Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-06-05
CHRISTIAN ENDEAyoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning June g

younger than oarseivcs.-1Iatt. xviii. i-6.
The attitude Of the disciples OF
Christ toward children III their rela-
ton toSChrist was that Ee should not
be DISTURBED by them. II must there
fore have seemed Ike the irony Of fate
when in their discussion OF grantees
in the kingdom Of heaven the Master
should have placed little child in
their midst and have said. Except We
be converted and become as little chill
dren We shall not enter The Kingdom of
heaven" They had thought children
unworthy Of His notice. He declares
that unless they become like children
they could not enter, much less lie
great. in the kingdom. Christ's rebuEe
of the disciples when they attempted
to keep children from Him and His
use of child as an object lesson on
what a Christian should be should
deeply impress us that we should seek
the proper attitude toward children.
and this is certainly one of helpfulness.
We should ever strive to he a help
rather than hindranee to those who
are younger than ourselves. and espe-
ciaIly to the boys and girls with whom
our lives come in contact as parents,
teachers or Endeavor workers
The Importance of helping the young
is supported by number of serious
reasons. a. 1t is the time of life when
they are most easily Influenced for
good or evil. Their characters are in
the stage of formation, and word or
an act may deeply impress them. even
exert an influence upon them for life
Which way shall our acts influence
them, upward or downward? e. Chill
dren are naturally relgiously in
clined. That they inherit sinful dis
positions cannot be denied. Let the &C
casion arise and it is wonderful how
naturally they will deceive and utter
falsehoods. But at the same time how
easily they believe in God. and how
real their faith in God and Christ and
heaven is, They shouid therefore be en-
couraged along these lines and never
be allowed to drift away from them.
for it is often such difficult matter TO
win them back. ca The children of to-
day viii be the men and women of to-
morrow, and the cares and burdens of
the world will rest upon them. Who
are the leaders in business. in state
and in church today? Those who but a
few years ago chow wonderfully few
they SEEM We're boys and girls, with
no thought of life's seriousness, ofttimes
frivolous and sometimes almost driv-
ing parents, teachers and friends TO de-
SPAR. But deal not too harshly with
the perverse boy and the frivolous girl.
In a few years, years that will seem
like days, the burdens of life may de-
velop that boy into the most stalwart
manhood, and deep sorrow may touch
the heart of that girl which will in
stantly change her into a woman Of
strength and of blessing.
But how may we use our influence
for good toward those who are young
er, especially the children? a. We
must understand them and gain their
confidence. We must find the key TO
their little hearts, whatever it is, and
1t Is usually love. Children love to be
loved, and they can appreciate true af-
lection and respond to it. (2) We must
trust them. There is honor among
children. They soon know whether
you are truthful or suspicious. And a
suspicious person never wields a good
influence upon children. 1t is re
markable how soon they learn TO re-
turn confidence for confidence and sus.
picion for suspicion. 81 We must set
them q good example. 1t is useless
for you to preach to children If you
n u, oh,
Those who are older and whose senses
have been dulled by the passing of
years may be imposed upon sometimes.
but not SO with children. Their alert
minds soon discover inconsistencies.
a. Win them for Christ This is the
greatest thing Win them while they
are young Let the overcautious and
unduly pious think and say what they
may please, but win the children and
young for Christ at the earliest posi-
BILE moment and bind them forever to
Him and to His church. Get them
into His kingdom and by the grace Of
God help to keep them there that they
may never know anything else than to
love and serve God and to delight to
worship In His sanctuary.
But children and young people have
responsibilities as well as privileges.
They should love and obey their par
ents, reverence and respect their eld-
ers and strive to please those who are
giving time and care in training them
up In the fear Of the Lord. They
should also respond to the efforts OF
others to win them for Christ and
should remember their Creator In the
days Of their youth"
BIBLE READINGS.
Deut v, 16; vi, go; xxx, 1-3; Prov.
l tbs; vi, 2023; XIV, 10; xxi. 6; Feel.
III, ]; Luke xviii, 1917; Eph. vi, 1-3.
Christian Endeavor In Panama.
How about Christian Endeavor?
That too. exists In the canal zone as