Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-31
CHRISTIAN ErDEAvOR HOUR

Topic: "Our Goals for 1905" (Consecration Meet
tng) Philippians 3: 12-16.
IL. Not as though had already attained.
either were already perfect; but I follow
after. If that I may apprehend that for
which also I am apprehended of Jesus
Christ.
10. Brethren. count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one thing do. for
getting those things which are behind, and
reaching forth unto those things which are
before
IA. press toward the mark for the prize
OF the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
10. Let us. therefore. as many as be per-
feet be thus minded and if in anything
We be otherwise minded. God shall reveal
even this unto YOU.
is. Nevertheless. whereto we have al
ready attained. let US walk by the same
rule let mind the same thing.
The Lesson.
j. is very generally conceded that obliga-
ton is simply to be measured by ability;
that one ought to do what he can do, no
more. no less. Jesus set this mark In HIS
commentator of Mary: "She hath done
what she could" Since then this is true,
and since we are convinced. as We are,
that 1t is impossible to live an absolutely
sinless life in the flesh. why does Jesus say
to US: BE We therefore perfect, even as
| your fal0er IN heaven lS ptIltCl " Hy
Goes He. seem to set such an unattainable
mark for our effort? The question Is one
that has given many a tender conscience
pain. Jesus sets such a mark before us
for precisely the same reason that a wise
teacher sets copperplate copy for child
learning to write.
1t may be said: 1.-THE child never can
come UP to tfat!' No, but 1t will be the
better for trying. The perfect ideal is far
better than anything less than a perfect
one would be.
And if in the year that is past we find
that we have fallen far short of the pat
tern, Christ Jesus, in our daily life, In our
home life, in our church and society hfe,
let us forget the things that are behind
and begin once more. The page is all
clean before US. We are given another
chance to try again. Jesus, the model, is
before us. Let us look at Him daily, more
often, walk more closely hand and heart
with Him, talk with Him oftener. These
are the ways of making the race sure
one. The runner in a contest trains him
self for days and weeks beforehand. He
watches every bit of food and water he
eats. He is careful of every waking and
sleeping moment, and always the goal, the
victory he wishes, is before his eyes 10
keep him in this straight and narrow way.
Why is 1t that Christians do not run their
race in the same way giving everything
up to the one idea of winning the prize of
the high calling of God in Christ jesus?
Away with half-hearted contests Let
us enter this new year with the spirit TO
win. Let not Satan and sin and the world
triumph. Let it not be said any more,
truly, that our Christian Endeavor So
ciety is falling away. Let us take hold
of 1t with will as if our very life de-
pended upon whatever part in it has been
given us to do. Let US make 1t the best
society In the city, and let us help It to
have the best life in the church. Let us
be the prayer of the church. the Bible STU
dents of the church. the -for-servce
corps always at the pastors right hand:
Let us not look back to the failures OF
the past and say that 1t is of no use to
try to do any better because no one Will
help. Let us do 1t.
This is the time of year when mer-
chants take account of stock. 1t Is good
time of year for Christians also to take
account of stock. Get together as COM
mittees; have little. ten-minute prayer
meeting before the regular meeting and
see what needs doing and resolve to do 1T,
and then do it! ~-Ez.l
Applied Truth.
There is no better illustration of forget
ting the things which are behind and reach
ing forward to those which are before than
the story of Audubon's lost drawings. He
was obliged to leave his home for time,
and he left two hundred of his choice draw
ngs of birds in a wooden box in the care
of a relative. When he returned he found
that his treasures had been entirely de-
stroyed by family of Norway rats who
had taken up their abode in the box. His
realization of his loss was so great that 1t
affected his whole nervous system. and he
did not recover from it until he had slept
for several days and nights. But after that
he took his gun, his notebook and pencils,
and went forth into the woods as gaily
as if nothing had happened, feeling that he
could make better drawings than before.
And in telling the story he adds: Ere a
period not exceeding three years had
elapsed my portfolio was again filed" Such
dauntless courage is what we Christians
need in our race with sin.
1t is said that when Sydney Smith was
laboring as a parish priest at Foston-le-
Clay, in Yorkshire, though he did not feel
himself to be in his proper element, he went
cheerfully to work, in the firm determine
ton to do his best. Il am resolved, he
which is more manly than to feign myself
above it, and to send up complaints by. post
of being thrown away and being desolate.
and such like trash
How to Help the Leader.
Give careful thought to the Christian
work you have done in the past, try to see
wherein you have failed, and wherein you
have been successful, and then tell in the
meeting how you have resolved to do so
that your every day life may tell for Jesus
Christ. Possibly you have found out some
of your own mistakes, and by telling them
you may save others from the same.
Parallel passages.-1 Timothy, 6:12; Luke,
962; 1 Corinthians 9:24-26; Gala tianS, 81:
Hebrews, 6:1; Hebrews, 12:1; Hebrews, 81;
Galatians, 81; 2 Timothy, 4:7,S.
Hints to the leader.-ChriStian Endeavor
Hymns, 3, 20, Sc, "a, 1866 BOB; the Endeavor
Hymnal, 125, 127, 1872, 1874, 1877, 147.
Ask the pastor, the Sabbath school SUI
perintendent and a representative of the
session to take three minutes each suggest
ing goals for the young members of the
church to work toward for another year.
Have a representative from every commit
tee in the society say in sentence or two
what that special committee to which he
belongs intends to do for another year.
Ask members to speak frankly about the
hindrances to the Christian race. Perhaps
you have a member of an athletic club
among your members whom you secure
to say few words about the training one
goes through for afrace, and the rules to
be observed during the time of running. If
he is a Christian and knows how to speak
we'll he can compare this to the Christian
race, and suggest practical ways of run
ming better race during the coming year
than in the past. Close the thought of the
evening by fixing the attention of all on
Jesus, and the remembrance of the tremen-
dous consequencestf we do not do our best
in striving for the goals. 1t might be
good idea to have the committees put upon
the blackboard over their committee Sig
natures different goals that the society
needs to set up and strive for during the