Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-25
Miksionary Meeting.

n misSiouhiy meeting Vi great was hoiu
at the Congregational church last evening, which
was addressed by Rev. Dr. Warren of California,
Rev. Mr.. Cobb of Mime sofa, and Rev. DIR. Storrs
of New York. Rev. Mr.. Ecob introduced the
speakers, and the singing was performed by the
choir. a good congregation was in attendance.
Rev. DR.. Warren of Los Angeles, Cal, was the
first speaker, who spoke in behalf Of the American
Home Missionary Society. He said he was in
California at the time of the discovery of gold,
when men Fl ON all parts Of the world were rush
ing there for only object-wealth. 1t was
hard to establish churches and the stated preach
ing of the Gospel in such state of society. Mems
Great difficulty attended all religious movements.
But the Gospel obtained q foothold. and now
there are six hundred Protestant churches in the
State, buttresscd with all those benign and
heathful influences that are the legitimate out
come Of Christianity. lie was certain that the
Gospel of Christ was to take possession OF that
country. He related incidents of great interest
connected with the early efforts to introduce reg-
ious influences. NJ issionares endured the great
est hardships, often having their houses burnt
over their heads. There is money enough in
California TO carry forward all religious instiu-
TONS but the trouble is it is not consecrated mon
ey. lie asked for continuance of the interest of
the people of New England, until that State, with
its thousands of Chinese population, shall be
brought to God, and then they MI be in a condi-
ton 10 help the adjoining States Stand by US
ten or twenty years longer.
Rev. l.. ii. Cobb of Minneapolis then address
ed the assembly on the missionary Interests of the
West. No one without visiting these vast regions
can realize the extent and Importance OF the work
New England 63 900 square miles-can be laid
into Minnesota and then have a row of counties
on the outside. This single State has SO 90
sOu m lie has hee m N at pnd a
Sunday service, and then travelled twenty miles
between the services. Many pari'hes are % I'll lies
10 length. One man came to a local conference,
recently, sixty miles on horseback. But we have
and still demand church m iteral OF the very best
kind. There l 900 there from the Pine Tree
state, aud about 80 900 from the New England
States together. Ours Is q tremendously rapid
gro With. Fifty years ago what Is now the city of Chi.
cago, with population Of $4,000 more than Boston,
was at that time setl' INT of twelve houses. In
1888, within radius of two hundred miles around
ST. Paul not a settlement could be found hut ex
tending the radius 400 miles, we have now $1,000.
OOO people, or rs many as there were 10 the entire
country in l776. THIS population is made up of
great number of naIionalitles. Wickeducss,
lnhdelity and Sabbath-breaking abound, and it
takes men of grit aud Christian fortitude to take
stand in such localities For such men we plead
to-day; the country demands them.
Rev. H. Nj. Storrs ID d., of New DIRK city, then
for three quarters of an hour, dweit eloquenty
the need Of missionary work in America. lie con
cluded by an earnest appeal TO Christians to sta nd
by this Christian land. The American Home
Missionary Society has been in existence fifty
years, and in that time has received by contribu-
tons IS 100000. Not one dollar has been lost to
the purpose it was dor ated for There has been no
fraud or ENLIGHTENMENT of funds, and no occasion
for regret. We have no salaried treasurers or ed
ltors. This work is all done, and comes under the
care of the secretaries. In no year have the ex-
penses reached ten per cent, and in many years
hardly seven per cent. OF the receipts. -Four thou
sand churches have been aided and planted 1000
of these now are almost wholly seif-supporting.
Scores OF thousands of Sabbath schools have been
founded and millions of Sunday School scholars
have received Bible instruction.; 800 900 have
been added 10 the churches. Communities have
been enlightened with the gospel; whole States
have been permested. 1t is q work, in fact, reach
ing from ocean TO ocean, as wide III its extent as
the continent itself. The past year representa-
tves of the society preached TO Fl 900 congrega-
tons. What record is all this. Bat few years
after the organization of this society, his eyes
first opened in a home mi:sionarys log cabin, way
up in the northwestern corner of OHIO. Villages
there spring up instantly. 1t was decision Of
almost instant. Shall that place be for Christ
the Devil? In six weeks the character of that
place is fixed. Men consecrated to Christ
wanted on the spot now. The matter Is of to-
days importance. and can't be post poned until to-
morrow Foreign blood is fermentng in this be-
loved country of ours. The human family on
both sides of the Old continent is crowding into
Dy luere Is condensed
there, vacuum here. and passage way between.
The great problem Is coming, ready to
meet it
DR.. Storrs reverted eloquently to the Chinese
question, thai cloud on the Pacific slope no bigger
than q mah's hand but out of which may come
the tempest. Ga one side there is Empire with
poverty stricken millions the other side of the
blessed, smooth, inviting sea is an open country,
lifting her generous breasts for the nourishment of
the world, opening her Golden Gates, stretching
out hands full Of gold and agricultural wealth. A
goblet brimming with humanity, China need
hardly careen to spill hundred millions into the
bosom of this nation and vet not know she has
parted with a family Talk about your acts Of
Legislature, acts OF Congress to stay that great
movement You might well talk of stcmming
the swollen waters Of the Mississippi with a hur-
d,e
Tie great English encyclopedia fixes the prob
able population of this continent in 400 years at
$500, 900, 600 souls. This IS not fanciful idea,
but the result of deep British study. We have
got 20 face this prob ZEN for ourselves and for
children and children's children. We confront
the question today. Is this land to be of
Chtlstaniiy-which Includes Father, an Elder
Brother, Home beyond and peace here, or
land Of paganism, which means no Father, no
Elder Brother, no Home there, all dar kncss
A vast and solemn trust it is, and it is our own
trust. We are accountable. Let us preserve the
safety OF America.