Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1870-10-18
The Lesson of LaYman's Life.

Rev. James S. Dickerson, d. D., of So.
Boston; has recently prepared memorial
sketch of his relative Dea. Thomas Stokes,
of n. Y, one of the founders of the Lon
don Missionary Society, fellow laborer |
with Robert Raikes and life long friend |
and supporter of the Missionary Union,
and its Treasurer for several years. The |
following, from the closing paragraph of
DIR. Dickerson's volume, suggests to our |
laymen some lessons of practical value,
which they would do well to ponder;
How instructive and inspiring are the
lessons which spring from such career,
intoxicating, as they do, faith and cheer
full obedience in undertaking any commits
sion which bears the seal of the Masters
approval, no matter how small or inauspic
ious the beginnings, or in how marked
contrast they may stand to great and illus
trious ends which they are designed to &C
complish
When, less than a bundled years ago,
under the leadership of the philanthropic
printer of Gloucester, the recently convert
ed Thomas Stokes, as one of small band
of active christians, aided in the establish
ment of Sunday schools among the poor
children of London, little was it dreamed
that the enterprise so unostentatiously be-
gun was destined to grow into complicat-
ed and powerful agency, whose grand and
benignant results should hallow every land
and gladden. the hearts of every people.
When, a few years later, some English
dissenters, beginning to feel the inward
leapings of new and heaven born yeaTn-
| ing for the redemption of the heather
world, a small but faith inspired circle OF
preachers, championed by the bold and
earnest Carey, and few Jealous laymen,
represented in the intelligence and devo-
ton of Thomas Stokes, set themselves to
work to quicken and inform an insensible
and careless church as to its relations to
distant and idolatrous millions, who then,
even among the most sanguine and pro-
phetic, would have dared to estimate the
triumphant achievements Of the religious
faith and self sacrificing heroism which
these noble men were striving, by means
so inadequate and almost insignificant, to
rally and marshal in the name of Jesus?
Since that day missionary agencies Of
every kind have been multiplied, until
there is no land so dark or distant until
there is no isle of the ocean so lone or des
olate, that christian hands have not carried
to their inhabitants the bread of life, and
uplifted to their wondering eyes the soul
subduing banner of the Nazarene.
Since then the bible has been given, and
the glad tidings of salvation published, in
almost every language spoken under the
! whole heaven.
/ Since then two millions of the heather
; have turned from their idolatrous shrines
to the affairs of the true God; thence, as
e pilgrims to a heavenly country, they have
= taken "the way the holy prophets went,
t and, singing on earth for awhile their
Y songs of sorrow and deliverance, to-day are
' numbered with the redeemed in glory who
e gracefully strike their new harps to the
t song of Moses and the Lamb.
p And thus the accomplished results of q
e century in the history of the church the
e most remarkable, perhaps, since the apos
tolic age, for the facility and energy with
; which it has grasped and organized the
e full idea of christian evangelism in the
+ employment of instrumentalities, asso
t ciational as well as ecclesiastic, are comics
sedly but the outgrowth of the efforts o
t earnest and conscientious men, who, in ;
g selfdenying spirit and in a practical wa!
Il performed the personal, every day duties
d to which God called them, and did then
il well.
It 1t has always been true, and it ever vii
J. be, that the path of duty is the direct roao
d to earths best success and heavens sur
= reward. To attempt deeds because the!
o are conspicuously great, to strive for tn
: attainment Of results that will be deeme,
2 brilliant, without putting forth a CORES
l. ponding effort of an honest and homely ca
Y deavor, is at best but higher type Of am
Is bilious vanity, and utterly delusive as t
l. the achievement of even. the cheap and I'm
10 substantial honors of the world.