The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-11
MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES.
A History of the Work, by Rev. A. Mclean,
of Cincinnati.

Rev. A. Mclean of Mt Healthy Christian
Church, Cincinnati preached at the Central
Christian Church last evening, taking as his
text the fourteenth chapter, 9th verse of the
Book of Revelations Sand saw another angel
gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the
earth, and to every nation and kindred, and
tongue and people" Mr. Mclean spoke of the
history of the missions, calling attention to the
progress of missionaries during the present
century. William Corey, of England, is Justly
regarded as the father of modern missions. He
was cobbler by trade, and bought and sold
secondhand shoes. AS he worked at his humble
bench, he thought of the countless millions who
were living in pagan darkness, and resolved to
do something for the betterment of their condi-
ton. He gave every spare momentto study,
adding to his slender stock of knowledge, and
was after time licensed by the Baptists to
preach. He was obliged to teach school to help
exc out scanty living. He made a globe of
leather to represent the world, and by means of
it exhibited the countries, showing those that
were Christian, those that were Mohammedan,
and those that were pagan, and as he
uttered the word pagan, his voice quivered and
send missionaries and the gospel abroad was
heard by the officers at conference with sur
prise and anger. They said when it would please
the Lord to convert the heather it would be
done without their aid or his. There was only
one minister in London, the celebrated John
Newton. who looked upon the proposition
with favor when he pleaded the cause that was
SO near and dear to his heart. He preached a
sermon from Isaiah, oh. liv, 2: Enlarge the
the place of thy tent and let them stretch forth
tho IF hohi tot nt
lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes"
The two great thoughts of this sermon were,
first. to attempt great things for God, and the
second to expect great things from God At the
close collection was taken up amounting to
about $40. That afternoon missionary society
was organized. 1t was not long until he was on
his was to India. He became an unremitting
student of oriental languages and he lived to
see nearly fifty different oriental dialects become
the channels of transmission for the word of God
to as many tribes giving the gospel to millions
of people. The Church of Scotland thought
it highly improper to send the gospel
abroad as long as there was a single individual
unconverted at home. DIR. Erskine called the
assembly to the recognition of its neglected
duty, and soon society was organized and
young men set out to preach to the heather the
word of Christ
In 1906, SamnelJ. Mills entered Williams Col
.ege. One day he invited three young men to
walk with him. and they went into a meadow,
behind a haystack and spent the entire day there
in prayer and thought, as to how to send the
gospel to the heather In 1910, with Adoniram
Judson, and Mott and Newell, he took steps
which resulted in the organization Of mission
airy society. No one could become a member
who was under any engagement that would keep
him from gong where he was called. Judson
went to India. and the world knows the great
good he did there. Observe that though the be-
ginnings have been small, the growth has been
marvelously rapid. The mustard seed
has indeed grown into mighty tree
Seven small societies have increased to more
than hundred. aeventy ordained ministers
then at work. now nearly thousand ordained
ministers. Europeans and Americans besides
thirty thousand native helpers Half million
dollars contributed year has grown to ten
millions of dollars year. Fifty thousand con-
verts has increased TO two millions Ignorance
has given place to wisdom; seeming failure to
assured success.
Look at the Sandwich Islands. Without
Christianity these people were, with all natural
advantages of climate and food, sinking to the