Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-11-02
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
Beginning Nov. 8, 1910.

Beginning Nov. 6, 1910.
Topic.-The secrets of happiness.
v. 17-z7; Prov. Iii, Is. tConsecration meet
ing) Edited by Rev. Sherman h. Doyle,
d. d.
The topic is very discriminating in
the use of the word secrets" the plu-
no one secret or recipe for human hap
piness- The dispositions Of men are
far too different for that What would
be happiness to one would be misery
to another. and vice versa Supreme
happiness to some men Is the accu-
mutation of money. Their joy is in
seeing 1t increase and their delight to
count ii and watch its growth. But TO
part with it is the greatest misery TO
them. Other men. however. find their
chief joy in spending money. 1t means
nothing to them unless they can make
immediate use of 1t and get what they
call happiness out of it. One genera
ton In family acquires great wealth.
and usually both are satisfied, but the
latter generally comes to the worse end
But neither the miser nor the spend
thrift possesses the right attitude to
ward money nor gets the greatest pos
sible happiness out of 1t.
In worldiness many think to find
the secret of happiness. The things of
the world are real and apparent and
their happiness is to go in here for Il
good time. There is much happiness In
the world II properly used, but If
abused worldly happiness turns into
bitterness. wormwood and gail He
that strives to find happiness in the
sinful pleasures of the world soon dis
covers his mistake he goes from the
top TO the dregs and 6pds that sin
and Satan. vice and debauchery. are
not what they were supposed to be
Nor can they go so far and turn back
of themselves. Once fully started. they
Keep on, ever Intending TO stop. but
never doing so. The securest way. the
only real. safe way, is never to start
on the downward path to ruin.
In the intellectual world many think
to find the secret of happiness, Solo
mon was first an epicure. piling up
worldly pleasures; but. becoming stated
with worldly pleasures. he turned to
stoicism. the philosophy Of mental ad-
vapcement alone. with an absolute cru.
ciixing of every physical desire. But
here he also found variety. Disguised
with epicurianism drove many an an
Gent Greek to stoicism. But no ex-
treme is a cure for an opposite ex-
treme. The development Of the mind
for the minds sake alone brings dis
satisfaction and not happiness. He
who feeds upon books and thoughts
and despises his body soon learns that
happiness is not TO be found in that
way
The only real happiness is TO be
found in religion. Her ways are
ways Of pleasantness and of peace"
The true Christian finds JOY in the
proper use OF this beautiful world
which God has made. He does not
abuse ii and finds its harmless joys
and pleasures All very good"
The true Christian also knows the
secret OF intellectual happiness Civ
ing thinking and study their proper
place he develops his mind that he
may use his mental powers for the
better service of God and humanity.
In religion. above all. he finds his
happiness. II things go well he re-
joices In the Lord: II they go III be can
still. trusting in God. be happy In spite
of his Affections that come upon him.
for happy is the man whom the Lord
chasteneth
BIBLE READINGS.
Neh wifi. 10: Prov Ill. 1926: Ps. kill;
xxi. II: xxxvii. 10: xi. i-3: e: evil
Is: Matt v. 3-12: John xiii. l2-i1:
xvii. 26: Acts wifi. 5-S: Phil iv. 4; !
John ii. i5-l7: Nv. rs. 10