Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-20
geligfuns Department.
OBSCURE CHRISTIAN WORKERS.
BY REV. c. VAN sANrvooRD, D. D.

ODSOORE OhR1SAkAN WOhhEhSs
BY REV. G. VAN sANTvooRD, D. D.
1t is given to few honored men to
speak to the ages, with voice whose
power seems to grow stronger, and con-
fer widening benefit as the years roll
on. These are the great voices of the
world, like those of the prophet and
seers of the olden times, inspired and
made commanding by Gods special pur-
pose and for some high specific work.
The great mass of men, however, who
do good while they live and speak by
their works when dead, do not belong to
this class. They are but ordinary men.
They are often obscure men. They do
not dazzle the eye of the world. They
court not and love not notoriety. They
could not attract the gaze of the crowd
if they would, they would not if they
could. The love of duty is stronger
with them than the love of applause.
They seek not honor from men, rejoicing
mainly and supremely in the Lords ap-
prevail. They simply do what can in
the sphere where God has placed them,
and aim to do it honestly, staunchly,
faithfully, and to the end. These are,
after all, the great benefactors of the
world the salt which makes the bitter
waters of life sweet and pure, saving
society in fact, by its own vitalizing
energy.
1t is not the great preacher whom
crowds follow, whose name is on all
tongues, and who sails complacently or
the topmost wave of popularity, who
performs the grandest results in eleva
ting the masses, and bringing the forces
of the gospel to bear most widely and
potentially on human minds and hearts
1t is the multitude of Christian pastors
and workers with no extraordinary gift
or endowments, in most cases, to lif
them high above their brethren, known
many of them, hardly beyond the bound
of their parish or town, toiling each il
his little sphere all over the land. VIII
exert the mighty influence that moves
hearts and moulds lives.
1t is not George Peabody, with hi
scattered millions and his fame as
princely benefactor, who works good t
the masses on the most extended scale
1t is the countless thousands of rills Q
benefcence, good will and charity, flow
ing into the bosoms of the needy i
every community, from the hearts {
men. the large proportion of whom al
obscure, many of them indeed compars
lively poor, and who give their aims o.
ten in the Christ-like spirit Of not LEI
ting the left hand know what the rigt
hand doeth, that compa IS the mightie'
results. 1t is the unostentatious work
and offerings of such as these, that Ii
the heaviest burdens from the bosom
of the sorrowing, and make those read
to perish clap their hands for joy.
And SO it is not the famous physical
whose science or skill the world a.
plauds,-such as Boerhaavo, Hunter,
. Ashley Cooper,-who comes closest hon
to the hearts of men, and does benet
on the widest scale. 1t is the host
4 obscure physicians. pursuing. each
his little sphere, the noiseless tenor
his faithful and laborious way, sittil
beside the couch of disease and pal
and ministering to human ills and 81
ferings in every nook and corner of t
land, who performs the great aggrega
of relief and benefit to those in physic
/, distress.
- The moral of this is plain one al
y soon told. Each one has a work to {
u an influence to WELD, and voice tn
will be heard by others after the era
70 has closed ON the living speaker.
L life devoted to the highest good of m
- here and hereafter, is not quenched
>, to its influence at death, however, (
- scure that life and its work may hi
been. Its benign actions make it |
- ing remembrance and poor.
Y,