The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-05-27
GREENE STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Africa for Christ and Livingstone q Pi.
oneer-Thc Wonderful Enterprise Of thu
Hcrald-ScrmOn by tho Rev. David
Mitchell.
In the above church yesterday forenoon the pas
tor, Rev. David Mitchell, preached on the subject O
the African mission In connection with DR.. Living
stone, taking for his text Revelations xi. To- "The
kingd 0ms Of this world are become the kingdoms
OF our Lord and OF His Christ; and He shall reign
forever and ever"
He said that to his mind Africa possessed an all.
absorbing interest. 1t was once taught In the
schools that the vast interior Of the Continent OF
that country was arid desert. The travels OF
Bruce and others have shown the fallacy OF that
teaching. There is one name connected with Afri.
can exploration that needs only to be mentioned to
call forth our gratitude and admiration. 1t is the
name of Livingstone, one of
THE NoBLEsT OF LIVING MEN.
We regard him as the greatest missionary Of mod
ern times. His whole life we may say, has been
dedicated to missionary enterprise. He fitted him
self for the apostolic work Of healing and preach
went forth as an agent of the London Missionary
Society and has never turned to the right nor to
the left rom the absorbing ambition of his life. He
Is altogether different type OF missionary from
the common run. He can grapp,e with bodily wants
as well as with mental and spiritual. He Is well
learned in the sciences. He studies the ma.
its races and tribes or its men and women
His astonishing perseverance, patience and cour.
age, allied with his genius and faith, made him one
OF the glorious few who do not know defeat or fall
ure. 1t was not matter of surprise, therefore, to
and brief visit to Britain he went forth again to
his exile in Africa, determined on opening the
whole field to science commerce and religion.
That Is the right interpretation of his devotion.
He is higher than any OF the noble company Of AT
rican explorers for he is like the dove of the ark
returning with the olive branch In his mouth, bear
ing the message of Gods love to sinful men, besides
arduously lahoring In the interests OF civilization
This last journey possesses deep interest nom the
fact that for two years DIR. Livingstone has been
lost In the unraversed wds OF Africa. That he has
been given over by many as the victim Of his own
unexpected means lie has been brought to light
There is hardly room left for doubt to his present
safety. And when we remember that all this has
been accomplished not by the government Of q
powerful country nor bv means Of the Royal Geo.
graphical Society, nor through the generous i'm
pulse OF Christian people, but by
THE sAGAcrrY AND ENTERPRISE OF A SINGLE ORGAN
OF ne press 1t certainly opens our eyes to the pos
national undertakings. We trust soon to
have hay, further confirmation Of these joyful
the old man with the white beard" and we rejoice
In the honors in store for him. And we are sure
that the noble and chivalrOus conduct of those who
have engaged in the seat Oh for Livingstone will
celve no stinted need OF praise at the hands OF all
who are Interested IN the Christian civilization Of
The question arises in the minds of many "What
Is the use OF a man like Livingstone exposing him
self to such suferinFs and dangersY Is 1t right for
any one man TO undertake herculean tasks like this
that promise little or no good in his lifetimeS" We
know there turks In the minds OF many
the suspicion that the praise bestowed upon
Livingstone is extravaganza; that Livingstone Is a
fool to expose himself to such hardshps for all the
good he can do. They do not that as the
pioneer Of Christian civilization his work cannot be
too highly valued. We should remember that II
the African missionary is thus to be deprecated or
condemned, on the same principles we have to de-
nOunce not few who now highest In the
worlds admiration. Mr.. Mitchell then proceeded
to give few notable examples OF men who strug-
gled for the attainment Of an idea, and who, hav-
Ing won 1t, conferred Unreasonable benefits on
mankind. We regard, he continued,
THE SEARCH FOR LIVINGSTONE
and his discovery as very important and significant
events. Had the intelligence been authenticated
that he was murdered in cold blood by savages or had
become the prey OF wild beasts or succumbed to
fever or starvation, who can tell what depressing
influence this would have had upon commercial and
missionary enterprise The news OF his recovery,
the knowledge he will disclose concerning the
geography, the climate, the soil, the races, the
manners and customs the religions OF Africa, can.
not fail to advance the interests OF education Of
commerce and Of religion.
The reverend gentleman then proceeded to speak
OF the future OF Africa, which he depicted in glow
Ing colors. and advocated united effort of the
Churches to send out more men like livingstone
physical as well as theological doctors-to the mis-
sionary field Of Africa. He concluded with an APP
peal for liberal and prayeriul sympathy with foreign
IN