Daily globe., 1881-01-16
BETWEEN OURSELVES.


Take for instance, as a specimen of this
plethoric fatuity-that bequest of $40, 900 from
the Stone estate for evangelical work in
France.
Evangelical work in France!
Just think of that far-fetched and idiotic
pretext for squandering money Now the
wonder will arise even in the most orthodox
mind, why Heaven will fairly shower money
on such predestined fools-and withheld it
altogether from some people, until many of
them become criminals from the plentiful
lack of it. a
Think of the mnltitudes who from child
hood to death never krow any relaxation from
the tighc pe&iniary grip of fate; who toll and
struggle for daily bread-and always see the
wolf at the door from one
year to another. One might fancy
that the best evangelical work could be put
in practically here at home, without trying
precepts and texts on the French.
After all, tits the spirit of the gospel that is
needed rather than the precepts. 1t seems to
be one,sided encouragement, and the chief
return is rather too extensive a business in
bibles, tracts, and all the trading element,
while the exhibit in the spirit is cemmensu-
rately meagre for SO vast material outlay.
In other words there is too much preaching,
merely as preaching. The world runs to it,
when it is of the fine aesthetic, .inconsequent,
irresponsible kind. Individuals under some
spell as to it's supreme efficacy, leave large
sums to keep it going in circumstances and
conditions, oftentimes where it is not only
useless but ridiculous.
The same amount of money iudiciously
handled for the benefit of the destitute, would
60 farther towards illustrating the spirit of
Christianity, than the best bound bibles or the
most eloquent tracts. The letter is too rife,
but the divine inference is scarce.
The New York Star of a recent date records
the death of young man named Howard
Marsh from the lack of proper nourishment
during his illness. He lived with his mother
in wretched quarters. Her aunt, Mrs. Mary
r. Heard, died five years ago, leaving a large
amount of money to be dispensed for mission
ary purposes-so the statement reads.
Evidently this woman believed in the efficacy
| of the letter rather than the spirit. To her
| preaching. the bible, and tracts, went ahead of
all Christian ministration-a surpassed the
ever-recurring, and emphatic prominence of
charity in the gospel incubation.
| Now this is an inversion of the method Of
! Christ. He didn't preach nor eXpound so very
much-but His actions told the story of His
mission. More frequently the parable was the
outcome of the deed, rather than the reverse.
| His career was not one of mere verbiage.
| The practical illustrations of His teaching
were eloquent enough for conviction. The same
method to-day might be prolific Of good
results among the persons who are dosed with
the bible alone ad 1auseam.
The amount of literature that is put forth
in missionary work is sufficient to appal the
stoutest soul. To one grain of the majestic
simplicity of diction in the new testament, is
added endless explanations q commentaries,
and general enlargement, interspersed with
legends of pious children preferring the tracts
to gingerbread, like the godly progeny of Mr..
Brocklehurst. This is the average mental
n1enu of modern evangelists, and is it any
wonder that the method is the jibe of half the
honest world to-day?
Now the teaching is satisfactory of itself,
only there is q vastly greater amount of it than
was comprehended in the original scheme, by
reason Of this tremendous overlaying of mod
ern ''missionary business"
For it is a business having huge pecuniary
basis to stand on, while the original scheme
didn't count much on money to spread its
| doctrine, and, in point of fact was rather
harsh in eliminating cash from its trans
| = II
first Christian organization came to an igno-
minious end as speculating treasurer.
| OF course we know that other tunes-other
measures, etc.-bring about other methods,
but when the letter of the original evangel is
| SO expensively proclaimed, surely its divine
| inference ought to be much more manifest in
| humanity and charity, the great shining vir-
ture of the new dispensaton.
But nowadays, first and foremost, we must
have the bible slung at US in poverty and in
sickness, and in most of the miserable diem
mas of existence.
Now if the book came in after the body was
mdde comfortable, through the influence of
its spirit, may be the result would be happier.
Some time ago humane gentlewoman liv-
ing in the vicinity of the city hall helped ne
gro family without mentioning the bible, but
when the sick negro died after a wasting,
dreary interval, he took over to the other side
heavenly conviction of Christian charity. For
weeks this admirable woman prepared appetiz-
ing food and carried it to the dying man. She
never read a chapter or line to him; neither
did she exhort him in the popular way, but
she did have him baptized and her duty was
done.
The service of the Lord is variously per-
formed but we are told faith is nothing with
out charity, and the intellect of adherence to
faith alone, is a cold concession without
charity in the Christ-like sense of helping our
neighbor in every bodily strait of poverty and
nlness-yea, and men in sin. This exaction
comes in before the texts, and tracts; after
wards they may come in naturally, and do
good.
To many the service of the Lord is poetic.
All the sweet, sentimental acts are done to
charm. Putting flowers on affairs, and leading
ia sweet, fowery missions comprise the lovely
routine of some lives instinct with sort of
delicious consciousness that they are experts
in Christian perfection-while the souls loved
of Christ and redeemed by him are suffering