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14 THE PRESBYTERL
Prayer Meeting
HOME AND FOREIGN MISSIONS.
For Week Beginning March 28.
The subject assigned for our Home Mission siudy in March
is. "Mexicans in the United States'' and "The Origin ol
Mexican Missions." Under the first topic we quote from an
article by Rev. H. R. McFadyen, in The Home Mission
Herald, as follows:
There are some 30,000 Mexicans in and about El Paso,
and for hundreds of miles on every side all over this arid
west we find them scattered. Their faces are turned this
way Iron: far down in Mexico, and every train brings them
vp for work in the States, and into our country they come.
They take the place of the negro, and as far north as Colorado
cud Oklahoma you may see them at work on the railroads.
To do our part in evangelizing these priest-ridden people,
our church has established a mission in El Paso. So far
no money has been put Into lots or buildings. Regular ^services
are held in a rented hall, and meetings are held in
.he homes of believers in several parts of the city. We are
late entering the field, and the work, hard for the best
equipped of the missions here, is, of course, hard for us.
Put God has given us a good man. Brazil's loss has been
cur gain, in Rev. C. R. Womeldorf, who has charge of the
work at El Paso. Patient, full of zeal and love for those
he serves, he has "come to the kingdom for such a time as
this"; one who does not work for numbers, but who seeks
to fill with a knowledge of God those he does find. Looking
cn from the outside, it seems to me that is what is needed
and wo rejoice that this Presbyterian Mission is going to
uphold the reputation of Presbyterian missions elsewhere, as
a place where men and women and children will be rooted
and grounded in the truth.
Of this particular field, Rev. C. R. Womeldorf writes:
This modern city of less than a quarter of a century is
the result of a unique situation; the only gateway of the
Southwest for eight railroads, the only large city within a
radius of from 600 to 1,000 miles, the center of the Southwest
mining industry, aiso for a great part of Mexico, the
largest silver-lead smelter in the world, a railroad passage
and center for the United States and Mexico, the fertile valley
ol tne Kio Grande, now being extensively irrigated, the cattle
industry of the plains and the healthfuiness of the climate,
having the same latitude as South Georgia, an altitude of
3,700 feet, nine-tenths of the year sunshine, a very dry atmosphere,
it is a typical all-year-round, outdoor sanitarium.
Having this special situation on the Mexican border, It is
attractive to tourists, a congregating center for Mexicans, and
a distributing point for them for all the Southwest. There
is no restriction to Mexican immigration. A few days ago I
stood at the bridge with the immigration officer and he told
me that at this season of the year about seventy Mexican men
were coining over daily.
Relative to the acquisition of Governor Glenn, as the Assembly's
representative in behalf of Home Missions, the
Home Mission Herald publishes the following letter to the
committee:
I am glad to know that you have obtained eo able a
recruit as Governor Glenn. He is a man of intense earnestness,
as well as great ability, and, knowing his religious enthusiasm,
I am sure he will make a most effective champion of the
missionary cause. W. J. Bryan.
&N OF THE SOUTH. March 24, 1909.
Young People's Society
LIFE LESSONS FROM PROVERBS.
Topic for Sunday, April 4: Life Lessons for me from the
Hook of Proverbs. Proverbs 8: 1-17.
DAILY READINGS.
Monday: The great lesson: wisdom. Proverbs 1: 1-8.
Tuesday: Obedience to God's Word. Proverbs 3: 1-10.
Wednesday: Avoidance of evil. Proverbs 4: 14-37.
Thursday: Diligence. Proverbs 6: 6-11; 24: 33.
rriuay: value of righteousness. Proverbs 11: 1-11.
Saturday: The value of silence. Proverbs 25: 8-15.
Wisdom ir. the same in all ages. Its materials may differ,
lut its principles are permanent.
Even outward conditions frequently repeat themselves. The
world steins to move in cycles, bringing back again old situations.
The words of wisdom, therefore, spoken and written by
Solomon and gathered by the compilers of the Proverbs, come
to us as fresh and true and applicable as of old.
The beauty of the sound wisdom given us in this book
lies in the fact that it is worldly wisdom with the added
authority and unerrir.gness of divine inspiration.
The condition of the heart is much emphasized here. The
best things in the life are all represented as coming from
inward conditions of truth, uprightness and cleanness within.
Sincerity is pronounced to be God's delight, and lying lips
an abomination to lnm. In a day when so much is vowed
to God, it is well to take account of this
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covenants are honest.
Righteousness is exalted. It is thfc basis of wisdom, of
comfort, of peace. It directs a man's ways. It delivers him
from troubles, it prolongs his days. It feeds and enriches,
and gives gladness. It tends to life.
Obedience to Gods word as the rule of life is urged.
"Let thine .heart keep my commandments, for length of
days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee."
"So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the
sight of God and man."
Simple trust in God and humility as to oneself are the
ground of safety. "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart.
jA-au not unto mine own understanding. In all thy ways
acknowledge liim, and he shall direct thy paths. Bo not
wise in thine own eyes."
Constancy is commended. "Blessed is the man that
heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts
of my doors." Our present conditions and 'surroundings favor
changes, experiments, new ventures in life and activity.
Steadfastness is at a discount.
A wi3e soul will be a docile soul. "Whoso loveth instruction
loveth knowledge." "In the multitude of counsellors
there is safety." "He that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise."
There is danger to that one who can be taught nothing. "The
heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge."
Speech is a great gift, and. like all great gifts, needs
careful guarding. "He that keepeth his mouth keepelh his
liie. A wholesome tongue is a tree of life. The tongue of the
wise useth knowledge aright. The lips of the wise disperse
knowledge. A soft answer tumeth ?nva? ? ?
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words stir up anger.''
But the greatest of all the Proverbs' lessons Is In Its
pointing to wisdom personified, to Christ, who of God is made
wisdom unto us. "Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her
voice in the streets. Turn you at my reproof; behold, I will