The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-02-01
FOREIGN MISSIONARY WORK.
Excuses for not Giving Answered-Lift the coIec
tionsI


As the season is now here when the differ
ent congregations of our church will be APP
pealed to for the foreign missionary work, it
is well to be prepared for those misery souls
Gotten the richest in the church, who will be-
gin to hinder the work, quiet their con-
sciences relieve themselves from duty, by
protferipg of excuses, which to the thought
less may appear plausible but when exam
ined are of the fimsiest and most senseless
sort.
Two excuses are most generally given for
not contributing to this most important and
God-enjoined object.
LIST. There are heather enough at home
Let US convert them before we go abroad. ?"
We shall let the Rev. Phillips Brooks answer
this, as his name, in itself, is tower of
strength, while his words are more pertinent
than any we could employ. He says, 'sThat
plea we all know, and think it sounds more
cheap and more shameful every year. What
can be more shameful than to make the Inn
projections of our christianity at home an ex-
cuse for not doing our work abroad. 1t is as
shameless as it is shameful 1t pleads for ex-
emption and indulgence on the ground of its
own neglect and sin 1t is like the murderer
of his father asking the judge to have pity on
his orphanhood Even those who make such
plea feel, think how unheroic it is
Excuse I'd. :" The expensiveness in dis
tributing the funds $50 far from boane) i'll
those far off distant and scattered parts of
the world" We will allow DIR. John Wall
than whom no more earnest, faithful, popu-
lar, eloquent and withal liberal minister
graces the American pulpit to answer He
says, 1.-The charities of this city (referring to
New York; according to the governors mes
sage, cost 81, 225, 900 to distribute $10,o00,-
600, while the cost of foreign missions, widely
scattered as they are, is not more than four or
five per cent. and much of it great deal
less"
This comparison is indeed most favorable
to the mission work of the church. And we
can add to the favorableness of this showing
if we limit our view to the missionary opera
tons of our own church-the Methodist.
The whole cost of supporting our entire mis-
sionary Office and work, including the salaries
of the secretaries, is little less than two and
three-fourths per cent. What business is car
ried on more economically than this 2 We
shall add no further words of our own, to
these strong and unanswerable ones given by
Drs. Brooks and Hail. IF these are not suffi-
cient to convince these thoughtless (perhaps
sinful) trainers of vain excuses, then they
would possibly not be convinced even though
one rose from the dead"
The fact is, and we might as well say it
plainly, these excuses are generally traceable
to either gross or willful ignorance on the
one hand, OF to criminal covetoasness on
the other And what avails their profession
of religion, their assumption of charity and
brotherly love, their pratings of the common
brotherhood of man, when seeing as they
must the needs of the race bound in darkness
and chains and struggling and crying for de-
iverance and light, they refuse to send that
light by withholding their means, - And shut
the gates of mercy on mankind ?"
Is it any wonder John, when on speaking
to his brethren upon this very subject of
withholding from brother in need, asks the
significant question, How dwelleth the love
of God in him p
In conclusion We say, lift the collection !!
Despite all opposition, in the face Of all ex-
cuses, urge upon the people everywhere, es-
pecially in this country of Astounding grace
and plenty, the righteous claims of the ma
tons beyond. We repeat it, lift the collec-
tions, and thus shield the flying abroad of that
white-winged bird of the gospel COMMITTED
to the care and direction of the church, until
from her silvery pinions drop salvation upon
every nation, and the face of long -benighted
humanity turns upward, catching the light
and poisoning in the glory of a life immor-
tall Lift the collections! CRITIC.