The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-04-17
From the Interior.
HOW TO MANAGE A MISSIONARY
SOCIETY.

being stretched forth.
Have plenty of both the above mentioned
faith and work. for it will take immense
quantities. The plan is great one. Lay
your foundations broad and build on the
Rock, SO it, your house, will stand till the
Millennium. Don't work while you feel
like it" and stop when you "get tired. -
He didn't 80 measure His service. If you
would like minute and practical instructions
how to begin and keep on, read the infallible
directions in Ex xxxv; 21-35; xxxvi: l.
7, especially 5 verse; xxx: 3O-43: XII:
1-38, especially 34-38; l ChrOn. xviii {:
10, 19, 21; II Chron. i. 9 chaps. Ezra,
Nehemiah, Psalma. Isaiah. and the New Tes-
lament.
Indeed, it is difficult to except any part of
the Bible.
Ask your minister to appoint meeting
of all the women in the church, and when
all are together with one accord in one place,
the Holy Ghost will surely descend, and you,
even the handmaidens, will speak with new
tongues the wonderful works of God. Be
sure and speak, and speak that. If you can
not begin your lesson with the glorious arith-
metc of Acts ii {; Al, try that of Matt. xviii:
10, 90. 1 would solemnly warn every indi-
vidual against Judges v: %.
Let some elect lady take the chair, call
the meeting to order, and open with singing,
reading the Scripture, and prayer, mission
ary prayer, Matt. vi: 9-1S. Then vote to
have a society, a constitution and officers,
and get them chosen as quickly as possible,
and let no one decline. Vor popuR vOr Del.
Get subscribers for Foreign Missionary, WO.
mans Work, and Childrens Work., and let
everybody that can buy some good mission
ary book to read and lend.
Meet an hour every month at church or
private houses. Have subject. (The sub
jects of our Assemblys Board cannot be i'm
proved upon. Let the President assign
parts, month in advance, to six or eight
persons each time, one to bring in an original
essay on some kindred theme, perhaps of her
own choosing, and all, without fail, feel re-
sponsible to say a word, however short, about
the field considered. Let these "parts"
take up the mission thoroughly; the country,
its geography, government, social life and
people, religion, history; the mission, its be-
ginning, development, difficulties, present
needs, signs of good and future promise; its
stations, machinery d. e., schools, press, ma
tive agency, etc, etc.; the missionaries, take
them up individually and personally; their
names, their families, their special depart
ments. Biographies of the sainted dead
Be sure and have maps and illustrations, OBJ
ject lessons, pictures-anything to bring the
near and make it vivid. Make every
thing pointed and sprightly. Study direct.
ness, and condensation will do this; and
never be tardy or exceed your hour. Have
your Secretary bring in report, always, of
your last meeting. Have your annual meet
ing public, and make it interesting. Let
somebody write letter to missionary every
month, and have these read at your meetings
before they are sent. Let these letters be
natural and chatty, loving and Gisterly, cheer
full and encouraging, written plainly on thin
paper, and pay the postage, and always re-
quest the missionary never to write back !
Tell her you would be sorry to add to her
burden or tax her time-already so full
but your letter is a free-will offering of love
and sympathy, and you will charge it Gf you
are mercenary stilD to the Master Himself.
Matt. K: AZ. He will answer it, and you
will be SO glad
Don't be too anxious to have a special field
or object of suppOrt.-Matt. xiii 1920.
Give your money, by an act of the most spir-
itual worship, directly to the Lord and drop
it quietly and unquestionably, laden with
prayer, into the treasury, having confidence
(you must have that in those who disburse
it for you, and let them send it wherever
needed most Dedicate it wholly, not only
to the glorious King, but also to the Man oi
Sorrows; and if the Master wants twine,
strings, wrapping paper and pine boxes, SC
practical AMI so unromantic, let your funds
90 for these to carry the Bibles in, albeit
wrapped outside AS our hearts grow an(
our faith strengthens, we shall unselfshly
diminish the crushing and perplexing cares
of our good officers and secretaries and mis-
sioDaries who keep track (if they can keeI
track of all these multiplied specialities.-
Never send donation to missionary anC
ask her to account to you for the expendi
ture of it, | trust she has something else t
do. Regular acknowledgment is made, o
course, to the proper person, and no none.
q conscientiously belieVe) is so carefully ant
economically expended as what passes through
missionary hands.
Little do you know the demand upon tn
time and strength Of those dear foreign mis-
sionares, and how the burdens press, wber
fields are so white and laborers SO few. HOl'
up their hands, ye Aarons and Hurs Ye
we don't talk often SO plainly on this point
Ignorance has been winked at, and man.
weak in the faith have been received, an
specalities allowed to all who asked, for thi
kind goeth out not but by prayer and fasting
Lot tho roonev be- proInised and given sys