The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1861-03-20


the master NOR, trusting and affectionate.
lh's reciprocal inter ST csn,oi fail to work
out state Of social confidence and order,
IN which the white man will be the more
Wiling dispenser OF the word Of life, and
/ the black man the more cheerful and
happy recipient. For these and other
reasons. We rejoice in what We believe to
be the dawn Of the brightest dav in the
annals of our mission'history. And now,
while We can hear the great gathering of
this glorious Exodus that tells us the
night OF terror and suspense is well nigh
spent, We rasp with pleasure the pill.
gr'm's statf, and stand ready TO follow
wherever 1srael's God shall guide US.
The NJ. f. Church, South, has one mis-
sion III China; two hundred and forty
ak missions in destitute portions of our
country TO the whites-missions 10 the
c"lored people, two handred and ten to
the Germans, twenty in all, four hun.
'ired and seventy seven-with An effec-
tive force Of near five hunured men.
The NJ. +. Church. North, has missions
in Africa, in China, in South America, in
Germany, IN Sweden, in Norway, in Den.
!
force, domestic and foreign, amounts 10
ak hundred
| English Methodsm, bes des An effective
home department, has six hundred min,
listers III foreign fields, and EMPLOYS one
thousand others, who assist in spreading
the Scriptures.
| Other smaller branches Of Me,hodism
engage about four hundred men in this
work 40 that the entire missionary force
of all tie denominations who agree in
tie Methodist faith aud tractice, NAV be
Set down ut two thousand. In the com
munlon Of these denominations. there are
iIftv thousand ministers, three millions of
members, and twelve millions OF hearers.
These are the results OF our Church
isbors IN the past century. For. # the
average time at which uhese denomina'
tons began, shall he struck, We have one
hundred wears Ms the age Of Methodism.
Durirg this period, We have had 10 en-
Counter the strongest opposition and the
b'teres, prejudices. All the difficulties
aud har!ships e missionary wok have
been endured, aud the contribution nf
thee millions Of members :" the CSurch
of christ, may be properly considered AS
the e.uIt of Meti 6dist missions in the
last century.
These denominations now constitute the
largest body Of Prorcstnn,s in he world.
10 aldinon to numbers, wealth and edu,
cs,iolal advantages abound. Though the
W"s'e,an revival began among the poor,
ours Is now pfliuialIy reported to be the
weaithlsst determination in the United
Sta!es. The memoers OF our Church are
at work IN every department Of enter
pfise IN agriculture and commerce, IN
ma""iactories and navigation. on The sur
lace Of the earth and in the rich mines Of
the interior. by land and by sea, in citv
and III the gorses OF the mountains. every
where and IN every thing tina, promises
n rich return, they now become Ms body,
the iong'fabed, but real and powerful
Brari"s OF the present generation. Az
t.s means necessary to the most efficient
organization Of a foreign missionary de
parlment are in our hands,-uumbers,
wealth, and intelligence.
In addition TO this, the i,inerancy has
trained class Of minister's peculiarly
adapted to the hardships and l.bors Of
the foreign field. These who are accus
toned to the malaria of the rrce.6cld.,
would not tremble bef,rs the i-vers of
Africa these who have never turned their
backs to the dangers Of the Western
| wiids, would know no fear among the
juug!es OF India these who are cheerful
aud hsppv on the out posts Of civiliz ton,
1 al q I,,.,
% Japan. Full of earnest zeal. hccus
toned TO self sacrifice, and undaun'ed bv
dangers, IL would be "vIctory organized"
with these soldiers in the field.
This exhibit Of our strength is not male
to excite denomination al pride or sectsri
nm vanity, but TO enable US fully to esti
mate the obligations imposed by the pos
session Of SO many talents. or those ITO
whom much is given, will much be re
qmred." The Church has surely passed
i,s minority. IL cannot, il must not be
content with home evsnce.iza,ion. How
much, then, is required OF the Church for
missions abroadi The answer is to be
found only in the amount Of our ability.
We are accepted according TO that We
have" This is the New Testament rate
of obligation not the Jewish tenth, but
the Cbrislan's ability To give. Not only
10 this clearly laid down as the rule Of
our faith. but the continuance Of our
present blessings is suspended upon com
| ph.nce TO the rule, "from him that hath
not shall be taksn even that which he
hath Present advantages, great rs they
! are, cannot long be ours without improve.
meni. We hsve tarried long enough at
home A new spirit mus, be kindled,
new eutsrprises must awaken our zeal.
AMI new l,bersiity will then sustain the
! work.
No man can doubt the call Of God to
this work, Who will look at the opening
fields. Csntral and South America, our
continental neiRbbors, ought TO be made
frstsrnsl CO workers in the spread Of the