West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-08-15
head Before the Parkers5urg Bap.
tlst Mission Circle.


over their joys and sorrows which
tney had just experienced; proba-
bly, little thinking that with them
would begin the promulgation of
the great missionary work,
While they recline at table their
beloved Lord appears to them and
says, GO into all the world and
preach the gospel to every crea-
ture.' Even before this meeting a
woman is asked by her Master to
60 and tell the disciples that their
Lord is risen from the dead.
We read that soon they preached
the gospel everywhere they went.
Even then in the disciples days
the Home and Foreign missionary
work began, and at the end of the
first century five thousand converts
had rallied about the standard of
the dispised Nazarene.
At the close of the third century
five million had become followers
of the Founder of the Christian re-
ligion,
At the end Of the fourth century
they numbered fifty millions. For
a period during the dark ages the
increase was not SO great.
IL seems as though Christianity
was only slumbering to awaken to
renewed vigor; for from the if
teenth century to the eighteenth
the increase was more rapid, its adj
herents more firm, and notwith-
standing the prosecutions and mar
tyrdoms, the church came out of
the burning fiery furnace unharm-
ed, and the united testimony came
from the four corners of the world,
that one like the Son of Cod
walked with her through all these
centuries. Her numbers were now
two hundred millions. In eigh-
teen hundred and eighty, they were
more than four hundred millions.
In the present century more con,
verts have espoused the Christian
religion than in the eighteen cen
turtles that preceded.
1t is stated that one-half of the
earth's population is governed by
Christian legislation. Germany
with all her reputation for inideli
ty, has but seven thousand who
call themselves infdels and free
thinkers, out of a population o
more than twenty-four millions.
France, more than a hundred
years ago, abolished religious rule
and the Sabbath, and boosted Of hen
intldelity SO much that she exalted
one of her courtesans to receive the
homage due to God. But when
her people found how demoralizine
they were becoming, they welcom-
ed back their God, their Sabbath
their former worship, and purer
form OF Government.
The hand of God has turned and
overturned till now they have Il
Republican government and reli-
gious federation.
These few facts and figures give
US little idea of what grand re-
sultf have been accomplished for
the redemp tion of the world.
We see that the kings vision OF
the stone that should be cut out Of
the mountains without hands,
should become great mountain
and fill the whole earth, is being
fulfilled.
The song that the angels sang
at the advent Of the Redeemer,
peace on Earth, Goodwill to
Men" was woven into His preach
ing and life.
After the close of Has labors, for
the succeeding eighteen hundred
years, there was but little more
than an echo of the song; but now
it is becoming a full chorus in the
hearts of the nations. The time will
come when it will permeate the
whole world, and the nations shall
beat their swords into ploa ghshares
and their spears into pruning
hooks, nation shall not lift up
sword against nation, neither shall
thew learn war any more"
Shalt we not learn in every way
that lies in our power, to carry on
this great work, which has been
so signasly blessed?
% dor.s not idly stand.