Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-21
The Mission
At Monmouth.

Monmouth, Me, Dec. 20.-(SpeciaD
The congregation that greeted Evan
| geist Hofstead tonight showed no fall
| ing off in size or interest a notice.
able feature was the large number OF
| young people present The evangelist
during his stay here has made strong
| impression. He has through special in
vitationS made the acquaintance of
many in their homes and these visits
nave been mutually enjoyed. In COM
pany with Rev. Mr.. Wallace of the
Methodist church he today called on
many of the business and professional
men and was everywhere most cor
daily received.
The people are much interested and
stirred and big audience is looked for
at the closing meeting Of the Mission
on Sunday. A large attendance Is
urged for the last meeting for men
only Sunday afternoon. Mr. Sterling
is arranging a special musical program
for the evening, with the help of local
talent.
The sermon tonight was 4 strong one
and made a grand impression An alb
Slrdct 1OllOWS:
Choose We this day whom ye will
serve. 1t is sunset at old Shechem. A
great life is nearing its Close. Yet there
is strength for 4 parting service. So
this brave captain calls for the elders
and judges to meet him. He stands
before them the great cheftan who
had led them in many a victorious
campaign, and now blessed with laurel:;
of many q triumph, covered with the
snow white locks Of centenarian, he
gives his final message. No: q word
must be lost. Every fragment will be
treasured.
In brief summary he recaptulates
the important events OF their history
and with the instinct of leadership still
active he firmly declares his own de-
cision and laying the object Of their
meeting before them he cmphaticaly
calls for their answer Choose ye this
day whom ye will serve. Service is rea
sonable. right, and obligatory. Choice
is demanded as to who will be our
master. Choice is a power which only
the human enjoy. Man only has the
power his supreme end; the brute has
nor, but acts from impulse and is driv-
L
brute cannot become anything but
what it is; man through choice may
become either Il brute. a devil. or ar
angel.
Some choose life. Others say /
won't choose death. This appears very
plausible but also, they do choose
courses which lead 10 ruin. There is
no such thing as neutrality in mor2l
effort.
Not only is it proper to choose orr
service, but there is proper time TO
do it. Hence Joshua's parting lnjunc-
ton Choose We this day" Distance
is ever widening and difficulties grow
ing In brevity of time, the uncer-
tainty Of life, the difficulty az Il de-
fcrred task, render it advisable to make
the choice at once. Some intend to but
put il off and have the fears without
the JOY Of religious faith. They neither
enjoy this life nor hope in that 20 come.
Like Douglas they try I" stride two
horses as far apart as the north and
the south, and fail as miserably dis did
Douglas whose dying words We're z
pathetic lamentation II missed it, I
missed it," Or like Byron who said at
the close of a chequered career
MY days are in the yellow leaf
THE flowers and the fruit are gone
THE worm, the canl:cr. and the grief are
mine alore."
COntrasted with these are the dying
words Of one who made the great
choice in life at the proper time. II
have fought the good fight | have
finished my course. have kept the
faith; henceforth there is laid up for
me cover Of righteousness" How
chose yCu.
\ special meeting will be held at go
p. NJ. Saturday.
The announcement for Sunday SER
vices are as follows, all meetings in the
NJ. f.. church: Preaching service at
1890; Union Sunday school at Il NJ;
mass meeting for men only at p. NJ;
Grand rally and closing service at 731
F. NJ.