Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-11-24
CHRISTIAN ENDeAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For tho Wssk
Beginning Nov. %, 1909.

k1c SUM. LSurc 4if, io--J.
There is 10 more grave or serious
missionary problem before the Chris
tan church today than that Of carry
ing the gospel to the stun districts of
our large cities. When we face the
problem of the foreigners segregated
In our large cities, our Industrial and
agricultural centers. it seems to be a
great one. but it is as nothing COM
pared with the reformation and re-
demption Of those who have become
victims Of the sins and allurements of
the slums. The difficulties involved In
successful Christian work In the slufns
are colossal and almost insurmount-
able. Were 1t not that 'all things are
possible with God" man would be com.
PEELED to give up in despair In the face
Of the gigantic difficulties presented.
When we think of what needs to be
done and how little is being or can be
done the heart grows sick and we feel
like exclaiming with Paul. who is
sufficient for these thingsT' Many Of
the victims Of the vices of Stun life
do not want to give 1t up. and what
can be done for those who desire to
have nothing done for them? Thou
sands perhaps would like to break
away from their foul surroundings. but
how can they? And If they did where
would they go and what would they
do? Would even the Christian church
receive them into its membership and
try to help them upward? Sad to say,
there are possibly few churches that
would do so. Into what home would
one stained with the life of the Sums
be received even to dc. the most mental
labor? The gospel is being preached
TO many Of them. especially in theaters
on Sabbath nights after the church
services are over.
Many profess conversion. and many
are converted. but their future is full
of darkness and almost despair. The
men may meet with some help and en-
enlargement but the women have very
small prospects of reclamation. and
many of them. 1t must be said. of
dire necessity drift back into the old
life of vice and sin. Houses Of refuge
for fallen women reclaim and restore
many. but few indeed In comparison to
the numbers involved, and even then
the places made vacant are soon filed
by new victims.
The duty of doing something rests
upon Christianity and Christian work
ers 1t is easy to criticise municipal
governments for not keeping large
cities free from saloons and gambling
dens and other resorts of vice. but the
problems before them are almost as
great as those before the church. They
might do more than they do perhaps
more encouragement from good citi-
zens instead OF so much severe con-
demnation. But what they can do
they should do. for they not only rep
resent the law. but also upon them
rests the duty of enforcing the law.
BY Christian people one or two things
can and should be done. 1t has been
well said that ian ounce of prevention
is worth a pound of cure" Could not
Christian people save many from the
Sums? And. If so, ought they not to
do so? Could not many be saved from
the Sums if little care and attention
were paid to them by the preferred
followers of Christ? If young man
starts downward, who knows but that
a little prompt attention might save
him? But. instead of that. is not the
tendency just the opposite, DO not
sianderous tongues help him ons DO
not his associates begin to pay less at
tention to him and gradually with
draw from association with him? And
what is the result?
10 the slums he goes for companion
ship. and his ruination soon becomes
complete. The same is the history of
thousands OF women in the slums to-
day. They may be naturally wild in
disposition In their early young wom-
anhood Through inexperience of life
they may commit indiscretions and
perhaps nothing more. Just at that
moment their friends should hold the
firmer to them. But do they? In most
cases they do not. They are received
with sarcastic smiles and filters.
Skirts are raised when they pass by
lest their wearers become ntaminat-
ed. They must not be in such class
in the Sabbath schoolApr certain others
will leave it. Stunned and deserted
just when they need a kind word or
a saving hand clasp. they, too. pass out
of sight and are soon found in the
slums. To many religion is but a
farce. but nowhere does the farce APP
pear to such an awful extent as in
the average Christians attitude to-
ward those who have fallen, toward
those who are ''down and out" Yet
many of these same people are the
veriest hypocrites and baser at heart
than many of the unfortunate weak
lings who have drifted to the slums.
Another thing is absolutely certain
Christian young people should not go
Summing Through summing parties