Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-20

we must be able to become as little chill
dren' literally Let US in all our prepara-
ton Of this theme have the child heart and
try to understand Jesus as a child, which
VIII give us the key to his later life
The first noticeable thing about the child
Jesus was that He grew and waxed strong
in spirit" The children about US are all
doing that? 1t is marvellous to us to see
them grow. We go away from home for
few weeks, and when we come back, 10, the
children have shot up and are wearing quite
long dresses or trousers. Our neighbors'
babies drop their toys and take up their
school books before we half realize that
they have grown out of baby clothes. Also,
want their own ways, and they have them
And how sad are some of their ways! But
they, unlike Jesus, are not always filled
with wisdom and the grace Of God. They
are strong in disobedience, in mischief Of
all sorts. They seldom are distinguished
for thoughtfulness and carefulness. Is It
not our business to help these little ones to
better know and follow the character Of
Jesus?
1t is not so long since the rest of us were
children, and, looking back upon that time
can we feeh that we began life in trying
to follow this pattern which we are study
ing? And If We did not, is 1t too late to try
to grow childlke and follow Christ's ex-
ample? We need not feel that this lesson
were to meet with this week, but that
We too. should look back upon our lives
and see wherein they failed as children and
supply the deficiency now.
1t may be that in a sense some of us are
still children IN the house of our fathers
and mothers, though now grown older, and
being a home yet, we still may learn OF
Jesus how to ''be subject unto them For
If even the Son of God, with great work
for the world upon His soul, could think it
worth while to quietly submit to the COM
mands of father and the petty anxieties of
mother, surely even we, though we have
grown to years of discretion, need not feel
ashamed to do the same.
Some children fret a good deal because
their parents are so particular about at
tendance at church and Sunday school, and
so soon as they are old enough to escape
they stay away. Jesus was brought up to
attend upon all the ordinances of the
church, and parents need not be afraid that
they Will turn their children away from
holy things by compelling them, If neces-
sery, to grow into habits of regular atten-
ton to all the customs of Christian life.
1t IS noticeable that the first time Jesus
went up to the great strange city where
must have been many sights and sounds in
teresting to a bright boy, that He was at
tracted only by His Fathers business 1t
does not appear that He spent any time in
looking over the fair palaces and historical
streets of Jerusalem. Upon His heart was
the work He had been sent to do, and so
heavily did 1t press upon Him that He had
no time for aught else. God, His Father,
and the fulfllment of the Scripture in Him
self. were the great thoughts that He wish
ed to speak about and to make plain to
others, for even as a child that was upper
most. Is 1t not to be expected, then that
other children who have given their hearts
to Him should also think about telling 9TH
ers of Jesus, even while they are children?
1t need not spoil their childhood nor make
them grave and sad There is no hint but
that Jesus childhood was as happy a one
as any child has; yet what record!
Applied Truth.
When Bishop Warren's company was or
dered into battle for the first time and they
approached the scene OF conflict O dread
came over him and his knees shook beneath
him. He says that marching next to him
was large Irishman, and it was a great
comfort to him Just to look up into his
pleasant face. Whenever he felt his cour-
age falling him he would rub up against
his burly companion, and the touch of that
firm, broad shoulder filled him with new
courage and strength. That is just the way
the Christian receives strength by getting
close to Christ's clean, true, victorious life,
and drawing strength and courage from
Him.
Jean Paul Richter had a dream, in which
he was taken into the realms Of outer dark
ness, and there saw the image Of a man
SO dreadful that he shuddered and drew
back, and asked his guide what dreadful
creature that was. The angel told him
that was himself as he would be If he went
on and filled out his life the way he had
begun it. Then the angel took him across
wide space into a shining and glorious
country, and he saw most beautiful char
acter. with the Joy that comes from love
angel who that beautiful creature was.
That" said the angel, sis yourself as you
might be, and may yet be If you realize
your highest possibilities" To every one
20 ~, I,,t,, ~ oh,
comes vision Of what we might be If we
would let Jesus come into our lives fully
and do with us exactly as He did with Him.
self. If we do not get that vision then we
have not thoroughly studied His life.
How to Help the Leader.
If you have no Junior society in your
church, find some children somewhere and
bring them to the meeting just for that
night. If you have a junior society bring
some OF them and be responsible for their
getting safely home. Help them to prepare
to take some part, however small, In the
meeting. Bring your own remarks down to
simple language Tell some "reminiscences
of your childish Christian experiences
Parallel Passages. Psalms xxxiv II ;
Mark, x:13-16; Colossians, iii:2o; Proverbs,
XIII; Proverbs, Xxii:6; Proverbs, xiii 49,
30: II Timothy iii:14.15
Hints for the Juniors.-Do not be afraid
to take part in the meeting because the
grown people are present. Remebber, God
may give you some message to help some
one. Join in the sentence prayers. You
might say. Dear Jesus, help me to be like
Thee in my life" Remember that Jesus,
even when a child, was filled with the grace
of God and able TO help the wise men in the
temple. 1t may be, if you let Him make
your life what He will. He can give you a
helpful word for some one also.
Hints to the Leader.The Endeavor Hymn
nal, A. Is. %, 81. 1877, 142 157.
Get among the children this week and get
them to come to the meeting and help. Give
| them something to do In a regular order, if
only to recite in a chain of verses. Be sure
to have a chain of sentence prayers Be
sure to emphasize the good a child can do
by his life, and how much easier 1t is for
him to live a Christ-lke life If he begins
fwhen young. Don't talk much yourself
and have that brief talk mostly a story or
| Illustration which the children can remem-
| Der. Ask the seniors all to be children-to
consider themselves so for one night