Be
fng the sons OF Rachel. whom jacob
had first loved and whom he always
loved above any other, it was nataral
that they should be favorites Of their
father Until Joseph was sold ntG
Egypt he held the first place in his
fathers heart, ana after Jacob sup
posed Joseph to be dead benjamin he
came Joseph's successor In his fathers
affections. But not onh did Jacob
have a special affection for these two
of his sons. but they must Eave had a
strong love for each other. MS the beau
tiful story of Joseph's especial interest
In and care for Benjamin in Egypt
abundantly proves.
Josephs attitude toward all his
brethren when they came to Egypt dis
plays a magnanimous and forgiyae
spirit, but his loving care for Benjamin
is one OF the most beautiful and touch.
ing incidents TO be found even in the
word of God. When his brethren re
turned with Benjamin, and Joseph look
ed upon his brother, his heart yearned
over his brother. and he sought where
to weep, and he entered into his cham
Der and wept there" The dood gates OF
memory were opened, and his love for
Benjamin was found to have been
proof against the intervening years
and the difference in political station.
Joseph was ruler in Egypt while
Benjamin was Il suppliant before him.
yet Joseph still remembered him and
bowed him. Would that it were always
%. But, alas, how often this picture is
reversed. One brother, in the course Of
life, rises higher than another, perhaps
h separated from him and has no SYM
pathy, no bro,early love, for him in
the hour of trial and distress. Many
b their success do not care to acknowl.
edge the relationships of former days.
But this was not SO with Joseph, and
his example should be an inspiration to
Ill to keep in loving remembrance the
Brothers and sisters of childhood and
ef youth.
Joseph not only remembered his
brother Benjamin. but be also made
Tim the object of his especial care. Be
Bore he made himself known TO his
brethren "he took and sent messes
unto them from before him. but Ben
rs any of theirs" And afterward.
when they knew him, he provided for
Ill for their home journey, but espe-
daily for Benjamin. "To all of them
he gave each man changes of raiment,
but to Benjamin he gave 800 pieces of
Where can be found a more beautiful
picture of brotherly care? Let us all
initiate it.
Our brothers in the flesh have spe-
cial claims upon us. 1t is true that
this relationship is physical. while
gether, but at the same time ii is a
God given relationship. the mutual
obligations of which never cease to
exist Time and distance and position
cannot blot them out. and we should
consider 1t a joy as well as a duty to
love and care for the members of our
household if God calls upon US to do
So And then, too, in the broader
Household of faith" and the still
broader household of humanity-"a
men"-we should not fail in the du-
ties of love and of service as the OPP
pWtunity and ability present them
selves to US. so, then, as we have
opportunity let us work that which is
good toward all men, and especially
toward them that are of the house
bod of faith
BIBLE READINGS.
Gen. iv, 9-15; XIV, 27-34; Deut. XIV.
{. 8; Ps. cxxxiii, 1-3; Matt. V. 21-26;
Xviii, is, 81. %; Mark lii, 31-35; Luke
q Ff.:- q