The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-04-27

vss The coruss.
The Church and D1issiOns.
Il seems to me that while there Il 90
much being said concerning other topics
Of the day. there 10 ample room and need
for something 70 Be known of the sub
ject Of missions. and Ia what better
way can On Interest il THE work be cre-
stsd than by bringing Il plainly before
/, be minds Of the people2
Statistics tell % that there are $50, ,000.-
O00 heather. while there are only 1885,
100000 OF Proiestants.
The Bible 10 now printed IN $50 lam
guaRes, and there are $50. 100000 copies
ot Il In circulation.
In the United States alone there are
rs 600 ministers, or one 10 about every
$40 persons. while only one 10 allotted TO
half = million IN heaihen lands. And IN
the face nf Ill this the increase IN mem
IbershIp among the heather - thirty
times greater than II 10 q home, Ia pro-
portion 10 the number Of mimisters en-
gagged IN the work; even though the
|tests of discipleship are Of the most try.
lug nature.
OF al the messengers cent out 70 other
about $500. What email army light
ling for the Lord In other landsi And
what : vast amount Of work must be
accomplished before the world can ever
|be won for Christi
How We long 10 see The day when Il
shall be ~ much the recognized duty Of
each true Chrisiisn 10 study and ponder
the cause and progress OF missionary
work, % II IL 10 read and study the b.
bile; when II shall be - much violation
lof Christian consistency not 10 give Of
their living. - not 10 pray continually ;
and when every follower OF Christ shall,
from the very outset Of his own life % =
| believer, recognize and realize his re-
lsponsIbiiity for spreading the coed news,
lby which he found salvstion.
| The majority Of the people Of our
lchurches, even when they know that
| lmillions Of our race are In darkness. dc
not realize the great responsibility that
Il ests upon them, and seesn TO have 20 lit
ItIe interest In this work for The Lord.
The church IL the "light OF the world =
III Il Gods instruaentslity for tine con-
version Of all nations, the means by
which his gospel will reach even the ut
ltermost parts Of the earth. Placed upon
| the hilltop. Of the world. fts most beau
Isiful object; Il Il 10 radiate the light Of
| Heaven to the reu,otest corners Of the
lesrth, and thereby dispel the darkness
land gloom that 10 lowering over the
neglected regions of our land.
| j. not the usefulnese Of the church. 90
= great exssot destroyed By iss ssl1sh'
Insss2 We ose on the wrong line when
~~>~~
rious1y, for 0urseIvea, and then give what
iistle 70 hsvs remsinint for the mission
larry cause. The scriptutai view 10 that
We should give OF our first fruits TO the
Lord. placing the elaine of Christ before
every thing else.
| Could we not do without many things
THAT We have. and thus send more work
ers intv the 6eid?
| Il not this lack Of missionary interest
in the churches largely due 10 the fact
That our pastors fail 10 arouse and enlist
the hearts OF their people IN this work
llt iN . ministers duty 10 stir up his
whole church 70 Just measure Of giving
land praying. and 70 90 interest them in
The work A. TO render HE entire MEM
ILership intelligent and enthusiastic in
1.-The work OF missions, and at The same
time he will accomplish . great work
10y training his young people 10 be earn
lest and efficient Christiau workers u
home.
Will the missionary societies OF the
lchurches ever accomplish the work Of
lthemselves5 The sLswer 10, NO! Be-
lfore the battle shall be won for the Lord.
she regular army must be made up Of
thosc who have been sent from every
lchurch, chapel, and place Of meeting
where the name Of Christ has been heard.
IThen-an ouly then = shaII the work be
ldone. When our country sends Of iis
Iowu flesh and blood the whole land 10
!stirred 10, and II each Christian congre-
cation would send Of its members 10 Ia
Dor for the Lord, then would there be
Ireal interest and enthusissm manifested
and success would bc bad oil along the
lime.
Why will not individual churches
awaken 10 . realization Of their obliga-
tIons 70 God? DO they forget that bad
lie not sent his only son down 70 this
sin.cureed world 10 suffer, 70 bleed, and
to die for our sins, that we to-day might
Ibe sitting In utter darkness. without the
least ray Of hope 70 brighten our path.
way?
How can Christians stand idly or In.
differently By and Gee millions groping
their way through spiritual darkness,
when Il lies In their power 70 send the
needed light! II 10 the duty Of the
Church, Yea, its glorioue privilege, 70
lsend OF lie own workers 10 labor In 9TH
|er fields, and shall the redeemed o. the
lord Ill idle while there 10 20 much 20
|be done? God grant that they may Be
lup and at work. Tor the doors on every
hand are thrown wide open for the en-.
trance Of the gospel. II the church TAR
|ries By tho way, Satan will bc using biz
advantages. Then lot us one and oil de-
ltermiue that, with the help Of our
Blessed Master, We will push onward
and use sll the means that He has given
lus for the advancement OF bic cause and
kingdom in the earth.
Il Are We doing CUR part? Dear reader
n -. H.. -