Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-02-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Wees
Beginning Feb. 20.
BY REV. S. H. DOYLE.

BY REV. S. H. DOYLE.
Topic.-Neestma and missions in Japan
lisa /, 4-l0
In the last verse of the topical refer
ence Isaiah, the prophet. asks the ques
ton: who is among you that feareth
the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of His
servant, that walketh in darkness and
hath no light? Let him trust in the
name of the Lord and stay upon his
God" Until few years ago it could be
said of Japan that she walked in dark
ness and had no light, The nation was
properly classed among the heather
nations of the world. Her doors were
closed TO Christianity and to modern
civilization. Buddhism, Confucfanism,
Taoism, religions of darkness, We're the
religions of the people, and what Japan
needed was to know God, Ito trust in
the name of the Lord and stay upon
his COD" And the last half century
has been marked by marvellous adj
vance froH darkness into light, from
ignorance into knowledge.
The war with Russia has especially,
resulted in giving Japan high place
among tie nations of the world. A well
known missionary recently said. Il
thought l knew something about ia
pan, but l must confess that this war
has revealed in her a wealth of power
and resource beyond my most san
guine expectations" The great want
of Japan at such a supreme moment Is
more knowledge of God and more i'm
plicit trust in God. That Christianity
has had much to do in making the
island empire what it is cannot be de-
MED, and IL this be true much more
does Japan need Christ today to keep
her from the pitfalls that always en-
danger a nation in its hour of greatest
success. The clock has struck the hour
In Japan. The Christian church should
realize its opportunities and RESPONSE
bilities and should rise to them with
such power that Japan may soon be led
into the complete light Of the gospel OF
Jesus Christ.
d. The greatest questions now arising
concerning Japan are: What develop
ments may be expected as result OF
the war In the progress Of the gospel?
How will the work of foreign mission
aries be affected: What will be the
trend of events in the native churches"
In this connection it is most gratifying
to read in the latest missionary report
Of one Of our great denominations: In
general the year has been full of en-
enlargement. The war has not affect
ed 1t unfavorably. but neither the con-
trary. Opportunities have multiplied"
And with the multiplying of opportuni-
ties there must be a multiplying of re-
sources. More missionaries must go to
Japan. More prayers must be offered
In her behalf. The missionaries there
must have the more earnest and hearty
support of the church at home, be Civ
en- every encoura cement and necessary
equipment for the most vigorous pros
ecution of their work. They are the
army in the field. We are the support
of the army at home, and no army can
win a victory without the prayers.
sympathy and support of those who a:e
at home Let US therefore loyalty sup
port our missionaries in the field and
supply them with everything they need
for most aggressive movement to win
Japan for Christ at this most provi-
Dental opportunity. Japan needs
Christ and Christ needs Japan as
light to the orient Let us make it our
earnest prayer that Japan may be
won, that to the other nations of the
east she may be the Land of the Rising
Sun of Righteousness and may light
them to Him as their deliverer from ig
norance and darkness.
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. ii, Is; tx, II; Iii, Z; xxxv, II;
Matt iv, 1916; V, 1416; Acts |, LIP;
X, Is; Eph. V. s. IA; Rev xxi. %, "a.