The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-02-19

Terse Comments on the Uniform
Prayer Meeting Topic OF the Young
Peoples Societles-Christian En-
deavor, etc.-For February I'll
"Fsvorite Chapters OF the BLDG
and Why."-Ps. 23:1-6
BY WILLIAM r. ELLIS.
have read Kipling's kim" at
least score of times; Drummond's
Greatest Thing In the World re.
peatedly; Barries sentimental
Tommy half a dozen times; and
Maclaren's For Consciences sake
in his Aud Lang Syne" equally OF
ten. No book is worth reading once
that is not worth reading often. We
naturally return 10 favorite pas
sages. That Is why every earnest
Christians bible Is thumb-marked on
certain pages. and opens almost OF
itself TO loved portions. Not all OF
the bible Is OF equal value and inter
est. Nor do the same parts always
make an appeal to all persons. Each
OF US has his treasured chapters.
This Christian Endeavor topic pro-
vides something In the nature OF an
experience meeting, where everyone
may tell OF his Finds" to others.
Certain chords on the piano VIII set
the chandelier TO vibrating. SO par.
ticular passages from literature-ano
from the bible especially-awake an
answering response in the reader .
own heart.
or all the treasured words In this
book which has been more assidu-
ously and intimately studied than any
other, doubtless the most generally
priced II the Twenty-third Psalm. the
"onepherd Psalm" OF David. What
II has meant to uncounted millions OF
Gods people throughout thousands OF
years passes the imagination to grasp.
Hunted martyrs have piilowed their
weary heads upon II and slept IN
peace. In the dark OF damp dungeons
II has been q song and stay. AZ
piring youth and spent age have alike
found sustenance In its beautiful pas
sages. This immortA4 song meets hu'
manity's common need for O refuge. z
protector. q guide: We are all sheep
and these words turn us TO the Shep
herd Of our souls.
Literature which takes cognizance
OF mans heart hunger and homesick
ness, which promises him deliverance
from the worlds weight OF woe, Il
the literature which writes itself into
the lives Of men and women. Thus
the New Testament counterpart oil
the Shepherd Psalm, and sharing with
II the favor Of Christians, Is the four
teenth chapter Of Johns Gospel-"Let
not your heart be troubled" The
comforting. compassionate Christ. In
the midst Of His own sorrows remem
bering the loneliness of His friends
pictured to them the Fathers house
with it's many homes that never break
up. Permanence-that IL what our
souls seek, and what Jesus promised
In the words spoken In this narrative
OF His last night OF human fellowship
with His chosen comrades.
Life lights up literature. Favorits
passages are those which have beer
made luminous by some personal en-
perience.
When the lamp OF faith burns low
and the souls vision IL dim, then W,
turn to the portrait gallery OF ths
heroes OF faith In the eleventh chap
ter Of Hebrews, where cloud Of wit
nesses to the power of faith are align
ed In living array. Our hearts take
new fire and our eyes are open; FOL
faith cometh by the worc
Of God"
Strfkingly; the most moving briei
portrayal Of the Man OF Sorrows is
not found In one Of the New Tesla,
ment biographies. but In the Book OF
Isaiah. The fifty-third chapter. with
its heartstirring picture Of the sui
fering Saviour. ranks at least third
among bible passages In the popular
favor Of Christians. Has al litera-