Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1909-02-24
CHRISTIAN ENDEAv0R.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Feb. %, 1909.
BY REV. S. H. DOYLE.

Topic-Home missions; present day pio-
Oeers.-Eccl. XII, Ia.
Present day pioneer missionaries are
In nowise different from those of the
past. They are those who stand alone
nn their work. 1t may be on the from
Tier of our country or among the for
eign immigrants in various parts OF
our country or in our cities, the islands
under our control or among the excep-
tional populations of our land The
pioneers are the first missionaries.
They SOW the seed, but do not always
gather it when they might expect to in
more settled and permanent fields
when the sowing has been of long
standing. The injunctions to them, as
set forth in this passage from Ecciesi-
astes, are most striking ones and apply
to all interested in missions as well as
they
1. The command to preach the Cos
del regardless of no assurance OF imme-
hdiate returns. Cast thy bread upon
The waters, for thou shalt find 1t after
many days" Palestine had irregular
droughts and downpours of rain. When
the signs of rain appeared animals
trod the dried, baked banks Of the
streams, and then as the rain subsidized
seeds were cast upon the waters, sank
into the now softened soil and brought
forth fruit Some seeds might be
washed away and yet at some future
time grow and ripen. This is the figure
referred to here. Christ is the bread.
He is to be proclaimed. The prospects
In the pioneers preaching may not be
great, and yet he is to keep on preach
ing, for "after many days the results
will be manifest" Results are with
God. and in His time they win come.
and in heaven. if not before. we may
be surprised at the largeness of these
results. This Is true of all Christian
and missionary work. "In due season
we shall reap if we faint not" hence,
regardless of prospects, We are mot to
be weary In well doing"
2. The gospel is to be preached to all.
Christ is the universal Saviour. Il. if |
be lifted up, will draw all men unto
me-" Give portion to seven and
also to eight" The number is indei-
mite, symboliZing that all are TO be fed
upon Christ, the Bread of Life-the rich,
the poor, the high, the low. the crowds
In the city, the few on the frontier,
every nation, people. kindred and
tongue, the outeast as well as the
cherished child of the elegant house,
those who remain at home and those
who travel to sparsely settled portions
of our country. And a reason Is here
put forth for so doing. '.for thou know
est not what evil may be upon the
earth" or what evil may befali you.
The wheel Of fortune turns rapidly in
this life The rich may become poor
and the poor rich. Even those who
are spiritual should lift up the fallen.
considering themselves lest they also
be tempted" and fall and need the help
of others to lift them up. And what
better claim to it can we have than
that in the day of our power we have
administered to others? Therefore
whatsoever We would have men
should do to you do We even so unto
them"
3. The conditions Of the times are
not to be considered. The man who
watches the seasons too closely will
not SOW and therefore cannot reap. A
soul may be saved at any moment.
God Is always ready and able to bless
our labors. We are not to wait. as
missionaries or as Christian workers,
for the seasons to be propitious. "All
seasons are Thine. 0 Lord" and all
seasons are also ours. The gospel
preached at any time will produce re-
suits. "In season and out of season"
we are to SOW. and they that sow in
tears shall reap In JOY"
BIBLE READINGS.
lisa. xxxii, 20; Nah. 1, Is; Matt. K, -;
xviii 10, 20; Mark xvi, Is; Acts 1, s;
Rom. TX, is; K, 1915; Gal. vi, 1, 8;
Rev. xii, II.