The Washington times., 1913-05-17

Who is there in this, the spring time
| OF the year. who does not feel recur-
renee Of his annual longings 10 make a
garden-plot all Of his own. II is true
that all of the radish and lettuce seed
and onion sets and tomato vines and
rose-bushes and things will not spring
| joyously from the earth into plants and
vegetables and blossoms some OF them
may even forget to come UP at all but
the results. however meager. are always
soul-satisfying, for one can always buy
| the things that didn't grow from the ac-
commodating and morning-slumber d.
pelling huckster.
At my own home a few days ago we
planted a lot of garden seeds. With
some sad exceptions the seeds are M
longer there. but even in so short a
time there have sprung up in their
, place plants and bushes and little tufts,
to carpet the garden beds with rugs Of
gorgeous green. and a little later to
embell.sh the table with luscious vege-
tables and fruits that will tempt lag
ging appetites into formidable proper
tons. so that one will want more AMI
more and then still some more. As
seeds and sproutlets In the ground these
things were worth but little. having
only potential value. and being an
earnest of the larger value to come. As
big stalks and green topped vegetable
plants they are things of beauty and a
JOY forever to the hungry inhabitants of
our Rome.
In the world today there are some
100000 of Christian Endeavorers, per-
maps fourth of whom are juniors. a
smaller number perhaps intermediates,
har n Iaf1
Christian Endeavorer societies (some-
times improperly called Senior En-
deayorers). Shall We say these are
4.o0o.o growing "sap1ings' or seed
has already been instilled the sparks of
divine life? Shall we say that these
mere "sproutlets" in the great garden
or God have as yet only potential VAL
ue, or that in few years. warmed by
the sunshine of Gods love. refreshed by
the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, tend
ed with loving care by workers in Life's
garden, they will grow up into great
strong plants and mighty oaks. giving
spiritual nourishment and food to those
who hunger and thirst after righteous
ness" and protecting beneath their shell
tering branches the oppressed the out
cast the sin-sick and the weary? Shall
these beginners in the Christian life not
Kingdom. and, strengthened by the
splendid principles of the irenclad Chris
tian Endeavor pledge. emboldened by as
sociation with Christian people young
and old. and made strong and sweet in
Christian graces through Gods loving
tender care. burst from the world as
does the sapling from the earth, and
grow up into the stature of Christi"
What a mighty force for good we
have in this tremendous youthful
army of 1000, 900 of Christian En-
deavorers in all parts of the world,
We find them not only in the United
States, but in large numbers in nearly
every nook and corner of the world
A mighty potential force is here. one
that Is destined TO become increasing
ly strong as IL gathers to its stan
dards the young people of all nations
and all climes. and marches on toward
the prize which is the high calling of
Christ Jesus"
We remember that when Christ was
teaching his disciples on the earth
he said, Except We become as little
children ye shall in no wise enter the
kingdom of heaven" But Christ did
not mean for his followers to remain
'as little children" His lesson was
that men should put away the things
of the world and become as Title
children in faith mad spirit, and they
would then be ready to grow In the
experiences of Christian living until |
they had attained the stature OF
Christ"
When one of Clark Gritfith's Climbers
strikes a pitched ball far Jut into the
outfeld, and starts on his mad career
running the bases. he has in rn'nd but
one thing. namely. 10 get to the base
that is ahead OF him in the least Fos.;i-