Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-02-21
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
BEGINNING Feb. rs, 1912.

The lives of many home missionaries
have been a source of inspiration. 1t
Is true that there are not the same
glamour and romance attached to the
life ef the missionary who labors in
his own country as there are to the one
who goes to distant shores and among
strange peoples to preach the gospel.
Yet it is true at the same time that
In the annals of home mission history
there are not wanting numerous lives
of devotion, zeal and self sacrifice ca
pable of Inspiring the same noble traits
and characteristics to a very high de-
gree Christ Himself was primarily a
home missionary. He came, first of
all, ito His own" and it was His
own who received Him not and for
whom, in the first instance, He sacri-
feed Himself. The apostles. whose
lives are so full of inspiration. were
in the first place home missionaries.
They began their work in Jerusalem
and in Judea, and in their efforts
among their own people they manifest
ed the great courage and zeal that have
ever made their lives worthy of imita-
ton and emulation. Stephen was the
first Christian martyr. His life and
death have ever been highly inspira
tional. and vet it was among his own
people and by the hands of his own
people that he suffered Christian mar
tyrdom and became the first among
that countless number who through
out the Christian centuries have died
in the name of Christ and for the sake
of Christ
In the Christian history of our own
country there are many heroes of the
home mission field whose lives have
been an influence for good to all who
are familiar with their deeds of hero
ism and self sacrificing devotion.
Among them some inspire to one phase
of Christian life and some to another,
and we may therefore select as our ex-
amples of inspiration those who have
been conspicuous for the exemplifca-
ton of one particular Christian trait
or characteristic.
The life of John Eliot, the apostle
to the Indians, as home missionary
is an inspiration to indefatigable
Christian zeal Eliot was self saeri-
fcing and heroic; but, above all, he
was untiring in his efforts to win those
among whom he labored for Christ and
to instill in them a high standard of
Christian faith and life His tireless
energy is seen in the wide extent of
his labors, his gigantic efforts to To-
cate his converted Indians into sep
arate Christian communities and to in,
troduce the application of Christian
principles into the routine of their dali
" lives and, above all, in the patient
laborious task of translating the Bible
into the Indian tongue, his Indian BIZ
bic being (most appropriately the first
book ever published in our country.
No task was too stupendous, no under
taking too great. for this great home
missionary. for he firmly believed that
prayer and pains through faith in
Jesus Christ" could do all things. The
life Of Eliot has ever been and will
ever be an inspiration to fervent zeal
in the service of Christ.
The life of David Brainerd as a home
missionary is an inspiration to self sac
rifice. He was not wanting in zeal
and devotion, but the keynote of his
life was sacrifice. In Pennsylvania,
Delaware and especially in New Jer-
sey he labored among the Indians with
a spirit of self denial that has never
been surpassed in the home mission
history of our land. Weakened and
distressed by an incurable disease, he
persevered at his labors. Begged by
his loved ones and friends to turn aside
and rest awhile for the sake of his
physical health, he steadily refused,
and when at last compelled for lack of
physical strength to abandon his la
bors. he returned to them in a dying
condition. and although not burned at
the stake or hanged upon the scaffold.
he was as much a Christian martyr in
his death as those who gladly died at
the hands of the prosecutors of Chris
tianity. This great successful home
missionary never gave a thought TO
self. His whole mind was centered
upon his work for Christ regardless OF
the cost to himself. His zeal for the
Lords cause consumed him. and his
life will ever stand for self sacrifice
and self denial In Christian service.
Marcus Whitman, among many other
home missionaries. inspires 10 Chris
tan herolsm. He died Il martyr TO the
cause he espoused. but his name will
ever be remembered and revered in
American history for his heroic cour-
age in leading 1000 people across our
country and. as a result. saving the
great northwest to the American ma
ton. No one can read the story OF
Whltman's life without being thrilled
with new spirit Of Christian patriot
ism and inspired with ideas of heroic
endeavor in the cause Of Christ when
ever and wherever Christian heroism
is demanded.