The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-11-18

Almost fer the frsts time In our history
at the last General Conference was the great
subject OF MISSIONS brought to It's right
level on the question OF missionary organi-
cation. The General Conference safd let
every Sabbath school, as far as practicable,
be organized into missionary society. 1t
had reached the children not merely for col
lecting money through them, but for edu-
eating the children on the all-important sub.
iect. Suppose you dispense with many OF
the volumes OF tales and NOVELTIES. &C.,
substitute good missionary matter, and It
will do the rising generation good. and give
us n generation OF missionary workers, with
knowledge Of its wants and demands.
The last General Conference also made 1t
the duty OF the presiding elders to give speci-
| fc attention to this work, not In a mere per
| formatory way, but eE amino devise modes
and plans by which missionary money could
be raised and missionary intelligence and
| appreciation be diffused. To secure this end
the whole tone and tenor OF Church action
| must be changed.
| Preachers have not regarded the missionary
work as essential not only to the develop
ment but to the very life OF the Church it.
self: have not regarded 1t as al-important
10 bring the people into any vital connec-
ton with this idea. and taught them to real
.ize that it is the very blood and bones Of
the Church. Most preachers preach but one
sermon during the year ia the interest of
missions, take up collections, and raise often
but fifty per cent. OF small assessment, aad
think that they are doing well.
he was glad to see that nearly all the
Church advocates had mission depart
ment. The Church itself is missionary
| organization, whose boards are only the
local instruments OF carrying on the work
of the whole Church. This was and IS the
original principle and spirit OF the Church
and OF our Mcthodism. Paul felt hinselfa
debtor to preach the gospel in the regions
beyond. We are not simply responsible to
the Methodist Episcopal Church South, but
to the Lord Jesus Christ, to preach tue Cos
| pei wherever he wanted us to do so. We
are not at liberty to waste dollar Of the
Lords money in preaching the gospel where
| 1t is not needed.
When the appointments are made out in
the stationing-room there are five or ten or
twenty men for whom no place is provided.
Then the work has TO be cut up and mis-
sonary appropriations made to meet these
cases; and Bishop Pierce said that this was
BEN. done all over the whole connec-
| ton.
There is vast amount Of territory be-
| longing to the Lord Jesus Christ as much
so as the Virginia Conference, where from
Sl5O,O00 to 100000 was spent annually in
order to make luxurious quarters for the
| fifty thousand sheep already in the fold,
while the millions without were left to
perish.
The very best men you have ought to be
sent to the foreign-miSsionary work; but the
custom or desire is to send the very men
away who are not wanted ut home.
Ii st. Paul was living now, and in the
! Virginia Conference, they would want him
at the best church in Richmond; and ii
| Apollus came here he could not be grappled
out OF the clutches Of the Virginia Confer
ence to go on missionary expedition.
The true minister's responsibility is to
the Lord Jesus Christ, and he should hear
and heed the orders from headquarters!
The Biblewa DR.. Wilson's authority and
textbook in regard to the great question OF
missions. He does not expect or intend to
advocate the cause on any other ground
but that.
The 100000 southern Methodists, on an
assessment Of 100000 for foreign missions,
raised only S62,l57.
When Paul preached to the people at
| Antioch two or three Sabbaths he left them
and went where Christ was not named, lest
he should build on another mans founda-
ton. ..u.
The people who have found the Gospel
TO be "pearl OF great price" and "trea-
sure hid in feld," and who are able to buy
it and won't do it, as many Of our people
are. they do not deserve it and ought not
to have it. ~
In Mexico QuarterlysConference was
held under big tree, and the superinten-
dent travels up and down the Rio Grande
in spring-wagon with his family, and
camps out at night, and thus pursues his
work. He found that exercise and hard
work help great many people to higher
and better life. |
| Our people don't give ten cents per head
to our foreign-mission work, and unless we
infuse the missionary spirit in the Church
among men, women, and children, it will
never do its work. .... ,=
The General Conference inaugurated the
Women's Missionary Society-conSisting OF
4 general society, OF Annual-Conierence So
cieties, with auxiliary societies throughout
the whole connection. These societies work
| in harmony with and through the Church
and the Board OF Foreign Missions. Each
auxiliary society can give direction to its
own funds. ~. ''.t
| PUBLISHING INTERESTS.
| Rev p A Peterson called ND the reDort