The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1875-09-29
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
THE FIELD Is THE WORLD"
Matthew xiii: 38.

Some good people cannot see the propriety
of sending missionaries abroad while there
are wide sections of 'our great country but
partially supplied with ministers 1 have
nephew in the wilds of Colorado who says
ne is forty miles from any church, and can
not hear sermon once year, but he has
Bible and reads it with delight. He was
well instructed in his native State, and well
remember tsormer privileges, but did
not obtain %hope until recently in that
lonely condition. Nearly all our people in
the most destitute regions have Bibles, or
can have them if they will and some one
OF more of the different evangelical denomi-
nations are already planted in most of our
territories. In this day of light and love,
union and harmony, among Christians of
every name, We can rejoice in the extension
Of all that are evangelical, while we send our
men and money TO regions beyond. The
good DR.. Baker was remarkable for his
catholicity, and would sometimes say, "God
loves the Bsptists, and God loves the Meth
odists, and l will love them too" &c. If
the field is the world, as our Lord says,
there is more than work enough for all to do
without treading upon each others toes.
Ia view of this authority, what right have
We to cOn6ne our labors to our own country
men who have often heard and rejected the
gospel, when hundreds of millions are left
10 profound darkness What reason or
Justice is there in such proceeding? How
dare we to say that the soul of an ASiatic, or
African is not as dear to our Lord as an
American? Instead of doing too much, we
should feel impelled to send into the foreign
field ten or twenty times as many men and
women as We now do. The MoraVians seem
to be the only branch of the Church that
looks at this subject in its true light. The
wonderful success with which God has crown
ed the arduous and extensive labors of that
feeble denomination, and also our partial eff
forts, should open our eyes to our duty, and
lead to a radical change. Our Committee
SAYS, "In the home field we have 10000
900 of human beings whose spiritual welfare
we should endeayOr to promote by all possi-
bic means. In the foreign field there are
eight hundred OF thousand millions whose
spiritual destinations are greater, and whose
claims if possible are more urgent.
If our ministers will not go in sufficient
numbers for want of zeal, or cannot 20 with
out leaving the churches vacant, it seems we
should search out such laymen as Moody
and Sankey to preach and sing the gospel.
By the working of Gods providence we may
be led to discover a vast amount of talent
now buried in the church, that with little
improvement and encouragement might work
wonders in the heather world. 1t is esti.
mated that Mr.. Moody preached the gospel
to 2, 2,220 900 people during the four months
he spent in London. At this rate few such
giants in gifts and graces might soon preach
the gospel to every creature. As DIR. John
Hall says, Enough has been effected tc
teach the churches such lessons as the power
and value of simple Bible truth, higher
estimate of nonclericsl religious effort, anC
the need of coming nearer to the people thar
we commonly do, if we would do them good,
Perhaps also the best churches will b,
taught by the remarkable power of Mr.. San
keys singing to discard instrumental musi
from the sanctuary, and substitute bette
vocal music as more rational and scriptursl