The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-02-03
~ WILLIAAI 81. EILIS.

The biggest things are not neceS-
sarily the greatest. That which makes
most noise does not always WELD the
most influence. While Christian En-
deavor has magnitude, and has not
done its work in cOrnOr, yet in the
process of exerting it's greatest power
it may be considered one of the silent
forces, unnoted of the world at large.
Its committee work is purely an affair
| of a local society or a small neigh
borhood its weekly prayer meetings
are merely gatherings of compare
lively few young persons There IS
nothing about either to cause the heed
less world to stop and think. Never
theless, Christian EndeavOr has been
an agency of a national importance, a
factor in the creation of the newly
quickened conscience of our time. a
force making for righteousness
throughout the land.
This is the folly of the worldly wise
that they despise the dream of youth
Organization, cunning, wealth and
sophistication they respect and utilize,
but, as for the high resolves of young
men and young women-"away with
these dreamers'' Whereas the might
lest human force that enters the world
elf it be wholly human) is a noble pur-
pose in the breath of youth The reso-
luton of the individual gives us our
great lives; and great lives give us a
new earth. Millions of eyes viii be
turned a few months hence, upon the
the great political parties, as If they
were all important; in real influence,
we even dare to say these immense
gatherings may be less potent than
little Christian Endeavor meetings
where holy and patriotic purpose is
formed, that will bear fruit in great
lives of leadership and inspiration.
Whatever the Bible stands for is a
Christian Endeavor IDEAL
Aim high.'' counsel the friends of
youth So. with daring audacity,
Christian Endeavor has set the high
est standards for it's members. Moth
ing less satisfies it than to be For
Christ and the church" Compare that
slogan with some of the battle cries of
the ay-higher wages, shorter hours,
woman suffrage, conservation of natur-
al resources, etc. The WatchwOrd OF
Christian Endeavor is broad and high
and all-comprehending.
We learn to do by doing; that is
truism. Christian Endeavor trains
young people for Christian service by
giving them actual service to do They
are expected to learn how to bear pub
lie testimony to their faith, how to
work in organized form for the church,
how to gather young people into the
church and hold them there; how to
provide social recreatiOns of Chris
tan character, and how to serve the
neighborhood in which they live. There
is some reason for the common prac-
tice of alluding to these organizations
as "Endeavor'' societies; for that is
what they are.
$50 nigh is grandeur to our dust,
So near is God to man,
When duty whispers low, Thou must,
The youth replies. I cam
Thus Emerson glimpsed the heart OF
the young. The highest makes the
str c-4 al To
reader than their elders to make re-
Spouse to the noblest call. God and
his good causes have not better friends
on earth than fine spirited young men
and women.
person faithful to the pledge Of
daily Bible reading has taken into his
life force for intellectual culture of
the first order: not to mention the
spiritual illumination which follows
ct had a friend was Kingsley's
famous response to the request for an