The Washington times., 1913-05-31

1 PerhapS one OF the greatest ana mOo
| potent factors In bringing about In tn
young life Of some Of our churches 4
more dfiigent and constant reading o
!. the Bible. has been the Christian En-
deavor pledge. Taken by thousand,
| upon thousands Ct Christian Endeavor'
ers It has led those hosts Of young
people to realize the duty and privilegs
of daily reading OF Gods Word. The
question. therefore. of whether one shall
read and study his Bible has given
place to the query, what Ii the best
method for reading the Bible. in order
to secure the richest blessings there
from?
No rule or set Of rules can be laid
down for the study Of Gods Word.
Peoples lives and conditions are of %
varied . character. that q rule for one
another. Perhaps we may. however.
point out few guide-posts which have
number Of Christians to be efficacious
In the study OF the Scriptures.
in the pledge OF the squiet.hour." T 3
movement that IL q part Of and carried
on in connection with Christian En-
deavor work. Our Epworth League
friends have about the same idea in
ing Watch" One who takes the
quiet hour" pledge promises to read
his Bible and commune with God at
least fifteen minutes per day, prefer
ably In the early morning. This pledge
involves daily prayer, Bible reading and
meditation.
REGULARITY.
First. there 10 the idea Of regularity
and tnvariableness In the reading of
the Scriptures. The Christian Will do
well to read the inspired message eacn
day Of his life. In order that he may
be constantly reminded of the glorious
promises of God and tie duties that
have been laid upon him as respects
his relation to God, to his fellow man,
and to himself. AZ bad habits are
easy to oss Th. % nso' snS s
reading Of the Bible u a good habit |
to acquire and to cling to. II will prove |
a comfort and a blessing.
BIBLE READING A DEFINITE |
PART OF WORSHIP.
Again, In the quiet-hour idea, there !
are Incorporated the three most essen |
tial elements Of divine worship-prayer, |
Bible reading, and meditation upon the |,
things pertaining to the Kingdom Of ]
God. II ID not enough to petition ine !.
Father constantly for boons and priyi- /
leges; that were almost approaching
.eifishness. With the asking of Gods
praise and meditation and Bible study.
Through this last form of worship we
hear Gods voice speaking to Us. A
little child who persistently and with
put ceasing asked favors and gifts Of
lts parent, without giving that loving
parent an opportunity to Instruct or TO
guide the child In right paths would
not grow in the ordinary human graces,
and would soon become spoiled and un-
loSable. As the child needs the loving
and guiding counsel of It's
parent SO Gods children need to hear
the Fathers voice as expressed in His
1ivine Word.
Many Christians go about in a laud-
able attempt to do the work of the
they attend committee meet
services. they bake for ana serve at
strawberry lawn socials. and are other
wise pillars of the church. but they fail
70 get the great Joy of service for the
King simply because they do not,
through prayer and the reading OF
iod's Word, establish a connection
With the Infinite One. and are thus un-
lble to hear his loving messages and
o receive His directions and guidance
n the Christian life.
THE ENTIRE BOOK.
No Christian can obtain any ade- .
luate idea of the various parts Of the {
Bible as correlated one to another. nor
treat Message as a whole. without
eading clear through the entire Bible.
If course this cannot be done at one
ime. but there may easily be planned {
,ut a definite course of Bible reading
md study, which will give compre- .
,ensive knowledge of this Book of
Books. II
The Hon. Champ Clark, Speaker of {
he House of Representatives. has 4
ecture which he sometimes delivers,