The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-23
HE HAsKIN LETT Err
The Pocket Testament League


a lew years ago. 4 young schoo,
| girl attended Q revival meeting an I.
became 50 filed with the love Of God
N her own heart that she wanted to
bring II into the lives Of her little
friends. Another little girl In her
school had the same experience. From,
the inspiration Of these two children
!has grown the greatest religious or
gantzatiQn in the world. and no reck-
cning can be made or the millions o
people who have been, and are being
BENEFITED by 1t.
The girls started upon a soul-win-
ming effort AMONG their schoolnates
ind went about IL in a quiet, method-
ical way. They agreed meyer to argue
Ito talk to only one girl at a lime. and
to- depend upon the Bible for daily
help. Each started by keeping d
Bible in her desk but the Bible in the
desk was not always accessible, bc.
tcanse the playground Afforded the
best opportunity to talk with tle
other girls. y To solve the difiicdlty.
each began To carry a small pocket
Testament. y IA I:
The little Testament proved so
helpful to them, and to those who be-
came interested, that thy organized
la little society caller. The pocket
Testament League Fash member
was pladged never to be without her
Testament and mode OF greeting
among the members was for, one girl
10 pull out her little book as a. chal-
Ilenge to the others. This helped each
Eiember to keep her pledge.
The Organization grew until 1t mum
bered over sixty members in the high.
school. When school days were over,
the members scattered, some of them
to remote countries, but a correspon-
dence is kept up and each of them has
brought oner into the league. This
requires ony the acceptance OF the
following pledge as originated by the
1.-TWO girls; II hereby accept menu
bership in the Pocket Testament
League by making it the rule Of. my
life to read at least one chapter of the
Bible each day and to carry pocket
Testament with me wherever 60.
The little girl responsible for the
league is now the wife of l,ir. Charles
alexander, the revival song leader
who Is now working in England with
DIR. Tory in his religious work among
1.-THE British soldiers. The work Of
1.-THE league has spread into all parts
lof the globe from the Fiji Islands to
the Polar sea. Its membership now
exceeds "a million men, women and
children, representing every class
from the highest to the lowest. These
!, great evangelists carried the mission
Il of the Pocket Testament League into
4 very country of their world tour and
ere earnestly promoting 1t as part of
their own great plan OF soul-winning.
The simplicity and practicability Of
| the league make strong appeal to
busy. people. Business men, profess
sional men, newspaper writer's, rail-
road and street car men are easily
persuaded to accept a little Testament
and make a pledge which requires SO
little from them. 1t appeals especial
ly to travelling statesmen who have to
spend SO much time upon trains and
have thus much opportunity to read
The Band of Gideon, an organization
composed entirely Of travelling sales.
men, has united with the league al
most to a man. Many of them carry
number of Testaments in their sam,
pie cases for free distribution.
The Gideons are all Christian mer
who feel that, because their travelling
life makes 1t impossible for them t
work with church organization II
their own homes, they yet desire
to do something to promote religious
growth. One Of their special actiy
tiles has been placing Bible is publ.
places, especially In hotels. A mum
Der Of large hotels have had Bible
placed in every room through the
generosity. Of the, Gideons. The
Testament is less expensive than the
Bible. and is therefore distributed
in greater numbers. One man re
Gently reported having secured TWEEN
ty-one members upon thousand
mile trip. They Include conductors
brakemen. dining car walters ant
passengers.
Another man gave league tesla
ment to a railroad porter in New
York. Ten months later he wa:
passing through the same station al
night. One Of the porters looked ia
miliar. He asked, ".Are you the mar
II gave a testament to last year?"
Pulling the little book out of his
pocket the porter answered, Yes
sir, here 1t 1t 'is."
Has 1t done you any good 2"
ut has done me this much good,
was the answer. Since you gave g
to me ] have Joined the church anc
lam now an elder. am working al
the time to bring other men Il
church"
: Every religious organization rec
ognizes the influence OF the league
, land co-operates with It. Man,
! csurches have branch leagues which
hold regular meetings, tending t.
-tpromote the spiritual growth OF tn,
church. No one joining the league
|. daily reading Of the Testament al
most inYaria hly brings about the de