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If YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETIES
BETTER PRAYING.
M., June 26. Helped by the Spirit. Rom. 8:22-27.
T., June 27. I'ernistent praying. Luke 18:1-8.
W ., June 28. Praying in faith. Mark 11:20-26.
T., June 29. Praying for friends. Kph. 1:15-23.
F., Juno 30. Praying for enemies. Matt. 5:43-20.
S., July 1. Praying with power. Jas. 5:13-20.
8, July 2. Topic ? Better Praying. Matt. 7:
7-11. (Connecrntion meeting.)
What blessings shouhl ve pray fart
H'A;/ are not all prayer* ansyrercdl
Jlvti ? can u-e pray all the time ?
Helped by the Spirit, Rom. S:22
27. We are by nature very ignorant
and we need to be taught many
things. This is just as true of spirit
ual things as of material things. The
disciples felt the need of being taught
to pray and asked Jesus to teach
them. Jesus has given us His Holy
Spirit as His representative, and one
of the things that He will do for us
is to teach us to pray. We should
constantly go to Him for instruction.
He will help us in our private and in
our public prayers.
Persistent Praying- Luke IS: 1-8.
Persistent, earnest prayer is what
God wants us to make. This will help
us to show our real desire for that
for which we ask. As we continue
our prayer we will be shown more
clearly whether we really want what
we ask for. Sometimes we think we
want something and ask God for it,
hut more careful and earnest consid
eration may show us that we do not
want it after all. Persistent prayer
also shows our faith in God. It shows
that we believe He will answer out
prayers, although for some wise rea
son He does not answer them at cnce.
Praying in Faith. Mark 11:20-26.
When we really desire something that
we believe will be for our own good
or for the good of some one else and
for the glory of God, we should ask
God for it in the clear assurance that
He will give it to us. But before we
make the prayer we should be con
vinced, as far as we can tell, what we
ask for is what we believe God wants
us to have. The child who would
ask its mother for poison could not
expect her to give it to him. But if it
asks for wholesome food, it would
certainly expect her to give it, when
ever it is needed. One of the con?
ditions that God lays down for the
answer of our prayers is that we must
forgive those who have injured us.
An unforgiving heart has prevented
the answer to many prayers.
What Is a
Living Trust?
It is a written agree
ment by which you set
aside a portion of your
property to provide an
income for yourself, a
relative or other bene
ficiary.
Under the terms of
the agreement you can
have this Bank take
over the responsibility
for a part of your prop
erty and pay the in
come as you direct. The
right can l>e reserved to
revoke or change the
agreement at any time.
Ask our officers to
explain a Living Trust.
First National Bank
of
Richmond, V?.
(Truat Department)
Capital . . .
Resources $42,Mt,OOt
Established 1864
Praying for Friends. Eph. 1:15
23. Paul often prayed for his Chris
tian friends. It would be well, if we
followed his example. Do we ever
think to give thanks to God, because
our friends are Christians, and for
the evidences which they give of their
faith in God? Do we pray for them
that God will give them more and
richer spiritual blessings? It is al
ways a great help to any Christian
to know that Ills fellow Christians
are praying for him. Pray for your
friends and especially for your pas
tor.
Praying for Enemies. Matt. 5:43
4 8. It is easy to pray for our friends,
but to many it is hard to pray for an
enemy. But in this way, better than
in any other we show a forgiving
spirit. If we have an enemy, let us
pray that he may become our friend;
and, if he does become our friend,
we want him to be as good as pos
sible, so let us pray that God will
bless him in every way. Such pray
ers will make us better friends to
him, when he becomes our friend.
Praying with Power. Jas. 5:13-20.
Earnestness gives power to our pray
ers. Elijah was much in earnest,
and when he made a prayer he sent
his servant to see if the answer was
coming. He did not become discour
aged, because it did not come at once.
Seven times he prayed and seven
times he looked for the answer, and
it came. When we are in earnest
our prayers will be answered.
Better Playing. Matt. 7:7-11.
When we pray, let us remember that
God places no limitations on what
we may pray for. He gives us a blank
check on the bank of His grace and
tells us to fill it out for any amount
that we may choose. "Ask," He says,
and He promises that we "shall re
ceive." We go to Him not as a
stranger, but as our Father, who loves
us. and who delights to give us
everything that is good for us. l,et
us put Him to the test. And then
look out for God's answer.
S. O. YOUNG PEOPLE'S CON
FERENCE.
The Synod of South Carolina has.
just closed one of the greatest Young
People's Conferences ever held in the
State. The attendance went beyond all
expectations, the general management
was fine, and the instruction was
strong and inspiring. It was 'beauti
ful to see how the young people re
sponded to apeals for personal service
for Christ.
The Conference was entertained by
the Presbyterian College of South
Carolina. Not a complaint was heard
against either accommodations or
board. The Synod has a wonderful
opportunity to make the college cam
pus a great convention ground.
MISSISSIPPI C. E. CONVENTION.
Mississippi's Seventh Convention
was held in Hattiesburg, with Field
Secretaries Dendy and Little Dr. E.
B. Quick, of Atlantat Dr. H. H. Pltzer.
of Chattanooga; Dr, A. A. Ziemer, of
New Orleans: R. L?. I^andis, of Jack
son, ar.d Southern Secretary Evans
assisting the State officers.
The State Junior Banner was
awarded the Presbyterian society at
Starksville. The mission gifts of the
twenty Juniors in this society aver
aged $1.25 per capita. One hundred
per cent of the membership are tith
ers and also Comrades of the Quiet
Hour. Seven have completed the
"String of Pearls,"
The State Intermediate Banner was
awarded to the Intermediates of this
same church. This society has four
teen members, and all members are
both Tither* and Comrades of the
Quiet Hour. This society has 80 per
cent on the Dixie Four Square Chart
and 137 per cent on the Efficiency
Chart, and has reported twelve times,
on time, during past year on the M.
S. P.
The State Senior Banner went to
the Home Christian Society. This so
ciety has increased its membership
50 per cent, given almost $4 per cap
ita to missions, attained 89 per cent
on the Dixie Four Square Chart,
gained 60 8 out of a possible 6 42
points in a three-months' Church Loy
alty Campaign, organized three so
cieties, sent 19 delegates to the
Clarksdale One-Day Institute, had five
in the State Convention, takes 25
copies of the Dixie Endeavorer," five
Christian Endeavor Worlds, reported
twelve times, on time, on the M. S.
P., and furnishes the superintendent,
two teachers and pianist for the Sun
day school.
The Rome Society was also awarded
the "Most Miles" Banner, for having
traveled the "Most Miles" of any so
ciety to the State Convention.
The date of the 1923 State Conven
tion was changed to March, and will
be held the last three days at Grenada.
Clyde Coulter was re-elected presi
dent; James Stillions, of Rome, and
Homer Fulwilder, of Meridian, vice
presidents; Mrs. James Stillions,
Rome, secretary, and Miss Anna Dell
Perkins, Starksville, treasurer. The
Junior Superintendent is Miss Anna
Gay, Hattiesburg; the Intermediate
Superintendent is Mrs. J. H. Mallard,
Meridian; Q. H. and L. W. Superin
tendent is Miss Willard Murry, Jack
son; Tenth Legion and Missionary,
Miss Bertha Everts, Gulf port.
SAN FORD, FLA.
Sanford Presbyterians are gratified
over bringing home two Christian En
deavor Banners from the recent State
Convention. Both the Senior and In
termediate Societies captured the ban
ners this year, and the Juniors made
a creditable showing. The whole
work of the Church is moving along
nicely.
CHATTANOOGA DISTRICT
CONVENTION.
The Chattanooga, Tenn., Christian
Endeavor District Convention was
held at Flint Springs in a country
church ten miles from the railroad,
and in spite of the fact that the con
vention was advertised for only two
weeks prior to that date, there were
nearly 150 registered delegates.
With true Southern hospitality the
folks of the Flint Springs neighbor
hood cared for the delegates and the
convention in a wonderfully fine way.
The district work has very great
ly missed its president, Noel Smith,
who was called from the State by
his business, but has very greatly felt
the impression of the work of the
District Vice-President, W. L. Elkins,
of Tasso.
The Cumberland Society of Chatta
nooga was awarded the District Ban
ner.
Much interest was manifested in
the coining fourth All-South Conven
tion, July 13th to 17th, Hot Springs.
Ark., and many of the Chattanooga
District Endeavorers are making
their plans to be in the Hot Sprinsa
Convention.
The new officers are: President, J.
R. McDaris, Cleveland; Vice-Presi
den^, W. L. Elkins, Tasso; Secretary,
Henry L'heureux, Chattanooga;
Treasurer, Lucile Harle, Cleveland.
The district closed its year's work
with all bills paid and a balance on
h&nd.
C. F. Evans.
il THE SUNDAY SCHOOL
DAN' 1 101 j INTERPRETING NEBU
CHADNEZZAR'S I >REAM.
July 9, 1922. Dan. 2.
There are to be four lessons from
the book of Daniel. Those who wish
to make a full study of this (book will
do well to get from the Presbyterian
Committee of Publication, Richmond
or Texarkana, a booklet just published
by them. The author is Rev. Dr. E.
C. Caldwell, of Union Theological
Seminary. The price is only 15 cents.
It will be found to be very helpful.
Nebuchadnezzar had a dream, that
troubled him very much; but when
he woke he could not recall the
dream. He called in many of his wise
men or astrologers, who seem to
have composed a special class in his
kingdom: He demanded of them to
tell him the dream and its interpre
tation. They told him that it would
be impossible to tell the dream, but
that, if he would tell them what it
was, they would give its interpreta
tion.
With the unreasonableness of an
eastern autocrat, he told that, if they
did not tell the dream and its inter
pretation they should1 all be cut to
pieces. The order was given for their
execution, and it included not only
those present, but all of their class.
The ofiicer of execution went to ar
rest Daniel, though it seems he did
not know what had occurred.
Daniel prevailed upon the officer
to take him before the king, and he
told Nebuchadnezzar, that, if he
would give him time, he would tell
him the dream and its interpretation.
To this the king agreed. Daniel went
to his friends, "the three Hebrew
children," and asned them to join him
in prayer to God for an answer.
God answered their prayer and
showed Daniel the king's dream and
its interpretation, Daniel told the
king that he had seen a great image,
the head of which was of gold, the
breast and arms of silver, the lower
part of the body of brass, the legs of
iron, and the feet of iron and clay
mixed. He saw also a small stone,
not cut out by hand, roll down from
the mountain, which struck; the feet
and overthrew the image" and de
stroyed all of its parts.
Daniel told Nebuchadnezzar that
the head of gold represented his glo
rious kingdom, and that each of the
other metals represented a kingdom
that was to succeed his. Each of them
would be strong, but less glorious
than his. That represented by the
feet would have elements both of
strength and weakness. The stone
represented the kingdom of God.
That was to destroy all the other
kingdoms.
. There is much difference of opin
ion among scholars as to what king
doms were represented in the image.
The Bible does not specify any except
that of Nebuchadnezzar. The one
thing that is evident is that they were
all of human origin, and were not in
accord with the kingdom of Clod.
However strong they might seem to
be and however glorious, they must
all give way 'before the on-coming of
God's kingdom. This alone of all
the kingdoms is to abide.
Any earthly kingdom may become
a part of God's kingdom and abide.
But ^he kingdoms or classes or in
dividuals, that try to stand without
or opposed to God, will soon find out
that there is a crushing power in "the
stone not made with hands."
It will be well indeed, if every
one will see that he is in God's king
dom, for there fa no power than can
crush it.