Christian Nation Vol. 18 1893 - Rparchives.org

June 7, 1893. A FAMILT PAPEE. 5.noi he dreamily debating how he shall arise. Hemust resolutely pnt forth the effort to get up, andshake off the languor of sleep. We must strive againstspiritual indolence. We should use the ordinances.As neglect of them will produce sluggishness, so thause of them will help to banish it. Also by plungingresolutely into God's work, by doing with our mightwhatsoever our haud flndeth to do, we can escapesoul torpor. But we mnst look up for help, pray Godby his Spirit to arouse us, and to keep us awake andactive.Christiari Endeavor Round Table.New York Preshytery.At the semi-annual conference of the NewYork City Local Union, held on Thursday andFriday evening, May 18th and 19th, the followingresolutions were submitted by theCommittee on Busiuees—Messrs. W. L. Ammerman,W. N. George, and J. E. Wray—andadopted by a standing vote :" In view of the announcement of the LocalDirectory, that the Columbian Exposition willbe opened to the public upon the Lord's Day,and believing that multitudes of Christian peoplewill be unable to patronize a Sabbath disregardinginstilnlion," Resolved : That we, the members of theChristiau Endeavor Societi s of New YorkCity hereby most emphaticf.lly and solemnlyprotest against this action of the management,which wo denounce as outraging, for considerationsof pecuniary profit, tue Christiansentiment of the entire conntry, and as deliberatelydefying the will of the people as expressedin the act of the National Legislature :" Resolved : That we respectfully appeal tothe President of the United States, to A torney-GeneralOlney, and to the National Commission,to interpose to the full extent of theirpower, and that we cail upon all Christianpeople, and all good citizens to use their ut-'uiost infiuence to oppose and to discountenancethis threatened injury to the American Sabbath,and affront to a Christian nation."There is a true Christian Endeavor ring tothese resolutions. It is gratifying to see howour Endeavorers all over the country are standingtrue to their colors on this Sabbath question.The Conference was held at the MadisonAve. Eeformed church, and was largely attended.On Thursday evening addresses weremade by Esv. Dr. Kittredge, and Eev. Dr.Duffield, and various Committee conferenceswere held. On Fiiday evening, the speakerswere Dr. H. M. Sanders, and Dr. A. F. Schauffler,and the conference closed with an inspiringconsecration service led by General SecretaryJ.W. Baer, whose name is so well-known inChristian Endeavor circles. Eev. H. T. Mc­Ewen, President of the Union, and chairmanof the famous " Committee of 1892 " presided.Convention-time is drawing near. Is yonrSociety planning to send a delegate to Montreal?If it is at all possible, do so. Our delegateswill bring back to those of up who muststay at home, inspiration and enthusiasm forwork, and we will feel a new interest in thatfar-away meeting, if we are personally representedthere.Mr. E. W. Montgomery will go as the official delegate from the 2d New York Society.Emily A. Walkee.THE ELF OF THE BROKEN VOW.Christian Endeavor prayer meetings are thevisible fruits of active membership pledges.gage in private worship, including not only thedaily reading and prayer, but the " whateverhe would have me do," without which periodicaldevotions become either perfunctory orPharisaical. If he who has signed the activemembership pledge regularly attends theprayermeeting and as regularly participatestherein, we may justly conclude that he is alsoa student of the Holy Book, a daily conversantwith Ohrist, and, whether he eats or drinks, isstriving to do ali to the glory of God.This inference is not drawn from the theorythat the most active prayermeeting Christiansare the most Christlike Christians, althoughthat may be>true, but rather from Christ's ownprinciple : " He that is faithful in that whichis least is faithful also in much."One of the hardest; things to deal with inChristian Endeavor societies is the light esteemin which the pledge is held, and back ofthat the trifling value which young people,older people, all of us, place ou our word.Are we not continually promising to dothings that are not doue because of some triflinghindrance, or sometimes because we neverintended to do them? I do not refer to deliberateuntruths, but to promises made carelesslyand forgotten as soon as given, and to thepledges taken with a sort of vague notion thatthey will pass current with the Lord or withthe community for a duty discharged ; as wesometimes see a man, who has not a dollar nthe world, eagerly giye his note to his creditor,and go away as light of heart as though he hadpaid the debt.Theee broken promises, these unfulfilledpledges, stare us in the face more frequentlyin church matters than elsewhere. So manyuneasy consciences clamor for good resolutions,so few demand their fulfilment.How far must one walk on Sunday morningto find a church building out of repair, a halffilledauditorium, a discouraged preacher?And why?Because men aud women who have promisedto give their financial and spiritual support tothe church have not done so. The twenty-five,fifty, or one hundred dollars whicb stands op­•Ten ascertain the duties which he obligatedhimself to discharge by accppting the office.When the roll is called at the Christian Endeavorconsecration service, name after nameis followed by silence. Where are they ? Givingan excuse to the Master? Possibly ; they•ertainly have not sent it tothe society. Theydo not regard their pledge. "I pray theehave me excused " is older by two thousandyears than the Christian Endeavor movement.If the Christian Endeavorer attends theAs the individual fulfils his pledge of attendanceupon and participation in the prayermeet­prayermeeting when h.'^ feels like it, the consecrationbervice when it is convenient, anding, in that degree, we may infer, does he en­forgets ail about his promise to attend the regularchurch services, are we wrong in concludingthat he also prays when he feels like it,reads the Bible when it is convenient, and forgetsthat there is a " whatever" on his card?Where lies the blame? With the boys andgirls? Not entirely. Are lhey not taughtfrom infancy, by the force of example uponexample, that a promise is a sweet-soundingphrase to tickle the ear and die in an echoand a pledge is a written expression of thepraiseworthy things we would like to do if itwere convenient. The active-mem bershippledge should be brought prominently andfrequently before the society, its importanceemphasized, and the consecration service madean occasion for coufession and thoughtful renewalof broken pledges.Let the Christian Endeavor organization seeto it that the young people who pass into thechurch through its portals are promise-keepingChristians, in whose ears the words of"tho Preacher" ever echo ; "Better is it thatthou shouldst not vow, than that thou shouldstvow and not pay."The Elf of the Broken Vow has bound hisspell about us, and whispers, "Eest, rest inyonr righteous resolves ;" but the Angel ofEndeavor cries aloud :'' Aspire, break bounds, I say.Endeavor to be good, and better stilj,And best! Success is naught, endeavor's all.''—Nellie Stuart Bussell in Sunday School Times.It is well known to the physicians of Mobileand New Orleans that the victims of yellowfever are chiefly those who drink freely.—Dr.Drake of Cincinnati.Every day's experience tends more and moreto confirm me in the opinion that the temperancecause lies at the foundation of all socialand political reform - Richard Cobden.Every benevolent institution utters the samecomplaint. A monster obstacle is in our way.Strong drink—by whatever name the demon isstyled, in whatever way it presents itself—thisprevents our success. Eemove this one obstacle,and onr cause will be onward, and ourposite their signatures I as not been paid, andlabors will be blessed.—John Bright.never will be. The position which the deacon,the Sunday-school teacher, the trustee, has accepted,has been filled by a name only, while great vice [intemperance] must be set downThe proportion of crime traceable to thisthe man himself has hardly had interest enough as heretofore, at not kea than four-fif ths.—in the matter, or regard for hia own honor, to Mass. State Board of Charities, 1869.