Evening journal., 1909-01-21

BY Charles r. Eastman.
Once a month. all through this year,
we are TO have one Of the great books OF
the Bible for our prayer-mecting topic.
Many of these will be used as ccnsecra-
ton meeting topics, since they will allow
a wide range of thought and testimony.
In each case the entire book is to be used
in the prayer meeting, and not merely the
Scripture passage chosen for public read
in=.
The selection OF these twelve books was
made by a large number OF distinguished
clorgymen and laymon in the train on
their way to the International Christian
Endeavor Convention at Seattle. Each one
wrote down the twelve books which they
felt were their favorltes aud which on
the whole had meant the most IN their
individual lives. There was remarkable
uniformity in these lists. and the twelve
books which obtained the largest number
Of votes were chosen for use IN this years
topics
The first one selected. which We have for
next Sundays topic. is Genesis. the book
OF beginnings. The Hebrew name for the
book is it's first word. which translated
means In the beginning" This is one OF
the longest books in the Bible. containing
fifty chapters. and covering a longer
period OF time than all the other sixty
FIVE books Of the Bible put together. In
its value as a masterpiece of literature.
as a revelation Of God and as a history
Of man. the book Is surpassed by no writ
ings except the four gospels.
The first lesson 10 be learned from
Genesis comes from that grand statement
at IFS opening. showing the majesty and
greatness of the infinite God. 'In the be-
ginning" that S. before the beginning
was. God was. because he always had
been. It is something our finite minds
cannot grasp or comprehend. we can only
think of it with wonder and awe. NO
science or philosophy has ever gone be-
yond this statement. 'In the beginning
Cod"
The next lesson that comes to us is that
God made heaven and earth, and Sll that
/ dwell therein. And having made this world
I He is keenly interested in every detail OF
It's existence: He has not gone away and
/ left It TO take care Of itself How COM
/ forting to know that this great creator is
our loving Heavenly Father, who knows
MS even TO the number Of hairs on our
head. and without whose notice single
sparrow cannot fall to the ground.
Again, we learn the exalted position
given to man when this world was Gre
ated. for we are told that God made man
i'm His own image. Man is something su-
perior to all other created things: man
can think, can reason, command and love
like God. and have dominion over all other
creatures. We have need to learn this les.
/ son, TO realize that VIC can be like God
because we have been made in His image
We need to realize how noble is this hui
4 man nature God has given us. and TO act
as the possessor Of such a nature should
righteously refusing to damage or de.
grade a.
Alas. that sin should enter this beauti'
ful world. and mar Gods image in the
created man. Why could not all this have
been avoided? God could have avoided IL
by making us like the angels. mere min
istering servants, but that was not Hi
plan I'm creating man. He made us inde
pendent beings tllat NC might give Hin
our loving worship and service out OF on
own free viii, and not. Ike mere ma
chimes. because We were not able to d
otherwise and had no power of choice
: How are we going TO use this God-givei
power in our lives7 Shall we choose q
God desires. or as our own selfish in
olinations would lead us? in one of on
great cities a museum OF fine arts wa
moved from the center OF the city 10
more open region. for fear Of fire. HOY
careful men are OF images OF paint an
marble, and how careless OF the image 0
God in the soull
Many other wonderful lessons unfol
themselves as we follow the book Of Gen
esis to its end. What great heroes an
mighty characters are revealed TO us. ]
v should be easy for every Endeavorer I
select his or her favorite character an
! speak of the lesson received therefrom.
! each one Of us VIII do this, how our pray
I er-meeting will shine. Let us go over som
of them very briefly.
From Adam let us learn a lesson o
manliness. How contemplate TO soc hin
\ and so many OF his descendants, try {
lay the blame Of his sin on some one else
From Eve let us learn a lesson Of content
'ment. Let us not dare 70 even wish 10
{ more than God bds already given.
" Abel sets us an example OF giving co
that kind Of honor and worship which W
know Will be pleasing TO Him. From IN
= terrible tragedy Of Gains life LIT us lear
r obedience What is not done Gods wa
is better not done at all.
From Enoch VIC learn the blessednes
= of a life Of close fellowship and CON
munion with God. We sing in our hymn
''Oh, for a closer walk with God" and
this busy, hurrying age we need 10 lear
= this lesson more than anything else.
In Noah We have an example of gres
faith in and obedience 70 God under mos
, trying conditions. In Abraham is anothe
similar great example. From Lot We lear
the danger OF selnshness and tho folly {
\ choosing worldly advantages at the es
pense OF noble character and spiritu'
good.
& Firm Isaac we learn n lesson Of peac
;. In those days Of continual fighting 1t
T. refreshing to find a character who reali;
ed that some things arc not worth hghtin
" FOR.
Let us learn from Rebekah how FOOLS
+ Il is to try TO further our plans by d
J. honest means. BY her trick she lost III
son from view and made him a trickst'
like herself, and Jacob was in turn tricke
by his own children and lost his favori
boy. We may learn from Jacob that tricI
. sters are likely 70 set triclSed in the
q turn, that questionable means for a,
:. vanclng or hurrying Gods plans do NJ