The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-10-08

" VIC Pdiu INC ASS AcSSOu- assembly
at nine o'clock. 1t
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the WseA
Beginning Oct. 9. 1910.
Topic. Forward steps In our society,"
Elk xiv. 9-l5. Edited by Rev. Sherman
II. Doyle. u. ID.
The lsraelites were in d great crisis
They bad celebrated the Passover for
the first time according to the COM
mand Of God III Egypt, and were now
on their way to the land Of Canaan
They had marched down in a rather
xigzag fashion to the south and south.
east and stood face to face with the
Red sea. with no apparent way Of
crossing over. They had no ships like
the Greeks and Persians to carry them
across. In front Of them was the
sea. on another side hostile tribes and
mountains to the south and southeast
Looking behind them. they saw Pha-
raoh and his army pursuing them.
The situation certainly seemed criti-
cal. Nor was it any wonder that they
complained. We would have done the
same and probably worse. But their
extremity was Gods opportunity. and
In a short time they were commanded.
while Moses held the rod over the
waters Of the sea. to '.go forward"
They instantly obeyed. God banked the
water. and they crossed. and when
Pharaoh and his army attempted to do
the same thing the waters came down
upon them. and they were drowned.
and Israel rejoiced.
The busy season Of the companies Of
the great Christian endeavor army has
arrived. What should therefore be
the watchword OF the army, which in
cludes all companies. each society?
What could be better than the COM
mand OF God through Moses to the
Israelites-"Go forward" or as the top
ic puts it. forward steps in our socie-
IT,"
Step forward under the command Of
God through His Son. Christ Jesus.
Do what God commands. Get your
orders from Christ and follow them
closely.
Step forward in spite Of difficulties.
Look at the Israelites again. What
immense difficulties they faced. but
how soon they faded away when God
desired It. Every society will have
its difficulties. But what army ever
went forth without meeting dimcul-
ties? General Mcclellan met some
with the Army Of the Potomac. Gen
eral Lee found few when he return
ed into Pennsylvania. Grant met more
than both together. but did his men
cry for graves or anything like that?
Not at all. They faced the difficulties
and won in spite Of their society COM
mittees. Attention! You will meet
difficulties. The F. NJ. committee will
not always get the leader 1t wants.
Will 1t stop there? No: it will go as
many steps as needful In order to get
some one who will lead. Executive
committee. attention. You will have
difficulties. Are you going to run away
from them or pass them by or resign:
II SO. then you are not ''step for
ward" member OF the committee.
Endeavorers all. attention! Each
one of you will have dimculties. 1t
may be difficult to be present or to
take part or to seek a new member.
Will you therefore break your pledge
to God in Christ? May It not be said
of you. what are all or any OF the
committee unless each member Is
ready to obey the command? Did the
Israelites hesitate when they saw the
water go up? There is no historic
record to that effect. Instead. each
one stepped forward. and imagine
quick.
Step forward in spite Of complainers
These people cried out against Moses.
They wanted to know IL there was not
enough burying ground In Egypt that
they must die under such circum-
stances-slain by Pharoah's army.
Did you ever hear Of society with
out Kicker" to use an expressive
word. II not so elegant: Every society
on earth ought to have complaint
committee to meet monthly to hear
all complaints and to adjust them.
Seriously. this might give us new
committee and be a step forward. In
some societies 1t would be 1--we wire,
but after the adjustment be made it
should stand. and the subject should
be dropped. Then. associated with the
complaint committee" there might be
4 burial committee" The complain
ers wanted q decent burial. Many
Endeavorers at least need 1t. They are
dead and need to be buried 50 far as
the Christian Endeavor society is con-
cerncd Better to have ten Endeavor-
ers unenrolled than hundred enrolled
and still only have the ten real ones.
Step forward to revival. Do not.
however. seek to add great list Of
new members to your roll. but take Oh
one-third to one-half. An evangelist
In Ohio was once asked by 4 news
paper reporter about the success u
4 work just closed. The answer was
that 1t was the greatest revival be
ever had. ''How many did you re
ceive?' mot one" said the minister.
but we put ont forty and are now
ready for a true evangelistic work
II this example were followed In more
churches and In Christian Endeavof
societies there would indeed be many
true revivalsL