The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-03

or a moonlight night. and beho!a the
I1ne Of light straight from your feet
tN the shining moon So it IS in the
realm Of the spirit; from wherever one
stands there is a straight path to large
ness of life and service.
Any new work that needs doing for
God or man may be done For Christ
and the Church."
For several years past there has been
somewhat of slump in young people
societies. Many reasons are assigned
for this. One simple explanation is
that the societies have not been doing
definite, regularly-re and ever
charging practical work. They have
been, too often, mere prayer and So
cialability societies. Their power has
not been felt in church or neighbour
hood. They have not visited the sick,
the poor, the prisoners. The lonely
young people have not been sought
out. Recruits for the church have not
been gathered in. All of the multiIorm
means of Christian service have been
in many cases. overlooked or neglected
Now you cannot have an Endeavor So
ciety without endeavoring. Except such
an orga ton work, il cannot live.
And that is why so many Christian En-
deayor societies have died
A better performance of the old duty
is sometimes more important than the
undertaking of new.
Very much to the point are the
words by Robert E. Speer,-"One good
piece of new work we can DO IS to
stop any old useless work. Sometimes
we keep on doing something just be-
cause we have always done 1t. We
have always followed n certain order
in the meetings. We have always left
certain work to certain people. We
a n a certain TfIf. One
of the best new things we can do may
be to stop doing these old things. Of
tentimes the greatest impeachment to
undertaking new work is the existence
of outgrown old work
This is the year 1906. All the knowl-
edge and inventions of the ages are at
the disposal of today. More things
are possible today than ever before It
would be as rational to try to plough
the great fields of Manitoba with the
Egyptians wooden plough, as to carry
on religious work after the fashion OF
fifty years ago. Churches must be up
to-date as we'll as steel works Yet
many observers have ventured the crit
icism that the church is farther be
hind the times than any other TWEEN
tieth century institution. To the
young people should she look for new
and progressive ideas and methods.
Theirs it is to keep her abreast of the
age.
Old work may be done in new ways.
SEVEN SENTENCE SERMONS.
In today already walks tomorrow
Coleridge.
For success ask no more than this
TO bear unf1inching witness to the
truth.-James Russell Lowell
Faith said. q It's brighter farther on -
Hope said, It see the coming dawn"
Love said-the greatest of the three
THE morn is here: It's found in me. y
Anon.
He that brings most of use into his
life lives the longest Rev. c. L.
Gould.
The wiser and stronger we grow the
more we feel how Indispensable and
helpful is solitude.-J. L. Spaulding.
Though I cannot measure the sun.
can enjoy the unlght.-J oseph
Parker.
The mind that is too ready at con-
tempt and reprobation is, I may say,
as a cIenched fist that can give blows.
but is shut up from receiving and hold
ing aught that is precious-though it
were heaven-sent manna.-George
Eliot.