Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-02-02
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For The Week
BEGINNING Feb. 9, 1910.

6o0tnntn6 foos q isfus
Topic.-Ths model Christian Endeavorer.
John Nv. la (Chrisian Endeavos day)
Comment by Rev. Sherman H. Doyle.
D. D.
Twenty-eight years ago on last We'd
nesday, Feb. 2, the first Christian En-
deavor society was organized at Willis
ton Congregational church Of Portland,
Me-, by the then pastor. the Rev. DR..
Francis s. Clark. Its rapid growth and
worldwide influence and its continued
stability In spite Of many false prophe-
eies to the contrary form one of the
most remarkable events in the history
Of the Christian church. In the church
and "for Christ and the church" 1t met
. need that no period Of the Chris
tan centuries had been able to meet
namely, the interesting Of the young
people in the church. The church and
the world owe debt to the movement
started by Dr. Clark. and it is a mat
ter Of earnest congratulation and
thanksgiving to God that, in the years
since this small beginning has become
q great movement, interdenominatio ton
al and worldwide. DR.. Clark's life has
been graciously spared and that today
be still stands at its head and after all
these years is still permitted. under
God, to direct this great organization
with the same mastery skill that he
has always displayed in his relation to
this child of his young manhood now
grown to gigantic proportions. As
model Endeavorers let us fervently
pray on this anniversary occasion that
many such years may still be before
him and his long and invaluable asso-
ciate in this great work. Mr.. William
Shaw.
A great movement needs great and
masterful leaders, and Christian En-
deavor has always had them. But
great movement also needs great
rank and file. Generals alone never
won a battle. They plan them and d.
rect them, but success or failure de
ponds to an incalculable extent upon
the men behind the guns. Napoleon
was military genius unequaled per-
haps in all history. but without the
vast armies Of soldiers behind him,
who in their devotion were ready to
die for him, he never would have won
a battle and would have died an I'M
known Corsican. The Christian En-
deavor movement has been and Is what
It Is today as much because of its fol-
lowers as because Of its leaders. These
followers. therefore. well deserve con-
sideration for one anniversary. and
from a practical standpoint what bet
ter idea could have been suggested
than one to inspire them to become
model Christian Endeavorers?
In sentence it may be said that the
model Christian Endeavorer is
Christlike Christian Endeavorer. No
Christian can be an example. pat
tern, a model, only in SO far as he is
like Christ To the Corinthians Il Cor.
Il, II Paul wrote, BE We followers of
me. even as also am Of Christ" or.
in other words, Follow me to the ex-
tent that follow Christ" This Is also
the thought Of Christ's parable Of 1.-THE
vine and the branches" He Is the vine.
and we are the branches. And only as
we abide in Him and He in US can we
bring forth good fruit or live life that
is worthy Of imitation by any one else.
Filled with the spirit Of Christ. the
Christian Endeavorer will live a con-
sistent Christian life, be true to his
pledge. loyal to bis church and per-
form faithfully the duties and obliga-
lions assigned to him. Only such an
Endeavorer can be model In the real
sense. The others are only models in
the sense that they are "a poor imita-
tion of the real thing" On this Chris
tian Endeavor anniversary. which Is
also our conservation service. let rs
consecrate ourselves as never before
to an inward life full of Christ and
an outward life that will lead US as
Endeavorers to perform faithfully all
the obligations that we have taken
upon ourselves in becoming members
of the Christian Endeavor society.
The results will be of inestimable
value to ourselves and to the cause
which we represent.
On each Christian Endeavor ami
versary we should as model Endeavor-
ers remember the memorial fund.-"
which was inaugurated at the Balt-
more convention on the twenty-dfth
anniversary of the Christian Endeavor
movement. The writer of these ar
ticles In his state convention at Balti-
more conscientiously opposed the
pledging of the state union definitely
to attempt to raise an enormous amount
Of money for the purpose suggested.
and in this one union it was voted
down. But he does not oppose the
movement itself as purely voluntary
effort to erect suitable and sufficient
ly attractive office building in Boston,
30 as to perpetuate the international
headquarters and to commemorate
Christian Endeavor. This is now the
openly declared purpose Of the officers
Of the society. To such a movement
all Endeavorers IL possible should re-
spond. and what better time could be
selected to make special effort to
do something toward this fund than