The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-01-30
SHE NRtBuHE.
A SERMON.
BY THE Rev. Mr.. G. 3. STEVENS.

has the Work OF mOOcfH iHlSSiUuS, |
among the heather paid ? Yearly in |
our congregation, the claims OF missions
come to us for our contributions and,
as called upon to give them support, We
have a right to ask, and to demand an
answer, If the work done With such
money is commensurate with the money
paid. | design in this discourse TO say.
and 10 give reasons for saying, that
modern missions have paid, and are pay
ing. as few other investments made in
these modern times are paying The
command of our Savior to preach the
Gospel to every creature, | think should
be ebeyed-whatever the seeming 70
suits. Obedience belongs to us, results
to Him. But almost always, Gods ways
are not only the best ways, but the most
profitable ways for us to follow. | be-
lieye that this is true in Missions to the
heather. LIST. By way of proving that
missions pay, [ remark that they pay fl
s1aacialy.
beathendom is estimated TO amount to
just about 81 millions of dollars year
[ undertake to say that they pay this
money back to the nations that give IL.
In Africa, it is said that the naked
Grebbo buys an English silk hat, and
regards himself as dressed. Convert
he nat 1rar tn
new ideas, until he has q full suit OF
clothes throughout. Savageism needs
almost nothing, by way of manufactured
articles. Christianize the savage tribe,
and the whole train of civilized wants
come trooping in. The improved hus-
bandry that the missionaries have intro
duced among the Zulus. OF Hottentots,
of South Africa, is said to have made .
demand for plows, alone of greater value
than the whole cost of the mission work
during the year 1870. Rut additional
TO plows there were other agricultural
implements. Hoes, shoyels, forks. and
there should be mowers. reapers, aud
the whole circle of utensils used on 3
farm One missionary at Harpoot, East
Turkey, has ordered, for natives of that
region, more than one hundred tanning
mills Agricultural implements, me-
ctanic's tools, schools. furniture to the
amount of thousands of dollars year,
are passing through the mission house at
Boston, ordered and payed for by the
natives at the instance of the missiona-
ries. During the year ending June,
1871, twenty FIVE grain mills, the fist
reaper. two Lambs knitting machines,
and hundred dollars worth of outline
maps were sent to East Turkey; i'm
proved plows, moving and reaping ma
chimes to Turkey aud South Africa ;
seventy-fvc sets Of outline maps to Cey-
lon with sewing machines and cabinet
organs to various fields. Such i'm
provements have created a commerce
amounting TO very nearly A millions
with the Sandwich Islands alone while
the whole expenditures for Foreign
country. was in 1870, only about Il mil
lions against 4 ] millions of trade, at the
Sandwich Islands, and this trade has
been created by our missions The
American Board was the society princi-
pslly instrumental IN Outstanding the
Sandwich Islanders. The cost of its
missions for the gear 1871 was 1920, eco.
The profit on the trade OF the Islands
Tor that year at profit of Is per cent,
would amount to over $685. 900, or, the
profit on trade at that one point would
pay for all the expenses of the Board
for It's missions over the whole world
with surplus Of $40, coo besides The
commerce between the British Posses
sions in Africa aud the ports of New
Eaglands during the year ending June
so, 1871, amounted to over p million
dollars. Fifteen per cent. profit on this
trade makes over 100000 and this is
only another point made commercially
valuable BY missions. \ writer on this
subject, IN view of the facts thus gather
ed up, concludes, We AFFIRM, then. that
missions do pay. cent for cent, dollar for
dollar ; t,eo. .fre, ten dollars per dollar
even now; and that every year their
commercial value shows an increasing
ratio.
I'd. 1t would be easy to multiply
statements proving the commercial value
of missions. | pass on, however, and
say that they have proven directly ana
incidentally of great value to our coun.
try as q nation.
When | was q child the Territory of
Otegoa was almost unknown. Clark and
Lewis had travelled there; but their mar |
rative gave tho impression OF country
SO difficult o! access. and so remote, and |
so worthless that it would be we'll for our /!
government to abandon all care for it. or |
claim of it. But in 1885, 6, !, our mis- !
sionaries passed over the plains, and |
through gorge Of the Rocky Noun /
taiDs, and declared that they could take /.
wagons through, and that before many /
years railroad would be built, and men !
would cross the continent, as at that |
time they went to Niagara Falls, out of |
curiosity. In Our treaties during Tyler's !
administration. the English sought the /
session of this region to England Whit
man, missionary, heard of the attempt, |
hurried to Washington. convinced Web
ster and Tyler that it VAS a vast, valua-
bic possession that the British sought to
grasp, and succeeded in saving, not SIM
ply the little island of San Juan, bat sll |
Oregon. Washington, ard incidentally
all California 10 the United States. He
saved our whole Pacific coast to our
country, and that coast has already been
worth to US in cash daring single year
more than ali our missionary operation,
fer the cer.ary hars cost US. as l sup
pose.