The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1871-09-06
A Plea for F ding the Missionary.

drawing.
A Plea for F ding the Missionary.
THOUGHTS TO STIR BY WAY OF REMEMBRANCE.
Doubtless mos Presbyterians, and cer-
tainly all the r9aless of the Presbyterian
and Lader, aFess3are. of the existence Or
periodical Issue Of little pamphlet styled
The Visionary. If, however, the subscrip-
ton list be reliable. test, there must be few
who know its real worth, its precious con-
tents, and the actual benefit to be derived
from its perusal. So strongly is this thought
impressed upon at least one of its readers,
that to be longer silent is impossible; and
should the effort to recommend it secure but
one subscriber, it shall not have been in
vain.
Let the first plea for its increased circula-
ton be this: That it gives the earliest, full,
lest information possible from our mission
aries, at their respective posts of duty
Christians, is this small consideration? If
your hearts are glowing with love to Jesus;
if, day by day, you are studying to advance
his kingdom, how can you wait so long to
hear what is doing in Hangchow, Campinas,
Barranquila, and among the cred Men of
the Forest?' Have you ever pondered for
days the question, How can l express my
obedience to the Saviour's parting command,
Go into all the world, and preach the gos-
pei to every creature?'" Have yOu9 And
can you, then, live without any FRESH and
regular tidingS from those heather lands,
where we have some lone sentinels watching,
working and praying? Are we not COM
PEELED rather to argue indifference to the
blessed cause? or, at least, torgegutness?
Had you loved friend beyond the Pacific,
would you decline receiving his letter on the
mere consideration of postage, consoling
yourself with the reflection that, eventually,
you might, by some means, become possessed
of its contents without tina triAing expendi-
ture? Impos 49, cid not dwell
in the contra auld argue
thus IL III, have not
thought of it plodding
cares of work /, tten
the dear Missionary; forge -
out every month, to tell of the =.
the gospel in far distant lands?
But Christians, will you not send for it {?
Have you not sometimes longed for the very
tidings it brings? In those "better mo-
ments,' when you feel the Saviour most
precious" and when you long to have
others know him? By all means, let it be
numbered among the white winged meSSen-
gers that come regularly to your homes.
Watch its coming with prayerful interest.
Gather your little ones around you, and
read to them. Let them know of church
ediGce rising in China; of.Chinese boys and
girls embracing Jesus Let the names Of our
honored missionaries be "famiiar as house
hold words" Teach them to breathe them
over night and morning, when their little
lips plead for all those they love. So shall
you be faithful to your conservation VOWS.
So shall holy consistency adorn your lives.
The trifing cost of this periodical furnishes
an additional argument in its favor. In
these days of poverty and selfd denial, even
truly loving, devoted heart might plead
scanty purse, were the expenditure large
one. But surely the merest quota of zeal
might secure fifty cents wherewith to pur-
chase this real luxury Yes ! the lurWy Of
hearing often from those self.exiled men who
have gone to do our Saviour's bidding
And did you know, Christians, that those
fractions of dollars do eventually 60 into the
general fund collected for missions? So it
seems from the last annual report, in which
we see the following item among the contri
buttons: Subscriptions to the Missionary,
$108.50." Is this not worthy of notice
After receiving many times the value of the
triAing amount expended, are you not glad
to hear that it finally flows into the "Lord's
Treasury?' There is no doubt about it.
All that remains over and above the expense
of publication is most worthily appropriated.
But there remains another consideration
which you must certainly have overlooked.
1t is this: by reading and cherishing the
Missionary, you may cheer the hearts Of
those who write its contents. Think you,
they have never heard that we do not care
for their little messenger? That we forget
to read their letters? All what must be
their feelings when they realise this? A
missionary of thirteen years experience in
China, when recently addressing Christian
audience in , fingered on the Difficult
ties and trials of missionary life; painted
graphically the dwarfng of the intellect, and
the hardening of the heart, incident to their
peculiar circumstances, adding, with most
Sorrowful expression, "but, brethren, the
sorest trial of all is the thought chat we are
forgotten at hon,e9" Christians, shall it be
so? VIII we, can we forget them? Do all
you can to prevent it. Send for the His
sionary. Read it, pray over it, and let the
tidings 90 to China and to South America