Evening journal., 1909-01-14
CHRISTIAN
ENDEAVOR NEWS

BY Charles F. Eastman.
We have a new line Of thought given
us for consideration in our prayer
meeting this week. one of series Of
topics which ought to give us much
to think about. once a month all
through this year we are to have a
lesson taken from Bunyans great mas
terpiece, "The Pilgrims Progress"
This book gives us in the form of
story commentary on the leading
truths Of the Bible, and outside of the
Book of books itself, it stands at the /
head Of the worlds great religious /
works. To get the most out of these /
topics every Endeavorer who does not I
already own one should get copy
of this famous book, and read il all
through In the course OF the year as
the topics follow out the story 10 its
end. The United Society of Chris /
tian Endeavor at Boston has an excel |
lent edition for thirty cents, and others
at higher prices, so that the book
should I've within reach of all
just a word about the author of
Pilgrims Progress" John Bunyan was
born in tho village Of, Elstow, near
Bedford. England, in 1923. He had very
little schooling, and followed his faith
er's trade of travelling tinker a busi-
ness which was considered very little
above vagabondage. As a youth .he
was not noted for his morality. and
for swearing and lying is said TO have
had few equals of his own age. His
sensitive imagination. however. mould
ed by the puritan spirit of the age
often made him think with fear and
trembling Of the results OF his sin and
the coming judgment. He married
wife as poor as himself. whose pious in
| fluence developed in him an earnest
desire for reformation though he con-
tinued in a sinful course Of life while
at the same time struggling with the
conviction Of his need for repentance.
He was finally converted through the
'-H''ance Of a Mr.. Clifford. a local
preacher; Joining the Baptist church
and beginning himself to preach. At
the restoration, persecution Of the nom
conformist sects began, and on Bun
yon's refusing to cease preaching, he
was imprisoned for twelve years i'm the
Bedford jail. Here he wrote a number Of
theological works, and in his spare mo-
ments the beginning Of Pilgrims Pro
gress." This was first published in
1878 and became at once very popu-
lar. and before his death was read
with delight not only throughout Eng
land but in France and Holland. and
in the far off colonies Of America. II
has since been translated into many
languages, some Of which were un-
known to Europe i'm the days when
Bunyan lived. Missionaries have car
ried with them this book to almost
every part of the earth, and the Pilgrim
now tells his tale to. people Of every
race and cline.
After BuiVan's release from prison
he lived usefu life as a preacher and
writer. high in authority and influence.
He died August 12. 1858, and was bur-
led in Bunhill Fields, London.
In this book Bunyan describes the
Christians journey from this world to
that which is to come under the sim .
ilitude OF a dream. and he indicates by
metaphor the difficulties and helps 10
be found on this Journey He tells
us his dream was shown him in a den
which OF course was the Bedford jail
He saw a man with a Book in his
hands. the Bible. and great burden
on his back, his many sins. The mar
had discovered from the Book that
he was living in the City of Destruc-
tion. his state Of unforgiven sin, and
is greatly distressed at the Thought
He gets no sympathy from his family
and his neighbors. and as he cries out
in his distress. What shall 1 do to b,
] saved?" Evangelist appears and tell.
the poor pilgrim what to do-point.
him to the wicket gate, which mean.
repentance.
, How many hindrances Christian find,
, in his new course. His wife and hi.
children cry out after him, and hi
neighbors, obstinate and pliable. tr,
to hinder him. How vividly do W,
see the problems which beset us i'm oul
own Christian life portrayed by Bun
. van in the various characters of hi
book. It will be easy to apply tn,
i. story to modern conditions.
The recent catastrophe in southern
Italy, with the awful ruin which over
whelmed the cities of Messina an,
Reggie, has given the world an ap
= palling illustration of what il mean
4 TO be in a real city of destruction
1t is by sch a comparison as thii
' that Bunyan would have us realiz
how terrible sin is. and what certain
destruction is coming to those VIII,
continue in a state of sinfulness How
e many people are living in such a cit,
o as Bunyan pictures, careless an,
! thoughtless. like Pilgrims neighbors
!, of their souls welfare. and intent onl,
on the pleasures of the present. T,
be thoughtless about such a matte
is the saddest of thoughtlessness. lie
: not any of us think of sin as a ligh
matter. but, like the pilgrim, by re
,"~'Hnce forsake it and leave It be
T. fore it is too late. At the narrow en-
" trance to a villge harbor an ice floy
2 grounded. Two boys swept off tn
e snow and skated on the ice for
:. week. Intent on their play they failei
a TO notice ii when the spring tide float
y ed the ice and began carrying then
I, out to sea- When at length one o
: them noticed the widening water be
2, tween them and shore, with a warning
h shout he instantly sprang in, and afte
I. a desperate struggle. gained the beach
r. The other hesitated. watched the darl
stream growing wider every momen
as the ice caught the sweep of tn
e tide, and then he too sprang in, bu
a too late. for he never reached tn
II shore, 1t Is ever thus with life En-
n crossed with their work or play, me
Is are unconsciously swept away fror
leternal life by currents that do nc
/. make for godliness. Now is the &C
" cepted time. A moment more OF drift
ing may cost you your soul.
y Won think It is easy your steps to re
trace
Before the last pitfall is gained;
That man aar efs,f, short of ,.r.,,sI,