The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-07-11
TIE WORK OF THE LAST ASSEMBLY.
FOREIGN MISSIONS.

enterprise. But in view of the statements OF
the Standing Committee, introducing those
resolutions, they are full of meaning. We
wish to call the earnest and prayerful atten-
ton of the members of our churches to this
presentation of this subject. "News" from
our own and other churches is always inter
esting, and discussions of topics of interest in
our general policy, OF touching the relations
we sustain to other churches, or matters of
general interest in their proceedings Sre all
worthy Of attention, But we desire to 81 yakep'
more lively, persistent and efficient consid-
Grafton of the affairs of our own beloved
Church.
Indeed We seem to have reached crisis
in our work of sending the gospel to the
unevangelized nations of the earth" The
Assembly was evidently impressed by the
facts set forth in the report Of the Exeou-
tive Committee of Foreign Missions" The
death of one missionary, the permanent re-
tirement of another, by reason of i'll health,
the failure, for two years, to send any rein
fOrcement to the Foreign Missionary work,
and the decline in contributions to the amount
of $4,000, with the neglect of 766 churches
to send any contributions, suggest any other
than encouraging views. The Assembly
could do no less than to "enjOin on all Pres
byteries" in the exercise of their episcopal
function, "to require each pastor and stated
supply, at the commencement of every &C.
clesiastical year, to instruct their people in
the duty of sending the gospel into foreign
lands. This injunction is very far reaching,
and if fully carried out, and the require
ments directed to be made, be complied with
by ministers, with Gods blessing We may
hope for the most pleasing and blessed re-
suits. The work of the Church, both do
nestle and foreign, is based on prayer and
an intelligent hberalty in contributions of
money and self consecrstiOn of its members.
1t is needless longer to urge the correctness
of the principle, underlying our scheme Of
Systematic Beneyolence, which has become
so we'll established in our Church, that while
church courts claim no authority to tar the
members of the Church, yet, 50 long as We
admit the duty Of making voluntary cOntri-
buttons of money to the support of the Vagi-
Gus institutions Of Christian bene7olenee, for
extending knowledge of the gospel, it is
the province of the church courts to enforce
on the officers of our churches, the obligation
to give the people proper opportunities for
making such contributions. Then, in order
that the people may have an intelligent ap-
probation of these opportunities, there must
be suitable and impressive instruction i'm
parted by their spiritual guides. It may
otherwise occur, that the appointed days for
stalking up collections" for the various
schemes of the Church, as provided by our
church courts, may be literally Observed and
collections may be made; but made, as too
often is the case, with hardly thought of
the Importance of the object to which contri-
buttons are offered, or the special urgency Of
its claims and therefore, we are not sur
prised that the amount secured is so meager
and inadequate. Nor is this all. Not only
should the donors addressed, be carefully in
structed in the nature, Importance and ur-
geney of the particular object presented for
their benefaetions, but there should be de-
Vised and put in execution, from time 60 time,
such plans as may secure increase in the
amounts of donations.
But our people need faithful instruction
for other objects than merely securing
money. The apostle in II Cor. Viii 5, after
having commended the iberality of the
Macedonian churches, supplies the explana-
ton of that unusal iberality, which abound
ed from their deep poverty" by adding,
"they first gave their own selves to TIE
Lord. Here is the secret spring of efficient
service in the Church. How many give
merely as a habit, or merely because others
give, or under some impulse, produced by
an eloquent appeal; in short, from almost
any other motive but that of love to Christ, |
and the powerful influence of the principle,
that it is privilege to be co-workers with
Him, in extending His glorious gospel in the
world Much is published in the Missionary
and in our religious papers, which many
members of the Church never read, or read
e4relessly. There axe also many stereotyped
phrases, such as " the field is the world"
''the field is white for the harvast" used in
addresses and sermons, which awaken no dis
tiuct and impressive thought, by reason of
frequent and unappGed use, on the subject of
eVangelizing the world. Now let the plan
urged by the Assembly, be faithfully pur-
sued; let ministers inform themselves on the
history of particular missions, on the daily
work of the missionary, his trials, his encour-
agements and discOuragements, his failures
and his successes; let the enterprise be set
before the people as theirs, conducted by
cir agents, so that they will be led to re-
fard it as one belonging to the interests of
] leir Christian life, and they must be brought
IpOre fully to appreciate it, in all its immense
Importance. 1t is thus that what is termed
kind of haekneyed phraseOlogy, "the
ssiOnary spirit" and often regarded as
le higher, hOler phase Of Christian tenn
will be found to be but Christian