Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-02-02
WINNING OTHERS
THE GREAT THING.
Assistant Pastor Smith, of West
Church, Writes to Christian
Endeavorcrs.

IOplcs winning oIllcfH 10 1flftStt
written by Wilbur Smith, assistant pastor
West Presbyterian Church.
In the passage which has been assigned
as that portion to be taken as the text for
the theme this week, We have recorded one
Of the finest examples of true Christian
enthusiasm that anywhere is to be found
The principal characters of these few
verses have three successive periods of the
day recorded: seeking, finding and tell
ing. Those are the three stages in the
rounded and full life of him who is born
again, but. sadly, not of all who are in the
army of Christ.
The first element, seeking is giving unto
every man, in one form or another; the
scientist is searching for truth in the realm
of nature; the theologian III the realms of
Biblical speculation; the historian in the
pages of mans activities, and the artist
in the object which he lnterprets He who
has no interest and never seeks is mentally
and spiritually dead. But unto all men,
whether scientist, historian, lnhorer, or
office clerk, is, and through all the ages
has been, another search; the search for
peace for soul, for rest from the world
and, in the ultimate salvation from the
power and the penalty OF sin No man
but that, even contrary to personal con
fcssion, longs for that peace that passeth
all understanding. On TINT hasis the
worker for Christ can approach his fellow
men.
The second period OF The narrative
records the fact that that which they
sought thew found This Is not the case,
rs it was above, with all the race. They
all. nor nearly all, have not found The
world lieth in darkness. Great nations
are yet in their entirety heathcn ard
great mvriads of those within the confines
OF Christian countries are without the
light. These men of our story are never
known to have sought for themselves
again. They sought others.
FIRST they were satisfied So must he
who seeks others. The personal appeal
OF the Christian who has not really been
satisfied in his own finding falls fiat ON the
ears of him who does not believe " hen the
mathematician cannot find an answer TO
his problem IL is not the fault OF the
problem but of him who seeks to solve it.
SO also, IN the seeking OF Christ, the Tact
that many have found him not is not
due to Christ's distance nor to Ills aloof.
ness but To the wrong path pursued by the
sccher Finally, all who seek do not find
but all who find surely ought to tell Of
his own great discovery and the peace
and satisfaction that have come To hin
through knowing JesI9
This ushcrs IN the third stage in this
narrative. that at which many hrlstlans
stumble OF all the good news that can
ever pass from the lips OF one man To
another II is the sentence of Andrew
we have found the Nessius What
n wondrous rapture must have been 70
those who, strained with the expectation
OF the Messiah, burdcncd with sin, seeing n
decayIng race, and crunbling empire,
and a loose people round about them,
came upon Him whom they knew was
their king, and who alone and forever was
10 take away the sins of the world. Yet
we are men rs are they, sinners as were
they; and the same Joy that was to them
should be the immediate possession of all
who have also found HIM.
Next Sundays topic will be written by
DIR. Irwin. stor of Delaware avenue
Baptist { hurch.
We are going out to DR.. Gilillan $
church. Olivct, to hold our business
meeting next Monday night, February t.
Yes, the church on the hill We don
bother them very often, but let US I'LL
the church and make our presence
known
Endeavorers, you have heard the saying
''the latch strings hang out. Let that
be our motto. in church work. each
cndeavorer acting as the latch string by
extending the welcome hand to membel :
and strangers alike Make your soc.ety y
the open door to your church, door that
your pastor will have no difficulty Ii
opening.
Come out and give Bethany Baptist
royal reception.
The word Stacker" does not sound very
well when connected with our names
Docs it apply to you IN endeavor work!
# so, get busy and he real volunteer
in Christ S army.
Grcenhlll we would be pleased To wei.
come your new pastor Monday evening
The City Union extends most cordial
invitation to him and will give hum u
hearty welcome
t.ndeavorers, there should be no Hoover
izing or Gar. .eldizing In G. L. work IL
these strenuous times. We need the
gospel nourlshment if we would trave
straight and true in our Christian work
Pastor IL. T. Smith will have fuel and
nourishment from the Bible, come and get
strength and warmth at the Business
Meeting.