The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-06-06
How Ctnthe Missionary Cause BE Helped

Secretary, Great Fails District, Montana Con-
ference.
How I'm the Missionary Cause BE Helped?
1t is strange that there are SO many
protesting Christian people in the world,
who are quite Indifferent to the subject of
missions. In a general way they claim
to be interested in all the work of the
church to which they belong; they desire
to see the services well attended. they
make special efforts to pay their minister
the mount that they agree to. and they
are always willing to help in any work
for the good of their own local church.
Now this is c~Ommendable as far as it
goes, and W. would not undervalue these
things in the least. But as followers of
Christ they are under obligations to do
more than these things; they are com
manded by Christ himself to evangelize
the world. 1t is true the command was
given to the eleven apostles, but they
represented the church for all time: and
until the whole world has embraced
Christianity, every true Christian is un-
der obligation to help bring about this
desirable state of affairs. But how is
this to be done? That is the important
question. 1t will not be done while the
members of the church of Christ are
living for themselves alone. The Rev.
DR.. Duff, a celebrated missionary, says
in reference to what the church has
done, that it has simply been
'playing at Missions and this is un-
doubtedly so. The Church of Christ as
a whole, has never yet given to the u
of missions, SO as to feel it. If one-
hundredth part of the money that is
spent O. self-indulgence was given to
the cause of missions, the treasures of
the various missionary societies would
be full enough to send out many times
more missionaries than now. but the
question at the head of this article,
"How Can the Missionary Cause be
Helped?" is one for each individual to
ask themselves. 1t is an easy thing
to tell some one else what they ought to
do, to help, but it is a more difficult mat
ter to bring the question home to
our hearts. Let us ask ourselves in all
sincerity what a l do to help on the
work of missions?"
Let me by way of suggestion, present
for your consideration, several ways in
which you can help along the cause.
First-Think about it often. We be-
come more interested in the things that
we think of the oftenest. The fact that
we think of them is an evidence of our
interest in them.
Secondary for the cause of mis-
sions. Remember what God has done
for you. then think of the vast multi
tudes who are living without God, and
without hope in the world. Pray that
God may bless the labors that have
already been put forth. and that he will
raise up many more friends for the
cause.
Third-Give as you are able. This is
the Gospel standard. Not as your neigh
bbor gives, for he may not be awake to
his duty. Not as you have given in the
past. because you may not have been
alive to your opportunities, but as you
are able.
Fourth-Talk about missions. Intro
duce the subject wherever you can with
out boring people and making your COM
pany undesirable. Kindly and lovingly
plead for the ignorant, enlist the sympa-
thy of those who would have helped long
ago if they had known the need of it.
By carrying out these suggestions, the
cause Of missions will receive such an
impetus that it a not be easily resisted
and every person thus helping will real
ize the truth as contained in the words
of Jesus. 1T is more blessed to give than
to receive. j. ii. LITTLE.