The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-12-09
4unsfhula aFutd5.
Children's Work in Missions,

Since wOmans work in missions has be-
come recognized necessity, and found re-
Spouse in so many hearts anxious for the
Masters service, the thoughtful mind, look
ing into the future, has asked, Who shall
carry on this work, when the ranks now
forming shall have been thinned by death ?
Cannot our children be educated in regard
to missions to such an extent, that prelimi-
nary drill and training, before understanding
their actual work, may be avoided? Can
they not by iudicious education grow up into
the ranks, their service overlapping that OF
their mothers, so that there may be no inter
ruptiOn Of plans, no tagging in the aggres-
sive movements of our mission band The
answers to these questions must be found
with the mothers now interested in the work.
It is for US to devise ways and carry out
plans, that will permanently interest the
children Of our families and churches. What
nobler work, or more inspiring task ! How
impossible the character of a child in the
mothers hands, to mould for all good inAu-
ence al high and holy ambitions My dear
sisters, let US pray the children's Saviour for
his benediction upon a work so nearly akin
to his own. Let US feel assured that the
ministry Of childhood is peculiarly accepts-
Die to Him. who, while on earth, gave such
marked and repeated proofs of his love for
the little ones, and whose saddensd spirit was
eheered by their sweet hosannas. He uses
a little child as a fitting illustration of the
state of those who hoped to be called by his
name, or enter into his kingdom.
The missionary work of children is largely
that Of learners; they or we, will not be in
terested in what we know nothing about
The immoral tendencies of street.-The lie
mainly in the fact that the child becomes so
famiharized with evil, that it chngS to him
almost beyond counteraction. To fill our
childrens minds with what we desire them
to know, to stimulate them by the history of
noble examples, such as We would have them
to be, to develop such manhood and woman
hood as God viii delight to honor, is our
first and peculiarly our home work. We
must teach them the command of God-to
carry the gospel to the heather. We must
show them that the blessings received from
hereligion Of Christ impose upon them high
and sacred obligations to give the knowledge
Of our Saviour to those in darkness. They
must be shown the contrast in their temporal
and spiritual condition with that of heather
children, many of whom are destroyed in
infancy, or live to endure fate worse than
death. Particularly must the daughters Of
this land be shown their obligation to their
heather sisters, many Of whom, from birth
to death, are slaves to the caprice of others.
To further this part of the children work,
every Christian family should have regular
mutual reading of some inspiring missionary
life. Let the family sit together on Sab
bath afternoon, and one of the children read
aloud tho history Of some missionary or mis-.
sioD, Reading in this way for months will
not only inform them of the principal facts
Of our missions, but create taste that will
be the foundation Of their own reading in
after years. Who of US cannot trace much
of our own interest to the Sunday afternoon
reading Of long ago when the marvellous
story Of Ann II. Judson and the sainted
Boardman formed the theme of discourse
through many twilight hour. We can but
think the right arm Of our strength lies in
the reform of our childrens reading. Mis-
sionary biographies are almost banished from
our Sunday School libraries, or, if found on
the list, stand on the librarians shelves un-
sOiled, while the more fippant stories, in
which the wholesome dose of instruction is so
sweetened, find eager readers. Home inAu-
ence must correct this morbid appetite, and
furnish stronger thoughts for our children,
till healthier moral tone is established, and
they from choice seek worthier books.
When their young hearts are enlisted in
the sufferings of heather children, then will
come the natural impulse TO help; and CIV
ing viii be privilege, not merely duty.
Let the magnitude of the Object be fully uu-
derstOod BY them, and an intelligent and
willing response will be received and the
Lord loveth such cheerful givers,-Mrs. G.
Ian Hnsea, IA Helping Hand.