Ellsworth American., 1906-06-20
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BceinninG June 81.

Toptc.-WEat and now Shouto Snfls-
eian read?-Phil. iv. s.
The Importance of what a Christian
should read. and especially the young
Christian, is at once apparent, as well
as how what is read should be read.
"Of the making of books there is no
end" And IL this were true in Solo
mons the how much truer it is TO
day. There are papers, periodicals
and books without number. All that Is
written ard pr.lted cannot possibly be
read. and hence the increased necessity
of extra carefulness in the selection or
what G read. The dangerous charac-
ter of much that is written adds also
to the importance of selection. Not so
many years age there was little choice
In selection. In Christian homes there
was little variety Of reading matter. A
home Was fortunate to have few
books, and in Christian homes these
were Es-ally limited TO a few religious
books written by pious men. Under
such conditions the young could hardly
go astray. but how different the condi-
fions today There is scarcely a home
without its library and its quota of
magazines and papers, and in addition
to reading matter to be found in the
home the multiplication of circulating
libraries of one kind and another has
made almost every book published ac-
cessible to all readers. Under these
changed conditions the selection of
what we read and the methods of our
reading assume a very grave impor-
tance.
The purpose of reading may assist
us In the solution of these problems.
The main purpose In reading should
be to develop thinking, and thinking
should inspire action. Read, know.
think and be wise" Such a purpose
should guard against too much reading.
one of the prevalent sins Of today.
Much reading means little thinking.
1t produces mental inertia instead of
mental inspiration. Intellectual indiges-
ton through overreading is as possible
and as serious as physical indigestion
through overeating. Since reading is to
produce thought and action this pur-
pose should determine a Christians
reading. 1t demands the reading
of honest literature, Of just literature,
and, above all, Of pure literature.
Christians should have pure thoughts
and live pure lives, but how can they
II their minds be fed upon that which
is unclean and impure? But let II be
known that book is off color morally,
that 1t reeks with impurity, and how
eagerly It Is sought and read. And yet
nothing so insidiously destroys the pu-
rity and sweetness of young mind
and heart as an unclean book. Its
foul breath Is breathed into the inner
most recesses of mind and heart and
blasts the purity of both. And thus
millions of young, sweet, pure minds.
hearts and lives are blasted. Above
all. the young Christian should read
clean and pure books. Girls SHOULD
neve- read book which they would
be 0shamed to have their mothers see
and which brings the blush of shame
to their own cheeks. There are too
many sweet and beautiful romances
even TO make such literature a neces-
sity. The least taint of impurity in
book should forever debar it from Il
place on the list of books we are to
read
The purpose of reading should sug-
gest less light reading and the reading
of books of a more serious character,
Much of present day literature is light
and frivolous, to say the least, Nor is
light literature altogether to be de
cried. There are times for reading such
literature to while away an hour, to
rest the mind or for entertainment and
amusement. But, after all. life is seri-
Gus, and while it would not be healthy
to be always reading "Baxter's Saints
Rest or Thomas a Kempis, yet Sc
rious. uplifting literature should re-
ceive our chief attenuon-poetry, his
tory. biography, the masterpieces of
fiction and of course the best religious
literary productions and, above all, the
Bible. When we think how rich the
worlds literature is in that which in
spires noble thoughts and noble deeds,
In that which is honest, just, pure,
sOFNag ttA4i Va SbONA ltEOiAr lht NOhAtA
is that we waste so much time on
books unworthy to be called by the
name of literature.
Endeavorers, let me plead with you
to exercise supreme care In your read
ing. A book is a most intimate com
panlon. No human companion gets so
close to your hearts. One book may
make or mar a human life Read only
the books that make manhood and wo-
manhood. Shun the others as you
would a deadly poison. A poisoned
mind is far worse than a poisoned
boiy. From the body it may be re-
moved, but from the mind never.
Above all, make Gods book your dai-
ly companion. The worlds greatest
men and women have done so, and it
has been their inspiration, their life.
Man shall not live by bread alone, but
by every word that proceedeth out of
the mouth OF God"
BiBIE RFADINGs