Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1907-07-03
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic FOR the Week
Beginning July 7.
Bv REV. S. II. DOYLE.

BY REV. s II. DOYLE
Topic.-IIow our lives may be consecrat-
I'd to our eountry.-Isa. xii i-l2.
One hundred and thlrty-one years
ago on last Thursday, July 4, the Dec
Aration of American Independence was
signed. and the aspirations of the
colonists for liberty and self govern
ment made mighty stride. In war.
under the leadership of Washington.
the colonists gained their inaepend-
enee, which they had declared justly
and rightly theirs. Their ambition
was not simply to be Independent Of
England. but to establish on our shores
a great nation. They were men with
empires in their brains and they aim
ed to work out their inward thoughts
into a great nation, one that should
be "a crown of glory in the hand of the
Lord and royal diadem in the hand
of God" This was the dream OF
Isaiah for Israel in the land of Baby
Ion. He wanted Jerusalem restored
end to be adorned with righteousness
and salvation that should shine to 9th
er nations. He wanted the people pre-
pared for the part they We're to take
in the upbuilding and preservation Of
the nation. And these ambitions We're
afterward fulfilled. So they have been
in the history of America, beyond all
conceptions of the founders of the ma
ton, and the duty still remains for the
people to do their part in sustaining
and advancing our national life.
No American citizen should feel it
burden or an irksome task to conse-
crate his life to his country. In no
other country are the ideals so high;
In no other is so much liberty enjoyed;
in no other are the opportunities of
advancement for the individual as
great; in no other are the people so
closely bound together and the inter
ests of all so nearly one. The enemies
of the nation are the enemies of all.
and the ship of state is never without
its dangers. Today in our land the
vast Accommodations of wealth by the
few Is a menace TO our land. The rapid
spread of socialism. which in some
cases at least is but cover for an
archism, is another danger. The COM
plicated questions concerning the regu-
lation Of the vast enterprises Of our
land are no light matter. All fraud and
dishonesty must be removed from the
business world, but great caution must
he exercised not to disturb legitimate
business or legitimate methods OF
business. The new enterprises In
which our nation is engaged, such as
the Panama canal. call for the heart,
est support OF the entire nation; the
evident tendency to centralize the gov.
eminent and to resurrect the dead Is.
sue Of state rights In their relation to
the central government is a subject
OF a most serious character, and every
to his country to keep abreast with
the times, to keep in touch with the
Issues Of the day and to give his best
thought and judgment to the solution
of the hard problems, as well as to
enjoy the unparalleled prosperity with
which God has blessed US.
In consecrating our lives to our coun-
Try we should stand everywhere and
always for national righteousness, for
righteousness exalteth nation" we
should respect oficeholders for the
sake Of the office. though reserving the
right to criticise any officials action.
I'VE should be ready at any time to de
fend the flag against any foe, and
above all, as Christians. we should dc
our best to possess the entire land foI
Christ. A Christless and Goddess ma
L.. =
BIBLE READINGS.
Ezra vi, $40; Neh. ii, Is; Prov. xiv,
"a; Jer. xxx, Z; Matt. xviii. 2427
xii, 1921; xiii. 81; Mark xii. 1877
Luke xiii, "a: Rom. xiii, Z; Tim. ii
l-3; Heb. II, SIG.