Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1912-01-03
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For the Week
5eainnina Jan. 7, 1912.

SegInntn9 Jan. ~ io'~.
Topic. The Christian virtues. Cour-
age.-Ps. xvii, l-l4 tConsecration meet
ing) Edited by Rev. Sherman ii. Dos'e'
d. ID.
The TOPICS for the conservation meet
ings of 1912 will deal with the Chris
tan virtues. and 1t is most fitting that
the one selected for the first meeting
OF the new year should be Courage.
The future. unknown and Impossible
Of being known. should yet at least by
the Christian be faced with tndomf-
table courage. The past may nave
been disappointing the future may
even look dark and foreboding. yet
why should the Christian be discour-
aged? With the .psalmist we also can
saw: .The Lord is my light and my
salvation. . The Lord Is the
strength of my life. OF whom shall
be afraid?" II the Lord be our LORD
there need indeed be no cause for fear
for IF God be for us who can be
against us?'
Courage is of several kinds. In gen.
eral we may say that there are phys
ical courage. mental courage and NOR
al courage. Physical courage Is to be
greatly admired and even desired, but
1t is not the most desirable form OF
courage. One may be weak In body.
vet mentally and morally courageous,
having convictions and the courage OF
conviction. knowing the right and dar-
ing to do the right. A moral coward
is far more despicable than physical
coward. The man who can face can
non without fiinching, yet has not the
moral stamina to say mo" in time of
temptation to do evil, should not be our
ideal hero. PLATE no doubt could have
bravely led an army on field of bat
tie, but when through moral coward
ice he surrendered an innocent man to
be put to death he richly deserved the
contempt and condemnation that have
been heaped upon him.
On the other hand. the Christian
martyr who may have quailed before
physical torture yet faltered not In
faith, displayed the highest form of
courage. While we should not under
rate the value and Importance of
physical courage. we should not over
rate it. but give to moral courage the
supreme place. Peter met the Roman
soldiers with a sword, yet fell before
the accusing finger of woman. 1t
is not difficult to see that his denial
OF Christ would have been less inglo-
rious and contemplate had he fed
from the soldiers and stood firm when
it was said. Thou art one of them
On this occasion he proved himself for
the time being moral craven. Let us
cultivate the higher forms of courage.
With our convictions let us have the
courage of conviction, and. knowing
the right, LET us ever do the right. even
in the face of scott or scorn.
The source of true courage is in God.
To Joshua the Lord said 'Be strong.
-" AS | was with Moses so | will
be with thee" Which was equivalent
to saying. Il will be thy strength"
Before Pentecost Peter trusted in him
self and fell. After Pentecost he trust
ed in God and never faltered. Let us
not trust In personal strength, in riches
or in worldly place or position. Di-
vine strength alone never fails. Let
US therefore be strong in His strength
alone.
WYATT on the Lord and be thou
strong, and He shall strength afford
unto thine heart-yea, do thou wait, ]
say, upon the Lord"