Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-06-23
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR NEWS.
By Rev. Benz. A. Bryan.

Topic for June path: "John Eliot and
Missions Among the Indians. III Tim.
?, 10.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday, June lsth-zeal for sinners,
tuesday, June lsth-For lions sake,
Isa. 81, rs.
Wedhsday, June 2oth-Christ among
the villages, Heb. 3, 1919.
Thursday, June 21-Under orders Acts
Friday, June 22-The spirit as a mis-
siOnary, Acts 10, 44-4s.
Saturday, June 23d-Savng a soul,
James 5, 10, 20.
AussIoNsHDUTY OF.
The Duke Of Wellington once met a
young clergyman, who, being aware OF
his graeeb former residence in the East,
and Of his familiarity with the ignorance
and obstmacy Of the HindOos in support
Of their false religion, asked: Does not
your grace think it almost useless and
extravagant to preach the Gospel to the
Hindoos p" The Duke at once replied:
Look, sir, TO your marching orders,
Preach the Gospel TO every creature
This is the Injunction which John Eliot
followed when he went to preach 20 the
| Indians And. although by some IL is
suggested that his life was a failure, yet
he has fruits in heaven as reward for
/ his labor 1t is said there is no visible
tracs Of the success Of his work remaining
on earth today, but that does not alter
the fact that his "work for the Indians
was one of the most successful in mis-
sionary history"
On one occasion, during war. a regi-
ment received orders TO plant some heavy
/ guns on the top of a steep hill The
soldiers dragged them TO the base OF the
hill, but were unable to get them farther.
| An officer, learning the condition Of
/ affairs commanded, "Menl II must be
done. / have the orders in my pocket.
The church has orders from a greater
authority than did these soldiers, to
disciple the world Eliot went forth
with orders from the King in his pocket,
and he not only reached the base of the
mountain through much difficulty, but
through perseverance he reached the top;
and. although his name is not recorded
in general history or American history
as such, missionary history declares him
one Of the most successful missionaries
among the Indians. He is a hero Of the
American missionary world.
Pre-missionary life-He had been a
teacher in England, but made his way to
the new world that he might secure for
himself religious freedom He landed in
Boston in 1851, and is said to have be
come, almost Immediately, the pastor OF
a church in Roxburg, now suburb oi
Boston. He was pastor Of that church
for nearly 60 years, and left the work only
because Of the infirmities Of age-an ex-
ample that our modern churches might
prohtably study.
Eliot entered at once with a fervency
INTO all good work, and he and two friends
made a new version Of the Psalms. which
appeared before the public in 1910, anc
which was the first book printed il
America. Becoming greatly interested
in the Indians, he took a young IndiaI
into his family, and as a consequence
soon mastered the Indian language.
Eliot as a missionary-In the fall o
1916 Eliot preached his first sermon {,
the Indians in their own language. Tha
historic sermon was an hour and quartz
long, and the meeting was prolonged b,
the questions Of the interested Indian
TO three hours. He preached this sermon
in the wigwam OF the chief Waban, at
! place now known as the city Of Newton
A unique monument has been erectel
upon the spot where the sermon wa
preached, and not far away is the Elio
. Church, which is one of the finest churcl
edifces in the State. Modern Waban i
{ nearby.
, Eliots influence among the Indians
Through his hard work, and Christian in
I huence, Eliot established a village O
! Christian Indians, at what is now the cit,
Z Of Newton, but which was then Nonan