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My Dear Friknds : It l^ about time, 1 think, that some of the luiumulated good things which I hnve been treasuring up for a long ttaie should he handed over to you. I am often asked which is the most nnportant committee connected with our society. Comparisons are said to be twlious, and where each committee is of vital importance in its own spliere, there is no need of instituting comparisons, but I tliiiik if I must give up any committee, the last one I would want to part with would be the Lookout Committee. Jt is more unique and peculiar to tlie Christian Endeavor Society than any other. It affords an unrivalled opportunity to do good, and that is the standard of value in all the committees. There is a chance, if you are on this committee, to exercise all your zeal and wisdom and piety and sanctified sense. Faithful and efficient as are many of our I/K)kout Ck)mmittee8, we have not begun to exhaust the possibUities which they contain for helping the society und aiding the pastor and blessing the church. Let me divide what 1 have to say nnder four short heads,— what you can do for the church, for the society ■^t 5 FDR, :iety. E. 1 think, that L'h 1 hnve beeu B handed over B8t important Comparisons ommittee is of re is no need f I must give want to part !. Jt is more deavor Society opportunity to due in all the committee, to ,nd piety and IS are many of gun to exhaust ir helping the ng the church, der four short for the society 1? 3 ""as a whole, for the active members, for the associate members. A minister always feels more comfortable, A you know, when he gets Ins sermon well dlvldetl up Into , secondly, thirdly, fourthly. First, — r ■ firstly. FOR THE CHURCH. i I will leave this part of your work for you to settle with your own pastor. He is the K-st adviser. But be sure and lay the matter before him, and ask him what he wishes you to do for the church. ITie very asking ot this question and offering of this service. In themselves, are acts of no small consequence. At the beginning of my pastorate, 1 remember that two or three young ladles came to me at the close of one of the first praj'er-meetlngs (It w^as before a Cliristian Endeavor Society had been established), and said, "What can we do to help you, Mr. Clark? Please let us know, and remember that we are always ready to du what we can for the church and Its pastor.'* That simple assurance gave me new courage for pionths to come. I may safely leave this division of this little sei-mon for yon and your pastor to subdivide and Illustrate, and to add the Improvo- nicnts. If I know anything about your pastor, he will give you plenty to do If you cordially offer your services. FOR THE SOCIETY. To the society, as a whole, the I^ookout Committee holds a very Important relation. What the "standing committee" Is to the church, what the Governor's Council Is to the State, what the President's Cabinet is to the nation, such, to some extent. Is the I.ookout Committee to the society. This committee is the door through whUh the new members enter in. What the society shall be, whether careless and hiefflcient, or faithful, earnest and zealous, will depend largely upon this committee. If the door Is opened too wide, so that all who wish conie in to the active membership, whether they are earnest Christians or not, the society degenerates swiftly and surely. If in your term of office you ar good, than the Christian Endeavor Society. To every sitle of man's varied nature does It appeal, urging the conviction that It Is not merely a lip-con»ecration which is re<|uired to serVe God, but one so deep and abiding that our words, our Intellect, our social pleasures, our business capacity, our home duties, our missionary interest, and our tact, shall all be embraced in this Christian conse- cration. This is the end we liave in view, this tlie feeling which we desire to stimulate and cultivate in every heart. How best to do this is the all-important question. The functions of the Lookout Committee liave been so often discussed tliat ft seems almost superfluous to attempt to deline or enlarge upon them. Were 1 to rename it, the 7 :..-^>iJH>^v'*t'-'»TJ**=»-*^''* OVMNASTIC COMMITTEK would most iH'uily in<'<-t my vUnva of its work ; for it« iiH'inlMTrt munt Im! Iu'It, Hhmh' imd everywhere; isow moimtiiig erwon8l ia- convenience. Those committee meetings prove the most l)r()rttiible which are preceded by a short devotional service. As a g(!neral thing no new application shonld be acted npon, until some member of the committee has become personally acquainted with the applicant. In a rapidly growing society this proves a very necessary measui-e. In case a member leaves the city to reside elsewhere, a letter of dismission from the home society to one in his new home is always granted. But if there Is no society in the new liome, the name of the absent member Is kept on the books until he requests a letter, or the dropping of his name. Members absent from the consecration meeting, wliether active or associate, are wa -ned by a kindly circular, and invited to attend the next meeting, while across the top of the circular sent to those absent from three consecudve meetings is written the ominous "Third call and vv irning before dropping the name from the roll." Without any qualification of the statement, this is the saddest duty our committee has to perform. When a name has been dropped from membership, the greatest care and tact, or ''sanctified common-sense," must be used, else the member dropped from the roll will In turn cease to attend any of the meetings, and break off this last restraining Influence. By the gentle- ness of Christ manifested in our lives, we must try fo win him back to the fold. But let no one imagine that this work is all easy, and moves along in well-oiled grooves. DISI 'OlUAC.KMEXrS. Apathetic ( 'In-istians, members who arc not workers, and who have to be urged to take part, a lagging interest %. less of }>«rHonal In- iigs prove the most ; devotional service, on should be acted mittee has become cant. Ill a rapidlj' cessary nieasui-e. » reside elsewhere, oclety to one in his there Is no society Biit member is kept r, or the dropping 1 the consecration , are wa'iied by a the next meeting, int to those absent ritten the ominous )ing the name from I of the statement, ee has to perform, in membership, the id common-sense," jped from the roll the meetings, and L-e. By the gentle- es, we must try fo ork is all easy, and lo !ii-i' not workers, t, a lugging interest 11 in the prayer-meeting and a laxity in pledge-keeping, women afraid to take part, poor singing, no spontaneity in prayer, irrelevant conversation at its closes all these are discouraging elements, and were they all found in one society, we might predict the speedy death of that society. But they are not, and although in our midst may be many of these discouraging features, "witli God all things are possible," and we may and can overcome them. Let us not be discoiu-aged if our society seems not so prosperous as another, or if we cannot follow successfully the rule which some other society has tried with large results. Tlie same task is assigned to each society, to bring salvation to human souls; we have the same motive, love for Christ; the same working materials, consecrated hearts and hands ; yet into this work our individuality will creep; our work and methods must hear our own stamp. Suggestions, seed-thoughts of methods, we may receive from others, but they must be planted in our own brain-soil, fertilized by our prayers and character before they can bring forth the distinctive fruit required by the necessities of our work. Yet, in spite of diflSculties and discouragements, the work has its encouraging features. As month by .nciith we watch the growth in grace of our members, tlie greater readiness in payer, and increasing famil- iarity with the Bible, we rejoice greatly. And when these are joined with increased interest in church work and philanthropic efforts of all kinds, indications of spiritual broadening and wakefulness, we realize that we young people are aiding iu the religious education of each other, and helping to bring about the time when Id 19 "they that lOve the Lord shall speak often one to anothtvv," and our hearts are filled with gratitude to our Heavenly Father that He has permitted us to have some share, however sniall, in the worlc of enlarging and strengthening His Itiugdom on earth. WHY DO THE WORK. We have endeavored thus far to show how this work was to be done, and now we are confronted by the inevitable "ITfty?" Why does a Lookout Committee exists In brief, we might answer that no human machinery has yet been invented that did not need constant watchfulness to keep it in running order, and no organization is so per 3ct that if left to general direction it will not become rusty and fall to pieces. In this matter of watching the workings of the society, its needs, growth, opportunities and possibilities, the Lookout Coramittee but assists the president. Some one on the "lookout" is a necessity in every ship, and not less in the ship of tho church and the society than in the Chres8ibilities, the lent. Some one y ship, and not :icty than in the 1 in the primary e chief object of lan souls. This Ighest energies, ivate the human s." To destroj' ity, and divided nany professing withered leaves his is our plain I is ill our own There is another reason why we should try to save souls, because only thus can we prove that our faith is real and vital. If Christ has been precious to us, we should be only too glatl to tell others the "old, old story tif Jesus and His love." I have already alluded to the fact that the main uecessitj- in our work is consecration. Unless we are thoroughly imbued with the spirit of humble devoted- ness to Christ, doing all with an eye single to His service, we shall be in great danger of becoming relig- iously vain about our society and our usefulness, and the splendid work our committee is accomplishhig. Especially is this the danger in a large and growing society, wliere we are apt to strive for pre-eminence in State reports rather than for the good of souls. Only Christ in our hearts can keep us fi-om religious vanity. Eternal vigilance or vigUance for things eternal is what we need. We might well follow the example of Petm, the Fisher Maiden of BjSrnstjerne BjSrnson's creation, who, gazing into the starry sky, "knew that hers were as many moments as shone twinkling lights yonder, and she grayed God that He would assist her to make each one radiant in uses, that so His love might have created no light in vain." "Kadiant in uses!" Surely a life whose comprehensive moments can thus be described will sparkle with eternal brilliance in that day when the Lord makes up His jewels. QUESTION-BOX. 1. Why has not our society succeeded in accortipllsh- ing the good results which w^ read about from all other quarters? 14 Ans. Not knowlnjj your pefiiliar oirouinstances or history, we eannot certiiiiily tell, but Judging from the experience of others, it is verj- likely beeause your society has not adopted the highest standard. It has left the prayer-meeting pledge out of the constitution, perhaps, or ignored it, if it has not left it out. Cases of complete or piirtial failure are almost always due to this lack. The remedy is reorganization on the stricter basis, and a conscientious fulfllment of oliligations. This has proved efl'ective in hundreds of cases. 2. Should the rules of the constitution l)e strictly observed? Ans. Yes. Tliey should be interpreted according to Christian common-sense, and adhennl to conscientiously and faithfully. 3. How often should the Lookout Committee visit delinquent members? Ans. After every absence from a consecration-meeting. Sometimes a kindly note will accomplish as much as or more than a visit. 4. (a) Should the lookout committee interview all ab- sentees from regular meetings or simply from the conse- cratt'on-meetings? (6) In a reorganized society, will it be wiser for the lookout committee to interview all who are silent at the regular meetings, or simply at the consecration-meetings? Ans. These two questions are essentially one. Wis- dom and common-sense as well as faithfulness should be exercised, of course, in i*egard to all such matters, and the interview of the lookout committee should take place whenever it will do the most good. The consecration and roll-call meeting gives the best opportunity to gliow i a: jirirw i f f lil'*"''''''^'- ■■■■'■^"~— ■- rouiiistancps or iging from the bet-ause yotir tiidard. It has le constitution, out. Cases of rays due to this in the stricter of obligations. !ases. ion l)e strictly d according to couHcieiitiously 'omuiittee visit ration-meeting, as muclj as or iterview all ab- f rom the conse- d society, will :o interview all 3, or simply »t ally one. Wis- iluess dhould be ;h matters, and lould take place le consecration rtuuity to show 15 who is al)8.'ut without excuse, but if an active member ts habUually absent from or silent in the regular meet- ings he should be reminded of his duty. Whife the looltout committee should avoid anything that looks like offlclousness, its great danger Is that It will not be suffl- clently prompt and faithful. Anything that begins to look like iMbitual or wilful absence or silence should be looked after. The committee is elected by the society for this purpose, and surely cannot be blamed for simply doing its duty. THE PASTOK'S CAHINET. 'ITie Lookout Committee of the Society of Christian Endeavor has often been called 'The pastor's cabinet"— not a bad name, .y any means. This committee may be of immense assistance to every earnest pastor In his work. Many cases of spiritual decline can be reached by its members which he cannot touch. Much infor- mation concerning the advancement of the young people in the pilgrim path naturally comes to this committee, which otherwise the pastor would And it very difficult to gain. Let the wise pastor make the most of this agency for helping and becoming acquainted with his young people, which the Society of Christian Endeavor puts into his hands. No pastor can do better than to call all the committees of his Yonng People's Society together two or three times a year, for consultation, and for the inspiration which he alone can give them. Let him consult with his cabinet, however, oftener than this. "How is Johnny A. getting on?" "I have not heiinl Susie B.'a 16 voice in praycr-meetliig lately; what la the peaeonr "I think that Charlie C. shows some signs of Interest; couldn't you help me to bring him nearer to th» Kingdom?" ITiese ai-e some of the questions and sng^ gestlons that -will be heard at this cabinet meeting. There; Is no prying espionage involved In this, but simplv a kindly and pastoral solicitude, using the readiest and most efficient method for helping the individual young porson In the critical days of early dlscipleshlp. Brethren, let us make the most of these "pastor's cat'.nets." Lookout committees, see that the members of your pastor's cabinet are alert, Intelligent and faithful. * SlUOESTIONS. 1. Hold frequent meetings,-^! rtalnly not less than once a month, when the monthly iciety is and does, list of the young unday school lor dd to it from the ttee meeting. > comes into the 3 undertakes andi e prayer-meeting ] Jtitutions, and use ither committees if in it. Let it be i/ee is not meddlliig the welfare of the oper coustitotiojial .-,'iti^^;tSSiSw*ise»3i- A ps«r*«J?»^4»«Aft*3K.iaw«ac3!«=«»<*«'*' Ci-'^^^^K;**? '■Ji%6i ,5U»? \K 1^^^*^ i^jii';:^**^-^- ■=-^'''-~'-'