The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1879-06-25
4 N0RLE EXAMPLE.

When DR.. Chalmers had won fame such
as few mon ever attained sitter ne had held
the highest places in the gift of his Church
after he had been the great leader of the
Free Church movement; in the Sabbath of
his life; az an sge when most men retire
from active pursuits; he performed the
noblest of all his lsbors as missionary IN
West Port, then the most destitute Of all the
precincts Of Edinboro. And We do not hesi-
tate to say thss Chalmers. preaching in the
tan loft of West Port, to an assembly Of
ragged Oulcastg, was greater than Chalmers
preaching in the Iron church TO which the
wealth and fashion of Scotland crowded;
greater even than Chalmers in the chair Of
Theology.
So every minister true to the objects of
his cali will often find his heart and his judg-
mens inclining him TO the fields where the
destitutiOns are greatest. It is not only the
great church and the crOwding congregation
which present field for usefulness, but also
the great destisution where there are multi
tudes like sheep without a shepherd. 1t
would be folly TO say that the most destitute
field is always the one for the greatest use
fitness. This would be no more true than
that other opinion which we fear is too COM
mon, that the largest church points out the
widest field for useful labor. Christ went first
and Of preference to the most needy; preach
ing to puSioans and sinners, on the ground
that ''she whole have no need of physician,
but they that are sick" He did not remain
in heaven to reign over angels, but came to
earth to what might seem an humbler and
meaner Office, bat to what was truly more
divine and glorious wOrk-to save the lost.
After his example, We hear the great
Apostle of the Gentiles ezclaiming, Z" l have
50 strived to preach the gospel Of Christ, not
where Christ was named, lest [ should build
upon another maa's foundation. TO plant
q church in a new place is perhaps the most
apostolic work, the most Christian work
that a minister can do. We are far from
undertaking the Importance of having our
older and larger churches supplied with the
ablest and best trained men, The man who
can labor acceptsbly in such churches must
be endowed with the "best gifts, and is do
ing a noble work. But is it not, at least, as
great and noble to lay the foundations of
new churches and build up feeble ones p
This work may not be attended with 50 great
immediate results and yet be far more i'm
portant in the end. Many a man has done
a great and apostolic work for the Church
by sowing al his life in sorrow and tears,
without living TO see the harvest. Gone
soweth and another respeth." Has the
reaper done al He that sowed and he
that reaped shall rejoice together, and yet
there is reserved for the soWer higher JOY
and more glorious reward. The minister
who goes to work in a destitute field must
practice greater self.denial than one who
works in the midst of select Christian So
ciety. He may be less hOnored of men; he
may have to endure poverty, bat he shall
have his reward. Let him not be frightened
from his place, but rather rejoice like brave
captain selected for the most perilous service.
We lately heard noble man, who had spent
his life in this work declare that he had
''stood face to face with starvation for thirty
years" and now had no fear of it while in
the Masters service. We must occupy the
land and supply the destisutiOns. We must
plant the standards of the Presbyterian
Church in every place open to US. We are
not content merely to hold what We have, but
we must aim at progress in every Synod; in
every PreaSytery. Even in the great Synod
of Virginia with its 1000 communicates
there are many waste plaees-placeS which
We can supply without any fear of interior
ing with the labors of other Christians. And
then We have a great territory from the At
lansie to the Rio Grsnde, and there is room
for our extension in every portion of it.
We must stimulate our young men and our
older ones, too, to go, of preference to the
ssasts rather than to the cultivated fslds.-
The sympathy of the Church must. be ex-
tended to such until we recognize the great
truth that it is a higher and nObler exercise
of the ministerial office to plant nel0 churches
and to build up feeble ones than to ssrue sned
as are already veU established.