Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1913-05-21
CHRISTIAN ENOEAVOR
Prayer Meeting Topic For Week Be-
ginning May rs, 1918.

ginning way % 1918.
Toplc.-Mission Work at Home ana
Abroad ". Industrial Missions.-Acts
xviii 1-e Edited by Rev. Sherman II.
Doyle, D d.
The sin of Adam not only brought
n curse upon our mankind, but upon
the earth itself. Cursed is the ground
fer thy sake, In sorrow shalt thou eat
of 1t. In the sweat of thy
face shalt thou eat bread" If Adam
had not sinned man would not have
been idle. but work would have been
without WEAKNESS and a constant
pleasure. The curse upon the ground
made it barren and difficult of cultiva-
ton. If Adam had not sinned he had
not sweated. These results extended
not only to Adam, but to all his pos
terity. Mere existence makes it neces-
sary for man to toll, though his labor
be wearisome and unattraetive. 1t
should be part of every mans life
to labor. The world has no place for
idlers. If it owes a man living he
must collect 1t like other debts
In spite of the fact that man must
work under these conditions as a re-
suit of sin, yet all labor, whether phys
ical or mental. has its compensations.
There is still a joy in the wholesome
labor. 1t keeps us from many temp
tations and sins. 1t is for idle hands"
that Satan finds some mischief"
Moreover, manual labor has been dig |
nified by Christ Himself. He learned |
the trade of a carpenter and worked |
at 1t until He entered upon His public |
ministry. Although He knew no sin,
yet as mans substitute 1t was neces-
sary for Him to enter into every hui
man experience that was involved In
mans sin.
Paul as the first great Christian mis-
sionary labored with his own hands
at the trade of tentmaker TO support
himself. This, however, is no argu-
ment against a paid ministry under
the different conditions that exist to-
day. Few professions, If any. make
greater demands upon men than the
ministry, and "the laborer is worthy
of his hire" This principle applies
equally TO all men. Underpaid labor is
bIt VI liiG great Flp'ltAhS VI va h--N-
The man who is willing and able to
labor should have living wage. He
who will not labor shall not eat" but
he who does labor should have a de-
cent living. Oppression of the poor IS
strongly condemned in the word Of
God. The strong should help the
weak instead of taking advantage of
them. The Golden Rule should be ap-
piled to the labor problems of today,
and the brotherhood of man through
the Fatherhood of God should be es-
pecially emphasized.
The modern missionary movement
wherever necessary has always EN-
phasized industrial missions. Many
people to whom the gospel Is preached
both at home and abroad need to be
taught the necessity and dignity Of Ia
Dor. A writer on missions in Africa
SAYS: "Indolence is natural to the peo-
pie Their wants are easily supplied.
They have no trades and but very linn
tied arts of rude house and boat build
ing, carpentry and blacksmithing.
when they are converted their
change of heart does not at once and
entirely make them diligent. 1t is
necessary, therefore, to teach them in
dustries and stimulate ambition" The
same is true in other foreign fields and
at home The hand is to be educated
as well as the heart. and this is done
In the industrial departments of our
mission schools. The skilled hand Is
a necessary factor in the Christianiza-
ton of any people Work is no small
part of religion. We "serve the Lord"
by being ''diligent In business" as well
-.-..,-cLir.