Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-01-31
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the week
Beginning Feb. 4.
BY REV. S. II. DOYLE.


Topic.-New work we may do ''for
Christ and the Church" - Luke l2-4S.
Last haif-Gen. xii, Ia; Gal ill., s. Con
secration meeting. Christian Endeavor
day)
Two days ago, Feb. 2, the Christian
Endeavor movement was twenty-five
years oid. 1t hardly seems possible
that quarter of century has passed
since Dr. Francis h. Clark gathered to-
getHer lew OF tue young people of
his church aud organized the first
Christian Eudeayor society, with no
other thought than that it should be
pUteIy ii local Organization for the eX-
tension of CArist's Kingdom in his own
church. But God had other plans,
which no human power could see. Dur
inE tbs quarter OF a century ii is abse-
lutely III possible 10 estimate the ire
meadous amount of work that has been
accom- pissed by the Christian Endeay-
or movement and The millions of lives
that have .een made better under the
blessing OF God through it. Twenty
i've years aso there was one society,
with less than fifty members. Today
tie Christian EndeayOr movement CON
sists of nearly 10000 societies. having
4 total membership of over 100000
yogng people The movement is world
wide Chr stan Endeayor societies are
to be found in every country and in ev-
cry nation ia the world. 1t is also in
terdenominational. 1t has never been
limited II any denomination, and today
its members represent over thirty of
the prominent Christian denominations
throughout the world. At this twenty
fifth anniversary every one who is di-
rectly or indirectly interested in the
Christian EndeayOr movement or has
ever been so should be devOutly thank
full to God for the great success that
Christian Endeavor has achieved.
But the true spirit of Christian En-
deavOr is not to laud the past SO much
as to prepare Tor the future. Ami
versaries are pleasant. but they should
also be profitable. The achievements
Of the past shoCld inspire still greater
achievements in the future 1t is this
spirit that has led the committee on tie
selection of topics to suggest for this
occasion the topic of new work In
thinking over the past we should not
only continue the methods that have
been so successful in days gone by, but
should ever be thoughtfully consider
ing and putting into operation new
methods of work Variety is not only
the spice of life. but it Is one of the
most attractive features to success in
any phase of life. The same thing done
in the same way year after year vii
soon lose its effectiveness, and there
fore it is absolutely necessary that if
the Christian Endeayor movement is -
continue new methods of work must be
constantly sought after In this phase
of the work the United society of Bos-
ton has been wonderfully successful,
and no better advice can be given .
the Young Peoples societies who want
new and better methods of work than
that they should keep in constant touch
with the literature, and particularly the
Christian Endeayor World. published
by the United Society of Christian En-
deavor at Boston.
The opportunities of the young peo-
pie of our church through their various
organizations are great God holds Us
responsible in proportion to our OPP
portunities. Opportunity means re-
sponsiblity. Abraham was blessed
and prospered not simply for himself,
but that he might be a blessing TO 9th
ers. The Christian Endeavor move
ment has not been divinely inaugural
ed simply for the purpose of its mem
bers, but that God has blessed US in
order that we may be a blessing to 9th
ers. Let US, therefore, celebrate this
twentyffth anniversary of Christian
Endeavor by the conservation of our
selves in service to others in the name
of Christ